This topic contains 10 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by 
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Posts
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https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2018/10/23/steel-case-ammo-bad-for-your-gun/
Has anyone any experience reloading steel case?
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From the link you posted:
“If you are a reloader, don’t bother with the steel cases. It’s more trouble than it’s worth—although it is possible, especially with boxer-primed cases.”
and,
“Unless you plan to reload the spent cases, I’d say the steel is fine for general purposes, leaving price as the only consideration.”
So if someone told me they reload steel case, I’d be very skeptical.
As far as “bad” for your gun… Well, here’s a link to a test where they fired 10,000 rounds though AR15’s and logged the result.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
JATA.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
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Thanx for posting that JATA. Informative.
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The take-away from that article: not only have spare parts, but a barrel if you really think you are going to go through all 20,000 rounds of your 5.56 fighting off MZBs.
Or, husband every shot, do not rely on volume as a mitigation to marksmanship. You could wind up with a AR-Smoothbore before you realize it.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
Crow Bar.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by
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Steel case can and has been reloaded, even done a few myself to prove it.
But I would not plan to do so as its more work than its worth.20k rounds through your AR of steel case or standard brass and you are going to be looking at a barrel, as premium accuracy will be gone.
Bi-metal aka copper plated soft steel bullets will wear and erode the barrel faster than copper or lead core copper bulets, but if you have the means to put back 20k rounds of 5.56, you can probably afford to put back a barrel or two.
Something we should all think about, especially when barrels are so cheap right now. -
“barrels are so cheap right now.”
Well, some of them anyway. Frigging SCAR barrels cost as much as a new in box Colt 6920.
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I have been leery of firing steel cased ammo. I have friends that use it all the time without any complaints from the rifle. As for reloading steel case, I have always heard the cases wear out the dies. Hearsay, I know. I just opt for the brass.
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An AK will eat anything , and most of the steel cased ammo is meant for AKs . I have three AKs because you don’t have to nurse maid them , forget to clean it ? No problem , your in filthy conditions ? no worries , can you depend on it to go bang when you need it ? absolutely ! I also have an FAL , they are almost as indestructible , have run steel case through it with no issues . I would think that any issues would be more due to weapon design and materials used . Even with something as common as a 1911 , there is a WIDE variance of quality between the manufactures . There are some that are fussy , some are not . Interestingly enough , the fussy ones tend to be the one that cost the most , so from a life or death perspective , high end may actually cost you your life because it is fussy .
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Never have run steel cased ammo through my Colts or FALs. Have through the AKMs, and for the reasons you stated. Still have an unopened case of that Chinese steel core ammo stashed someplace. Remember when you could buy it for $89?
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The biggest problem with shooting steel case through an AR is gas blow by.
When fired the steel case doesn’t expand like the brass ones do, leaving a gap for hot gases and carbon residue to go. The carbon builds up with each following shot, eventually leaving what looks like a moonscape in the chamber.
Invariably a brass case is fired and expands into the crevices and crannies.
The bolt carrier moves rearwards trying to drag the bolt and fired case with it.
Depending upon the case, you either pull through or pull off the case rim leaving the fired case stuck. Or the extractor breaks, rare but it does happen.My problem with most steel case ammo, is that the powder charges vary greatly, and bullet diameter and weight are not consistent.
The exception to this is the Hornady Action Pistol (?) loads in which they imported the steel cases and loaded them here with consistent powder charges and good bullets.As an aside, People forget that the majority of the .45acp ammo used from 1943-1945 and beyond was steel cased.
Evansville Chrysler put it out by the millions.
They actually stopped production before war ended as the government had such a large stockpile. -
Some shooters’ note that steel case ammo can be dirtier than brass ammo. This is due to the powder, not the case though. The solution is simple; clean your gun. Some ranges<b>don</b>'<b>t</b> allow steel case ammo.
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