I ran about 1k of S&B through my guns last year, for a while Surplus Ammo (which is semi-local) had screamin' good deals on cases of the stuff so a lot of the local IDPA/USPSA guys were shooting it. The only complaint I ever heard was that it was loaded pretty hot for 9mm, but for 99.9% of the population that's not going to be a real issue.
Other than the fact that the primers are harder than woodpecker lips, I've never had a problem with it.
Actually, that reminds me - I couldn't get reliable ignition on .45 ACP S&B with my 625, even though I had the action set up to reliably crack primers on pretty much anything. I also seem to remember some light primer hits with an XD or something, but that was a long time ago, before I kept good logs.Originally Posted by Tamara
We tried to keep S&B on hand in gunsmithing for just that reason: If a gun'll bust a cap on S&B, it should light off anything.
Good to know and goes to show that those guys were were telling me I could use an Elite 1 hammer with a "D" spring on my Beretta were wrong
Try it first. If it lights the primer, it's good. Even if you get 95% ignition, it's still pretty decent practice ammo.
Our dept used to get S&B ammo in 45. I never saw a problem with it in many thousands of rounds. We switched to Fiocchi and I have seen a few more stoppages that are unexplained. Also, Fiocchi has put small primers in their 45 cases, which aren't standard for reloaders when we try to sell our brass.
Best I can tell, this is the wave of the future in our Brave New World.
Federal Champion also uses small pistol primers in their .45 ACP as well. I remember when I popped a case open of it and my initial reaction was to do a double take, because I thought I had a box of .40 instead.
I got some CCI Blazer brass case .45 mixed in with my .45 brass at the range a while back. Discovered it was small primers while I was running it through my press. I thought it was .45 GAP at first.
As for S&B ammo, I like it. I originally started using it in 9mm Makarov. I have bunches of it in 9mm (115 and 124 grain) and .45 ACP as well as a couple of rifle calibers. I have always found it to be clean, reliable and loaded hot. Better than a lot of other ammo in its price range.
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