Would like to hear peoples opinions of Sellior & Bellot rifle ammo from people that have used it, anyone hunt with it?
I bought 100 rounds of it for my 6.5x55 and have shot about half of it at the range. I pulled a few bullets out of the dirt and was very surprised that they held together really well and retained a lot of their weight.
I'm not experiencing exceptional accuracy with these 139 grain bullets in my 6.5x55 I'm getting 2" groups @ 100 yards. The brass seems to be good quality as near as I can tell so I am just starting to develop some loads for them but was wanting to hear some feedback from S&B users.

I have used a 1000 round case on feral pigs here in australia over several years.
I would say that it is quite "hot" or at the top end pressure wise.
no failure to fire or chamber or any problems throughout the whole 1000 rounds.
Accuracy acceptable but not as good as Winchester PP in my rifles [3 different .308W].
Certainly strong jackets and weight retention [the projectile looked a bit like some RWS pills with a semi wad cutter ridge at the base of the ogive leaving really clean holes in paper targets. Once again field kills acceptable but Winchester PP have a noticeable edge in knock down.
Hope this helps - as I recall this ammo was reasonably priced thus my reason for using it when I need volume ammo.
APB

Yes I have used it in my 7x57 and my 6.5x55.
I got similar results. I havn't looked at those log books in a couple of years but IIRC I was getting 2-2.75" groups.
The brass reloads well and groups with handloads and S&B brass are around 1" with the 6.5 and 1.5" with the 7x57.
I think PMC 6.5x55 shot better than S&B and about the same price. I havn't bough factory center fire in years though so that may not be correct anymore.

I've used it in my Moisin Nagant.. the 7.62X54 soft points. I've used both the 204gr and the 180 gr. The 180 gr stuff is boxer primed, and I reload it.
I have had one or two shoulder/neck cracks, but that's the only problem so far, after probably 3 loadings.
Accuracy is very good, at least better than I can realize using open sights. My groups are usually one inch or so at 50 yds. If I can figure out how to mount a scope on the rifle, it wouldn't surprise me to get close to m.o.a.
I recommend it, and will continue to buy it.

I used it in my 6.5 X 55 and it shot ok....but it didn't fit my RCBS shell holder and winchester brass does so it's the last S&B I'm shooting.
Yes I could have bought a new syhell holder but I also didn't want to deal with the few thou difference in the bolt face as well.....Winchester brass wins this time.

Got decent accuracy with their 7x57R and 9.3x72R. No complaints.

The brass itself is of decent quality -- not great but certainly not bad, either.

Vapodog-There's a reason the S&B 6.5x55 brass didn't fit your shellholder: It's the CORRECT case head size and WINCHESTER IS NOT! All of my Win 6.5x55 brass (that I didn't already give away) is undersized. The S&B is right on the money. Granted, the differ is inconsequential, but it does exist.

In 6.5x55, I actually prefer Lapua.

I've tried it in various calibers such as 7x57, 9.3x62, 8x57, and mostly 6.5x57. All delivered poor accruacy and abismal case life and were decidedly hot, sticky bolt on plenty of the 7x57 and 9.3x62. Had some piecred primers on some the 8x57 cases (not a firing pin issue). The 6.5x57 cases where the worst - they shot poorly, had multiple pierced primers and exhibited case-head separating on the second firing (neck sized, mind you). Moreover, lots of the brass were very tight fit in the PROPER RCBS shellholder. I had to use a 41 mag shell holder on many of them.

I "heard" (so take this whatever way you want) from someone who allegedly had ties to the S&B ammo production process that they routinely use the fastest powder they can get away with (while still achieving competitive velocities), thus stretching how many boxes of ammo they can load with a pound of powder. This suggests that they are pushing the envelope on the pressure, and may well explain why S&B is often associated with sticky bolts and flat primers, etc.

Anyway, I think S&B is worthless in just about every way brass/ammo can be worthless... and I am, quite frankly, amazed that they are still in business...

Just my experience...

I should have been more specific: the calibers I have used the brass in are .223, 5.6x50R, 6.5x55 and .308 Win. These have given me no problems. I don't shoot factory ammo as a rule, but I did shoot some 117 grain 6.5x52R to fireform brass for a wilcat, and it, too, did OK, though the necks were quite thin, much as on the 5.6x50R (the brass, in that regard, reminds me of Hirtenberger).

Most of the S&B brass I have came in through trades or with guns I bought. It's certainly not my first choice for use, but like I noted, there have been no problems for me.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Would like to hear peoples opinions of Sellior & Bellot rifle ammo from people that have used it, anyone hunt with it?
I bought 100 rounds of it for my 6.5x55 and have shot about half of it at the range. I pulled a few bullets out of the dirt and was very surprised that they held together really well and retained a lot of their weight.
I'm not experiencing exceptional accuracy with these 139 grain bullets in my 6.5x55 I'm getting 2" groups @ 100 yards. The brass seems to be good quality as near as I can tell so I am just starting to develop some loads for them but was wanting to hear some feedback from S&B users.[/QUOTE

Just has my message dropped so will try one more time. I fired one round in my Savage 308. I thimk it was a 150g with the ridge dscribed by another poster. I had a sticky bolt that took both hands to open. I was shooting over my crono and it was 2759. I was getting 2740 with PMP 150g on the same day. Had no problems with the 165g BTHP S&B at 2616fps. I have fired over 10 different factory loads and several hand loads without a problem in this rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Vapodog-There's a reason the S&B 6.5x55 brass didn't fit your shellholder: It's the CORRECT case head size and WINCHESTER IS NOT! All of my Win 6.5x55 brass (that I didn't already give away) is undersized. The S&B is right on the money. Granted, the differ is inconsequential, but it does exist.

Yes, I was aware of that but the '98 Mauser I fitted it to wasn't and the Winchester brass seemed to be the best fit for the situation.

.

I've fired their 8x57 from the bench. Does seem to be loaded hot, kicks like hell anyway compared to my handloads. Did not have my Chrony.

I shoot some S&B out of my CZ550 7x57 (173 grainers). It averages 2370 fps on my Chrony with no signs of pressure. Shot a small muley with it last fall at 210 yards and he fell like a ton of bricks had landed on him. That funny looking bullet hit just behind the right shoulder and exited just behind the left shoulder leaving ~1.5" wound. What can I say, except the brass won't fit into a RCBS #3 shell holder?

I shot some thru an AR15. I didnt find any great accuracy. Afterwards I noticed some of the brass was unusable. Split necks small cracks around the bases. I wasnt impressed, But my use is very limited. Could have been old ammo or something I am not sure.

Interesting. I've heard bad things about S&B ammo, but I have never seen it happen in person. I use S&B 6.5x57mm, 7x57mm, and 7x64mm. Took the 7x64mm to Africa and took two head of plains game, a Gemsbok and an Impala with no problems at all. S&B 7x57mm goes 1.5 to 1.75 inches at 100 yards in a Steyr M72, and I have gotten under an inch repeatedly with S&B 6.5x57mm in a Steyr Model M. Now, since we all know rifles do vary, I also have a 6.5x57mm Mauser that struggles to hold a 2 inch 100 yard group. You might want to check your rifles too. (No, I don't work for S&B.)
LLS
Mannlicher Collector