Sellier and Bellot

tfox

What do you guys think of Sellier and Bellot ? Currently using federals but not entirely happy with bullet expansion :mad:

landkeeper

:eek::eek::eek::eek: say enough T ?

steyrman2

hi the feds would be better than the s&b imo but if you could get sako game heads you will be happy

It wasn't me!

Never seen any impressive accuracy in a handful of rifles and calibres I've shot it in. No idea about its performance. Since you're shooting a 6.5x55 (as I recall - correct me if I'm wrong) you're probably best trying some European brands, which tend to be a little faster than their American counterparts. The Norma 140gr Partition load is advertised as being 2700fps, while the 140gr soft point from Federal is at 2600. It's only a little faster, but should make a significant difference in expansion. Alternatively, if you can get someone to find the Hornady Superformance stuff, they're now loading a 140gr SST to 2735fps, which should be a great performer. Both of those should be very accurate. The alternative, and one which is definitely available, is the 120gr Nosler ballistic tip load from Norma, at 2822fps, which performs very well by all accounts. It's what an awful lot of lads shooting 6.5x55s here end up using, as typical factory loads are just too damn slow for really good performance with the 140gr bullets. It's an awesome calibre if you're handloading for it, but in terms of factory ammo, the lighter loads expand better.

Cass

A mate recently bought a Steyr in 6.5x55. The dealer gave him a box of Sellier and Bellot and a box of Remingtons. He also bought a box of Lapua and Federals. I gave him a hand to zero the rifle and check elevation at 100, 200, and 300 mtrs. The Sellier were consistantly higher than the other 3 brands at 100 and 200, by 3-4 inches.

If memory serves they were not outstanding in their groupings. The Lapua performed the best of the 4 with the remington last. So to rank them i would say Lapua, Federal, Sellier & Belot, Remingon. If i see him later i'll ask for exact details, such as gr, weight, etc, etc. I'll also ask him has he used any for hunting. I think judging on their performance he may not have bothered using them.

It wasn't me!

All the Norma ammunition seems to get good reviews in terms of accuracy and performance. Don't know of any reports on that 140gr Partition, but I'd expect it'd be pretty good. Certainly if I were using a 6.5x55, that's what I'd be using. Would definitely try the Norma if they made anything in a .25-06. When I rebarrel the rifle, I expect I'll be using their 200gr Oryx for the bigger stuff I shoot.

Cass

It wasn't me! wrote: »

All the Norma ammunition seems to get good reviews in terms of accuracy and performance. ..

They are excellent. I used to use 120gr or 140 gr Nosler BT in 6.5x55. Expensive though at €55 - ish per box of 20.

It wasn't me!

ezridax wrote: »

They are excellent. I used to use 120gr or 140 gr Nosler BT in 6.5x55. Expensive though at €55 - ish per box of 20.

I've seen it for €42 or €45 methinks, which is the same price as the high end stuff in just about anything. Once you're looking at Norma hunting loads or the Lapua stuff or Federal Premium, it's all about €40+. Looking to get myself a few boxes of the 117gr Hornady SST now from Stakelums, who seem to have the best prices on Hornady. Just waiting on someone else to get back to me with a quote and see how it works out for that or if I can get some more of the Federal Premium stuff I was buying before and which is excellent. It's all expensive though. I expect the rebarrel job will go to a .30-06, and I'll be availing of lots of cheap FMJ stuff for practising with then! €40 a box to keep the eye in is tough enough!

Cass

It wasn't me! wrote: »

I've seen it for €42 or €45 methinks, .........!

Really!

Thats good. At the time Jim McBride was the only one (i knew of anyway) that was stocking them. I knew a few dealers stocking Lapua Natrualis and they were just as good, but still over €50 per 20 and a couple of Euro cheaper than the Norma.

Still maintain though they are worth the price (would like them to be cheaper of course ). Brilliant bullet, both of them.

It wasn't me!

To be honest I'd feel very ripped off paying €50+ for anything that's not a fairly esoteric round. For something as commonplace as a 6.5x55, I feel that's taking the piss. I have to say though, when you're getting that badly ripped off paying for typical rounds, it does make the more interesting stuff more palatable. For instance, if the difference between a box of .30-06 and .300 win mag ammo, same manufacturer and same bullet, was ten or twelve quid, the .30-06 is a no-brainer: Very little lost functionality but an awful lot more cash in your pocket for the same shooting every year. However, if the difference is three or four quid, you might lean towards the more exotic round, assuming you can always get ammo for it. That said, I spoke to someone recently paying a hundred quid a box for 6.5x68 ammo. I know I have interesting and exotic tastes, but fook that! When you look at that, Whelen's "A .30-06 is always right" doesn't seem like a bad mantra.

Cass

Don't get me wrong there were plenty of other brands (Hornady, Federal, etc) that in any other rifle were performing brilliantly, problem was i had a Sauer S205 that i used for target and hunting and she was a contrary b***h when it came to bullet choice. She would fire all the rounds, but only a select few well.

And of course being a Sauer the ones she liked were the expensive ones. :mad::rolleyes:

The 30-06 is a Sauer also, but she is not half as fussy. She is loving the Hornady 150SST & 165 SST, Federal Fusion in 150 gr, and Sako 123 gr. None of them over €30 or so. So pleased as punch with that.


EDIT - Have to correct that. The hornady are actually €40 per box.

It wasn't me!

Nice one. Cheapest I can get the 117gr SST so far is €35, so if I can get their .30-06 brethren for even less, I reckon I'll have found my bullet.

Tackleberrywho

When I was in College and could not afford anything else I used Seller & Bellot in 6.5x55 out of my Swedish Mauser.
The worst description of a round, pure dung.
The only accurate cheap Target round were 108grain Lapua Gold medal, the difference between Norma 120grain Nosler Ballistic tipped and Seller & Bellot was the difference between a Zetor and a Johnny Deere!

Norma being a John Deere!

The groups with the seller & Bellot 140grain soft nose was dreadful ~ 1"& 1/2 @100. with Lapua 108 the groups were smaller than that @200:eek:

The Norma were a dinger of a round.
Dropped every deer on the spot!

tfox

It wasn't me! wrote: »

The alternative, and one which is definitely available, is the 120gr Nosler ballistic tip load from Norma, at 2822fps, which performs very well by all accounts. It's what an awful lot of lads shooting 6.5x55s here end up using, as typical factory loads are just too damn slow for really good performance with the 140gr bullets. It's an awesome calibre if you're handloading for it, but in terms of factory ammo, the lighter loads expand better.

Got a price of this at £30 up in the wee north, was very tempting :rolleyes:
Hornady seems to be like hen's teeth at the moment !!

ezridax wrote: »

. If memory serves they were not outstanding in their groupings. The Lapua performed the best of the 4 with the remington last. So to rank them i would say Lapua, Federal, Sellier & Belot, Remingon. If i see him later i'll ask for exact details, such as gr, weight, etc, etc. I'll also ask him has he used any for hunting. I think judging on their performance he may not have bothered using them.

Is the remington really that poor ?

ezridax wrote: »

They are excellent. I used to use 120gr or 140 gr Nosler BT in 6.5x55. Expensive though at €55 - ish per box of 20.

Think I'll head up north and get few boxes

Cass

I've have to correct myself.

The Sako are €23, the Federal €27 and the Hornady €40. Was thinking as i wrote the last post that they sounded a little cheap.

It wasn't me!

tfox wrote: »

Got a price of this at £30 up in the wee north, was very tempting :rolleyes:
Hornady seems to be like hen's teeth at the moment !!



Is the remington really that poor ?



Think I'll head up north and get few boxes

With the current exchange rate you'd be mad not to. Go for it!

tfox

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

When I was in College and could not afford anything else I used Seller & Bellot in 6.5x55 out of my Swedish Mauser.
The worst description of a round, pure dung.
The only accurate cheap Target round were 108grain Lapua Gold medal, the difference between Norma 120grain Nosler Ballistic tipped and Seller & Bellot was the difference between a Zetor and a Johnny Deere!

Norma being a John Deere!

The groups with the seller & Bellot 140grain soft nose was dreadful ~ 1"& 1/2 @100. with Lapua 108 the groups were smaller than that @200:eek:

The Norma were a dinger of a round.
Dropped every deer on the spot!

Are you suggesting there's something wrong with a Zetor ....? Biggest cabs around, can fit the whole family in

It wasn't me!

ezridax wrote: »

I've have to correct myself.

The Sako are €23, the Federal €27 and the Hornady €40. Was thinking as i wrote the last post that they sounded a little cheap.

Hehe, damn! And there was me looking all optimistic! If the stuff I'd like to use in .30-06 is €40+, I'll be sorely tempted to put the extra work into a .300 win mag...

tfox

It wasn't me! wrote: »

With the current exchange rate you'd be mad not to. Go for it!

Yeah think so, my mate's uncle is my local RFD and he's up there fairly reg so can get him pick them up for me

It wasn't me!

tfox wrote: »

Yeah think so, my mate's uncle is my local RFD and he's up there fairly reg so can get him pick them up for me

Actually, who's he getting them from? Been meaning to check for more variety for my .25-06 but haven't gotten around to checking the north yet. Feel free to PM if you don't want to disclose any details or anything.

tfox

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Actually, who's he getting them from? Been meaning to check for more variety for my .25-06 but haven't gotten around to checking the north yet. Feel free to PM if you don't want to disclose any details or anything.

http://www.tannyokyguns.com/

Tackleberrywho

tfox wrote: »

Are you suggesting there's something wrong with a Zetor ....? Biggest cabs around, can fit the whole family in

Why buy a formula 1 car and run her on low octane fuel!

tfox

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Why buy a formula 1 car and run her on low octane fuel!

I'm a Scottish protestant, could only get any meaner if I was brought up in Cavan

fish slapped

I used S&B in my CZ 6.5 a few years back and had some outstanding accuracy but then around 2002 they changed something, be it power, bullet or primer, I don't know but they would not group the same.

tfox

That's S&B out of the running then. Looks like 120gr Normas for me

steyrman2

normas very good round shot a few boar with them in sweden and hungary with the 308 180 gr vulcan i still have some of them along with 220 grain round nose might get to use them in 4 weeks time