I've used RWS and Norma brass and ammo. I like the RWS better but i was wondering if anyone here has used 9.3's in Sellier & Bellot brand?

I'm wondering how the S&B brass holds up for extended reloading?

Does anyone know where i can buy S&B ammo or brass at a decent price??

DM

Ive used S&B in my 8x57 double. It just wasn't up to the quality that I found in Norma or R.W.S. Never tried it in a 9.3x74.
I belive my 8mm S&B brass is berdan primed but it is more than 10 years old.

I haven't tried the S&B but in my Krieghoff the RWS shoots much better than Norma. I have heard that it (RWS) is better brass as far as reloading than Norma brass. I haven't reloaded any yet so this is all hear say. If you find a source for the S&B please send me an email and let me know where you find it as I would like to try some also. The only place I have found ANY ammo was at a Cabela's and it was Norma 232gr. And my DR is regulated for 286 gr. I am from Minnesota if anyone knows where I can get 9.3x74R ammo.
Thanks,
Keith
im_planecrazy at hotmail dot com

i bought 8 boxes of S&B from cabelas last april for $34/box.... i sent i box to lrh270 in las vegas to try in his chapuis.... so i've got 7 boxes left... i plan on keeping it, my chapuis is supposed to be here in may, june....from the way the s&b brass has behaved in .243, 7x57, it looks prett good....

I have loaded over a thousand rounds of 9.3x74R ammo, and IMO the RWS brass "is" better than the Norma brass...

I was at Cabella's a few days ago, and they did NOT have any 9.3 ammo, and i was told they are closeing out ALL S&B ammo...

They had some in various cal's on a close out table, but nothing i could use...

DM

Have shot and loaded quite a bit of S&B in 9.3x74r. It had better life than Norma but less than RWS. This was over 5years ago so don't have any current experience.

i understand rws is withdrawing from the usa market.

ammo prices are rising - blame rising worldwide metal prices - with no let up in sight.

cheaperthandirt.com seemed to have the best price for norma ammo about $49/box using their oryx bullet

Maybe the "new" Hornandy ammo is worth a try???? It's expensive retail, but perhaps it can be found discounted???

Anyone fired any Hornandy 9.3x74R's???

DM

quote:

Originally posted by DM:
Maybe the "new" Hornandy ammo is worth a try???? It's expensive retail, but perhaps it can be found discounted???

Anyone fired any Hornandy 9.3x74R's???

DM

My understanding is that the ammo isn't out yet, but I could be wrong. I have some of the brass and it looks like good stuff.
-----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I have shot a bobcat and a couple of pigs with the S&B 285 Soft Point.

The bullets did a good job.

I would not hesitate to use it again.

I reflect upon the notions of RWS brass that you guys have.

It´s a knowm fact that Norma, Lapua and RWS share cases and production lines,

I know that Norma makes there own x74R cases, been on a factory tour and that they make other brands as well.

I "know" that Sako cases are made by Lapua and that their great.

I also belive that RWS get there cases from Lapua, they have the same annealed necks and good strong straigh corners on the rims, Norma has rounded corners.

Regarding S&B brass, it´s fire and forgett according to me. If one is determinded to uses it like I have to in my Husq model 17 where i shoot a 9,3x72R shortened to x57, I habitaly anneal the necks and ream out the primer pockets.

However the brass is brittle and have seriously huge differenses in brass composition ie the metall between batches, causing it to have different weights.

last I noticed that 450 NE nr 2 liked the S%B 285 grains bullet, replying that it had done a good joob on some game.

I cant say other vise cause after I been using that bullet for target practice, I haven´t dared use it on game, the jacket is to thin and will peel like on a banana on the bullet, however on thin skinned game 285 grains is 285 grains, and it will kill.


Just my 25 öre, best regards Chris

quote:

My understanding is that the ammo isn't out yet, but I could be wrong. I have some of the brass and it looks like good stuff.

If i'm reading that right, your saying you have some Hornandy brass in 9.3x74R right???

If so, may i ask how much you paid for it? I'd like to price compare it to the other brands out there.. Also, where did you get it?

Thanks,

DM

The S&B brass and amo itself is very poor...

Just my thoughts

Yes, you read that right. He is hording 20 rounds of Hornady 9.3X74R brass along with 20 450/400 3 inch cases that the guys from Hornady sent to him.

quote:

Originally posted by DM:

quote:

My understanding is that the ammo isn't out yet, but I could be wrong. I have some of the brass and it looks like good stuff.

If i'm reading that right, your saying you have some Hornandy brass in 9.3x74R right???

If so, may i ask how much you paid for it? I'd like to price compare it to the other brands out there.. Also, where did you get it?

Thanks,

DM

I have no idea what the price will be. Hornady sent it to me to test. I imagine that it will be more reasonable than RWS. It's definitely worth giving a try when it becomes available.
------------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

quote:

I have no idea what the price will be. Hornady sent it to me to test. I imagine that it will be more reasonable than RWS. It's definitely worth giving a try when it becomes available.

Good info, thanks...

I'm not in a huge hurry, as i do have a supply of RWS brass around. I'd just like to start out with a different brand of brass for a 9.3x74R "imp" bbl. set that i have.

It's still too cold out to work on it anyway...

DM

I was told that the Norma brass was now improved. I have not loaded it enough times to find out otherwise. I bought 100 empties and haven't shot them all yet. Packy

Pack!

I have a box of 20 cases (Norma) at home that have been reloaded x4 times and they still appear to be new.

I have heard that they might fail om me but I will continue ti use then as long as the primerpockets are snug and the necks are whole, I use a feeler wire to check for possible case separation.

/C

quote:

I have heard that they might fail om me but I will continue ti use then as long as the primerpockets are snug and the necks are whole, I use a feeler wire to check for possible case separation.

"If" you are sizeing the cases and pushing the shoulder back each time, you DO have something to worry about. But, if your sizer die is ajusted "properly" so the case "headspaces" on the shoulder of the case, you then won't have to worry about case seperations! This is the same for all brands of brass, and also "all" cartridges that have a shoulder, no matter if they are "rimmed" or not.

What happens is, (with a rimmed cartridge) on the first fireing, the case "headspaces" on the rim... After that, the case SHOULD headspace on the "shoulder". When you resize the case, pushing the shoulder back, the next time you fire that case, it has to AGAIN "stretch" to fill the chamber. After doing that several times, it starts getting thin near it's base.

Norma cases fail more so when you push the pressures up, and then the primer pockets get loose. It's been this way since i used my first Norma case more than 35 years ago!

Ajust your sizeing die so the cartridge just "crush fits" in the chamber, and that should end all case stretching problems! (assumeing your keeping them properly trimmed to length)

Hope this helps,

DM

Just FYI - Grafs is carrying Lapua ammunition in 9.3 X 74.