What to do with S&B brass

**zxcvbob** · January 27th, 2009, 12:37 AM

When I'm loading .38 Specials, I pick the S&B brass out because the primer pockets are so tight it's hard to use in a progressive press. Other than that, it's good brass, and I've got a big peanut butter jar full now -- and more that's not sorted yet. What special purpose should I use it for? Maybe +P+ loads with a boatload of 2400 powder for my Marlin? (I load those on a single-stage press anyway.) Any other ideas?

I've tried uniforming them with a little primer pocket reamer, but that doesn't help much -- certainly not enough for the trouble.

**ljnowell** · January 27th, 2009, 01:16 AM

I have never really had that problem, of course, the only time I loaded S&B was with an uncle, he did the loading, I did the fetching. I wonder if the primer pockets wouldnt loosen after a few reloadings?

**AZAndy** · January 27th, 2009, 07:19 AM

I've got some S&B .45ACP brass and it's the same way. Takes a frightening amount of oomph on the lever to get the primer seated. I cull that brass out.

The S&B 9x18 brass doesn't give me as much trouble.

**jmorris** · January 27th, 2009, 10:39 AM

the primer pockets are so tight it's hard to use in a progressive press.

What press are you using? If you are using a 650 be sure to remember that you can adjust the spring loaded arm. The set screw is on the right hand side, a little tweaking to find the happy spot and you’re good to go.

If you are loading on other progressives you might just sort it out and load it in batches. A little rotation of the case as the primer is getting started seems to help. Oh and hold your tongue just right.

**zxcvbob** · January 27th, 2009, 02:53 PM

I'm using a LNL-AP. It also depends on what brand of primers I'm using. Unfortunately I have a bunch of Remingtons and even lining everything up jsut right they won't fit in the S&B pockets without applying dangerous amounts of force. Could be worse though, I could *not* have the Rem primers

IIRC, using Federal primers and loading on the single-stage press works just fine. Don't remember about CCI and Winchesters.

I may look for my hand countersink bit and see if chamfering the pockets slightly helps. (or just use them for my "nucular" loads that ruin the brass in one shot)

**Carl N. Brown** · January 27th, 2009, 04:49 PM

For priming S&B cases I use the classic Lee kit with a large rubber tent peg mallet with heavy leather reinforcement in the faces of the head. What problem with seating primers in S&B cases?

**rodregier** · January 27th, 2009, 06:42 PM

I suspecting using a Dillon Super-Swage 600 would also solve the pockets, if that appealed to you...

**vzwnnj** · January 27th, 2009, 09:47 PM

the super swage will correct the problem...I separate them, but load them in batches later by running them through the resizing die, but NOT priming...then using an RCBS hand priming tool...little more effort than just flying through on the Dillon 550, but it is really good brass

**D. Manley** · January 27th, 2009, 10:40 PM

I keep a close eye on S&B brass too for a couple of reasons....main being, it ain't all brass, some of it is brass coated steel and no, you can't tell the difference by looking. For a while, I would scrap it but nowadays I just run a magnet over them and separate them out. The problem with the primers is not so much the pockets are tight as it is the sharp, straight "break" minus any bevel of the pocket. A swaging tool would zap it right out but I've found that for just a few cases, just spinning a casemouth deburring tool (I use RCBS's) a few times to put a little bevel on the mouth of the primer pocket fixes 'em right up. Once done, S&B is actually pretty good brass.

**KI.W.** · January 28th, 2009, 08:33 AM

I will never to touch S&B-products, because don´t like difficultys

**FieroCDSP** · January 28th, 2009, 09:07 AM

I've never really had issues with the S&B cases, but most of mine are in the affore mentioned 9x18. I wonder why they seem to be so different?

**zxcvbob** · January 28th, 2009, 09:38 AM

I will never to touch S&B-products, because don´t like difficultys

What can I do? People at the gun club come up and give me handfuls of the stuff (all in .38 Special) when they are finished shooting.

**rscalzo** · January 28th, 2009, 10:10 AM

I just loaded up a few hundred on my 550 of 45ACP and had problems with the primer pockets using CCI LP primers.

I don't think it is worth the trouble to run them through a Super Swage as I don't have that many. At first I thought they might be crimped. Still not sure.

All of mine are brass checked by using a strong magnet.

**LiquidTension** · January 28th, 2009, 03:06 PM

Could not one use the RCBS primer pocket swager to alleviate such problems? I've got one but I haven't had to use it yet.

**rscalzo** · January 28th, 2009, 03:07 PM

RCBS primer pocket swager

Not with a progessive press.

**LiquidTension** · January 28th, 2009, 04:08 PM

Well obviously you can't integrate it into the progressive operation but couldn't you just run all the cases through the swager once and then just load them like normal? That's what I do with military crimps on 5.56 cases. I haven't run into any pistol cases that need it, including thousands of S&B 9mm cases.

**zxcvbob** · January 28th, 2009, 04:46 PM

I just checked with my buddies at work that reload with Dillon equipment and neither of them have a Super Swage I can borrow to try it out.

If y'all think it will work, I think I might buy one. (I just hate spending $100 without trying it first) I also have about 1000 rounds of milsurp .30-06 that will need to be uncrimped someday, although I have a Large Rifle swager already it's basically just a hammer, punch, and anvil.

RCBS swager would be OK because I have several single-stage presses, but it's got to be a lot slower and it's kind of expensive too.

**rscalzo** · January 28th, 2009, 04:58 PM

If you can borrow one run the thousand rounds of 06 through. You only have to do it once.

**zxcvbob** · January 28th, 2009, 06:04 PM

The 06 rounds aren't fired yet.

**realbuffdriver** · January 28th, 2009, 07:30 PM

Here's what I do with S&B Brass: I save it up and then deprime using my Lee deprimer die. I then lightly ream the primer pocket with my Lee debur tool and toss it in with the other brass waiting to be tumbled and fed back into the progressive press.

Honestly, I have PLENTY of brass, but I can't stand to throw it away!

**Larry E** · January 28th, 2009, 07:40 PM

I've loaded a bunch of S&B .45 ACP brass with no problems using WLP primers and a Lee Auto Prime hand tool. CCI primers and some others are a tiny bit large in my experience.

**trickyasafox** · January 28th, 2009, 10:17 PM

I think RCBS makes a hand tool for 10-12 dollars that will cut the pockets for you

**D. Manley** · January 28th, 2009, 10:46 PM

Honestly, I have PLENTY of brass, but I can't stand to throw it away!

It's an affliction that affects many...no cure as of yet but it's rumored the symptoms can sometimes be controlled.

**oldfortyfiveauto** · January 28th, 2009, 11:16 PM

I've used a variety of ways to clean out primer crimps, Dillon, RCBS swages and various hand ones. What I've found best overall is a small 60 degree countersink in a battery pistol drill. I am using a 1/4" lathe center drill with the drill bit ground off. Center drills are 60 degrees. Works for both primer sizes.

**zxcvbob** · January 28th, 2009, 11:20 PM

I have a handheld countersink somewhere and I can't find it. Been planning to try it if it ever turns up again. I also have a primer pocket reamer; not sure if it's Lymans or RCBS. It doesn't quite get the job done, but maybe I need to give it another chance. At least I know where it is

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