S&B brass + Remington primers = :(

[zxcvbob]

I have a bunch of S&B .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass, and 10's of thousands of Remington 1.5 primers. That's a bad combination; the S&B primer pockets are too tight, and the Rem 1.5 primers are too tight, and when you put them together they won't load at all. Federal small rifle primers fit just fine, so I'll probably seperate out the S&B .357 brass and use the SR primers for a while. But eventually I'll run out because I don't have all that many Federal primers, and the gun shop is out of them.

I tried using a Lee chamfer tool to bevel the pockets a little, and that didn't help. What using about a primer pocket uniformer, like maybe this one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=501588&t=11082005

I wish I had tried a couple of small packages of Rem 1.5 primers before I went and bought a couple of cases of 'em...

I don't have any problem with Rem large pistol primers, just the smalls. They are hard to seat in just about any brand of brass unless it is about worn out, and they won't fit in the S&B's at all. (I'm surprised I didn't detonate any while trying to seat them.)

 

[Steve C]

I've found just using the Lee primer pocket cleaner will open up the primer pockets just a slight bit but noticeable with tight pockets. After the first successful seating subsequent priming is not a problem. The tool in your link should do a similar thing and work just fine though its purpose is to remove military crimps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You can also give Winchester SP primers a shot. They aren't as tight as Remington and CCI primers. I've become a huge fan of Winchester primers over the past few months.

 

[GaryL]

You can also give Winchester SP primers a shot. They aren't as tight as Remington and CCI primers. I've become a huge fan of Winchester primers over the past few months.

I've even had the occasional one fall out when it probably shouldn't have, but I still like them. I just toss the brass with the loose pockets and continue onwards.

 

[Bad Flynch]

My experience with S&B brass is very good, but the outside corner of the primer pocket has a very sharp radius. That leads, sometimes, to difficult primer seating.

In my case, I simply ran the cases through a primer pocket swedge. Mine came from RCBS and cases so treated work fine.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've loaded a whole lot of S&B brass, mostly in .38 special and .45 acp. I've never had a primer not seat properly, but they are snug, which really isn't a bad thing. The .38 brass has all been loaded with Federal #100 primers and the .45 brass has all been loaded with Winchester LP primers. I've found it to be good brass.

You could always trade the S&B to someone for other brands.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Chris Rhines]

I've popped two primers trying to seat them into S&B brass. The primer pockets are undersized. I'd suggest just throwing it away.

- Chris

 

[Gewehr98]

As an avid reloader over the last 25 years or so...

I uniform my primer pockets when needed. I love S&B brass, especially their rifle brass. They have tight primer pockets - no big deal.

Now, if you were talking A-Merc brass, then yes, throw it away. However, S&B is good stuff, closer to Lake City military brass than commercial Remington, Federal, or Winchester.

 

[wcwhitey]

S&B is good brass, I have thousands in .38 Special. I use Federal or CCI primers never had a problem. Bill

 

[C. H. Luke]

"...the S&B primer pockets are too tight,"

This is funny, always toos the S&B find in 9mm as even with chamfering or swaging FEDS & WINS don't seat well or at all in a progressive. Have even heard their holes can be/are off-center?
FWIW, have only tried RCBS Prep Center & Hornady press Swager.

 

[KI.W.]

No S&B productions for me.