However, this is not the case. KyJim, you are correct of course. All of my ARs and my Mini-14 eat up steel cased ammo with the same, or better, reliability as they do with brass-cased rounds. Practice makes perfect, and there is no better way to practice your shooting skills than dry fire drills. There is no other way to put it. Another good reason, and maybe the best reason you cant shoot steel ammo at the range, is that the bi-metal or steel bullets will damage the floor, walls, and ceiling and can damage the bullet traps. This may not seem like a whole lot, but if you are doing a lot of shooting, it will add up quickly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The main concern is that the soft metal of the casing can lead to wear and tear on your firearms barrel and chamber. Not one good experience with steel case in an AR or AK. Steel is a tougher material than lead, so firing with a barrel made of solid steel would tear the barrel to shreds. This is apparent in higher-pressure cartridges.An example would be in comparing 7.62x39 mm and 5.56 NATO. The same considerations can be utilized with pistol ammunition, especially when used in semi- and full-auto firearms. My HK USPc owners manual specifically states: CAUTION: HK firearms are designed to function with quality manufactured brass cased ammunition. Then, the prices skyrocketed. However, if you are looking for a little bit of savings at the range, aluminum might be a good choice for you. In lieu of a single, centered flash hole, two flash holes are off to one side of the primer pocket. This causes carbon build up between the case and the chamber wall. (SKS / AK owners, neednt worry.). Felt recoil was greater with the steel load but not by muchagain that stems from the difference in velocity.Winchesters USA-Forged steel-cased ammo performed as well or better than comparable brass-cased ammo in my guns. It may not have been match-grade or the cleanliest ammo, but the Soviet calibers ran perfectly in Soviet-designed firearms. And a sloppy chamber adds to bad performance in accuracy. Brass shells may be collected by some ranges, reloaded, and resold. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Undoubtedly, the floor can be covered with dozens, if not hundreds, of used ammo cases after a busy day. One reason people give for not shooting steel case-ammo is that it damages their rifle or pistol. It is possible to get steel-cased ammunition for half the price sometimes. Id take this ammo over a lot of cheap brass out there. So, yes, steel-cased ammo will wear your AR-15 out faster than brass ammo will. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ive reloaded a few 9mm boxer primed steel cases and they work fine. WebSteel case ammo shouldn't damage your gun, though some guns will have reliability issues with it. Cast aluminum is stronger than aluminum because the casting process forces the metal to fill all the spaces in the mold. By comparison one was as accurate as the other in group size. Common brands of steel-cased ammo are TulaAmmo, Brown Bear, and Wolf. The ammunition was mostly manufactured by Tula Cartridge Plant in Tula, Tula District, Russia from 2005 to 2009. Steel cased ammo is definitely not known for its accuracy. The former is utterly reliable in most platforms in which it is chambered. There is a lot of debate surrounding aluminum cased ammo and whether or not it is bad for your gun. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you want ammo that might put you through some exercises in clearing a jammed round, then TulAmmo is great. Guns are not put under as much stress as an engine block, but it is still important that they are made with a strong material. I told them to switch to brass and all was fine thereafter. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but the majority of them are for companies that collect empty cases for reloading purposes. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved My Blog does steel cased ammo hurt your gun With the carbon ring you will build up, you can stick a brass case. No one is perfect. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Higher velocity bullets, such as the .223 Remington, will usually cause more wear. Also, make sure to keep your chamber clean. Amp up your AK with these exciting accessories. The brass case expands inside the chamber, the steel case does not and so there is a lot of blow back. A new and innovative take on an AR-15 compatible rifle. The other problem with steel cased ammo is that the cases dont expand the same way that brass cases do. Steel cases may be more likely to get stuck in the chamber, particularly in lightly-extracting guns like the AR-15. ), How to Add Shelves to Your Gun Safe: A Step-by-Step Guide, Shipping Container as a Gun Safe (Yay or Nay? Just make sure to check your guns warranty before running it, just in case. This grit and mess gets between the case and chamber wall and acts like sand paper. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and how well your particular firearm handles different types of ammunition. This build up can cause stuck cases. The extractor may be the first part to show wear, but the wear is going on nonetheless. A variation of the _gat cookie set by Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to allow website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. Most of the curved section of the bullet has a Secant (VLD-style) ogive for low drag. Also, I have found it easier to find steel cased ammo as opposed to brass-cased ammo on store shelves. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. Do that with steel cases. God I hate ammo snobs. Steel cased ammo is not bad for AR-15s. It is only bad for people who suck at math. People will claim that the steel will w the case is steel and the bullet has a mild steel jacket with a thin copper coating. The money you saved on steel I have never seen anyone check ammo with a magnet, so I have no idea if this is true. Better not tell the hundreds of AK shooters whom are shooting thousands of Steel cased 7.62X39 rounds per day, here and world wide. There is a higher risk of sparks and a fire starting with steel core rounds. In short, the bullets offer maximum aerodynamics from a bullet that is also forgiving about seating depth, making them an ideal projectile for hunting in conditions where shots can be on the long side and one that will shoot well in more rifles. In my not-so-humble-opinion, this is a cop-out to let companies brush off shooters who want to run cheap ammo in their gun. Then after it is worn out and too brittle to be used, I can turn it in for weight and get some money back!!! However, it is much, Read More How To Inspect A Gun Before Buying?Continue, Guns have all kinds of different parts. Also you will notice a lot of lacquer coating all the parts and this over time can cause a malfunction. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Some shooters believe that aluminum cased ammo can cause damage to your firearm. Google DoubleClick IDE cookies are used to store information about how the user uses the website to present them with relevant ads and according to the user profile. However, there is an issue: some ammo is steel jacketed, so it has a layer of steel on top of a standard lead bullet. It does not store any personal data. Provided by Google Tag Manager to experiment advertisement efficiency of websites using their services. The guns are just slightly over-gassed to ensure reliable operation with underpowered cheap ammo. Why Should You Practice Dry Fire Shooting Drills At Home? But are they really? Have you searched on extractor wear with steel cased ammo? This means that they are less prone to fragmenting. Brass Ammo Pros & Cons Brass ammo is generally considered to be better than steel-cased ammo because it creates a better chamber seal than steel. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. A value-priced red dot with a full set of features. I shoot steel case all the time in my ARs but haven't tried it in a pistol yet. An example would be in comparing 7.62x39 mm and 5.56 NATO. Basically, I feel it is the same as global warming, scientists just dont fully understand or know but they getRead more . The lacquer will soften, and if the round sits in the chamber as it cools, it can make extraction more difficult in firearms not designed with a generous chamber. Woodbury said prices and availability for hunting ammo already have started to stabilize. Americas oldest Second Amendment News outlet. Its a small price to pay for the substantial savings steel ammunition provides over brass cased ammunition. Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who in addition to his mastery of prose, can wield a camera with expert finesse. Steel is also able to work in more temperatures than brass and tends to last longer. This is because Berdan primers dont contain an anvil. It needs to be strong enough to withstand a lot of stress. Your Arsenal build will be fine with it. Is it safe for my gun? But if you skimp on cleaning your guns, you might want to be careful if doing a lot of shooting with steel cased ammo as carbon buildup may start to cause reliability issues. These rounds are often maligned for performance, reliability, and being generally inferior to brass-cased ammo. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Steel case ammo is cheaper to shoot and generally works well in most firearms, but does have some downsides. Larry, who is a family man and a gun enthusiast, enjoys keeping his collection in pristine condition. Is there a difference between steel cased and brass cased ammo? This causes carbon build up between the case and the chamber wall. I tried the winchester steel case ammo. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I am not sure that steel cased ammo would wear out anything faster than brass, and would like documentation rather than theory on this. While a more expensive option than brass, steel is a very durable, resilient metal. You can reload them. The other problem with steel cased ammo is that the cases dont expand the same way that brass cases do. Playing with steel targets is risky, if you must do it then do it on a private range when you are alone, set something in front of your shooting bench to deflect spent or partly powered rounds that might come back, I have sections of cut up oil tank steel in front of my bench , and sand bags on top of it with as little of me exposed as possible. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. It caused alot of feed problems in my Kimber Ultra Carry II 3". I was told that it would tend to wear the ejector quicker because it was harder than brass. He also likes to take his kids shooting as often as possible. Read More Why Should You Practice Dry Fire Shooting Drills At Home?Continue, You may end up seriously hurting both yourself and those closest to you if you conceal a firearm in the wrong way. A steel case is also prohibited because a magnet will attract it, thus making it more difficult to check for steel-core ammunition. Today we only have to wait one week to get the opposite answer to what they just said yesterday. Does the Russian military use steel cased ammo? Even then, is the small savings worth the time and patience that it takes to reload? What are the disadvantages of steel cased ammo? Thats why I bought an under-seat rifle rack from 4WheelOnline. Bottom line: most modern firearms will have no issues whatsoever running with steel-cased ammo, but I would still recommend thorough lubrication and regular cleaning. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. My understanding is that you cannot reload the steel cases. However, this is in large part due to your particular firearm. Non brass ammo is my JIC prepper ammo. But for people who reload, shooting steel cased ammo may actually be more expensive. One of the biggest misconceptions is since These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. There is literally no danger to your firearms steel parts when using aluminum cased ammo. Is My Flash Hider or Muzzle Brake Removable. After draining the fluids, taking out the battery and all the plastic and seats and removing the shocks it was more work than it was worth. Another common reason people give for not shooting steel-cased ammo is how dirty it is. So, not only is it a sustainable material, but it also has a minimal impact on the environment. In my own experience, the accuracy of steel cased ammo in my rifles really is not that much worse than lower-end brass cased ammo. - AllOutdoor.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bzPRtn29u0, Spotting Scope for 1000 Yards: How to Achieve Maximum Accuracy, 209 Primers for Muzzleloaders: The Best Ones for Your Gun, This div height required for enabling the sticky sidebar, 2022 Yestactical.com We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I suggest trying a box or two before buying a large quantity. Nope. Some people believe that aluminum cased ammo is bad for your gun, but this is not necessarily true. Steel case ammo will not harm any part of your firearm. The __gads cookie, set by Google, is stored under DoubleClick domain and tracks the number of times users see an advert, measures the success of the campaign and calculates its revenue. Ammo Deals: ZSR Ammunition 9mm 124 Grain FMJ 1000 Rounds $259.99 FREE S&H, AR-15 Barrel Length Does It Even Matter? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Wolf .223 55 grain ammo is one of the most popular types of steel-cased ammo that I shoot through my guns. 1 Why is steel case ammo bad for your gun? Any sparks from a steel round might also spark a fire, which is more likely. Then, Winchester jumped into the steel-cased market. If I had a junk yard it would be worth it. Alexa analytics service - keep track on user informations. Accidental shootings are a big problem, and they happen all over the world. How can I stop being frustrated while reading? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Absolutely not for a lot of my guns. A lot of my guns are former Soviet bloc guns, specifically designed for steel case ammo. My guns that feed ste This can, however, be compensated with coating, but some worry that this coating could build up in your firearm and create long-term issues. Ammo with steel cores has a smaller steel bullet that is coated with lead on the outside. Steel-cased ammo may also be associated with an increased fire risk because it tends to cause more sparks than bullets without steel cases. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when doing so: That said, if you do choose to use aluminum bullets, be sure to clean your gun frequently and check for any signs of wear and tear. Some shooters believe that aluminum cased ammo can cause damage to your firearm. Same load as their white box ammo with exception to using steel cases. This might in some cases make them easier to extract possiblybut also explains the excess dirt build up. Well, there are a couple of good reasons. Backstops or traps made of steel will be damaged if steel core rounds are fired into them. Stand a cartridge of each design beside each other vertically and compare the sidewalls. They also claim that using aluminum cases can help reduce weight, which makes carrying your ammunition easier. Others claim that there is no difference between aluminum and brass cased ammo. While the steel used in the ammos casings is relatively mild, and thus not terribly hard, it is still harder than brass. Bill, I know that there has been testing on it, though I dont have them bookmarked. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Price. However, some shooters believe that the softer metal can cause more wear and tear on your guns barrel and chamber. This makes a very strong piece of metal. If the gun is broken in first with brass cased ammo this helps seal the gas system somewhat which will make the lower powered steel cased ammo work a bit better. Thus you have less blowback into the chamber and the receiver. I disagree on the viability of steel cased ammo in weapons when the mfg states otherwise. | The Gun Owner The Gun Owner 558 subscribers Subscribe 893 100K views 3 years ago #TheGunOwner #Californiaguns This is because most steel-cased ammo uses a mild steel core, and is difficult for ranges to differentiate from armor-piercing steel-core ammo which would quickly destroy targets. It is strong enough to withstand the stress of firing, yet light enough to allow for high-speed projectiles. You save a few dollars, but usually give up good accuracy. Wolf Ammunition is NOT bad for your gun. So, should you shoot steel cased ammo through your rifle or pistol? Its a bolt gun and doesnt care. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The jury is still out on this one. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. So, there is no benefit to using cast aluminum over regular aluminum when making bullets. For most people, it doesnt really matter at all. Because the bullet doesnt have a solid lead core, it is called a steel core .A copper jacket can be found on steel core ammunition, making it difficult to distinguish steel core from non-steel core ammo. While I dont generally recommend steel cased ammo, its not going to hurt your rifle in limited amounts. No problems. But is there really a difference between the two types of ammunition, particularly over a long period of time? steel rusts, so cases have to be lacquered to control corrosion. Different shooters prefer different ammo casings for different reasons. Cutting open the bullet and inspecting its composition is the only way to tell the difference. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. This is because brass cased ammo can be reloaded multiple times, and it is possible to reload ammo for around the same price per round as steel cased ammo can be bought. Bullets With Steel Cases Versus Bullets With Steel Cores, Concealed Carrier Stops Mass Shooting After Being Shot in the Head Himself, DampRids on Gun Safes (Should You Use Them? bigdogbuc Banned Joined Mar 22, 2012 2,112 Posts Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Tacoma, Washington 98424 USA, 2023 Rainier Ballistics | The Journey To The Top Demands Peak Performance, What is a Bull Barrel Bull Barrel Variations and Benefits. Envision the contact surfaces with the chamber as the cartridge case is being extracted. This causes carbon build up between the case and the chamber wall. Steel-cased ammo is not necessarily less reliable or accurate than brass. Are Berger hybrid bullets good for hunting? The pellets weigh one-third less than lead pellets of the same size. With the ammo supply issue nowadays, steel-cased ammo is significantly cheaper than brass-cased, sometimes less than half the price. It even sometimes says that it ISNT reloadable for those that dont understand it from the names. Unless you plan to reload the spent cases, Id say the steel is fine for general purposes, leaving price as the only consideration. I suggest trying a box or two before buying a large quantity. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This may be true in some cases, but it depends on the make and model of your firearm. The same considerations can be utilized with pistol ammunition, especially when used in semi- and full-auto firearms. I have a Glock 17 that has yet to see brass cased ammunition. What are the disadvantages of brass ammo? Despite its rarity, some gun ranges still prohibit steel-cased ammunition. If the gun is broken in first with brass cased ammo this helps seal the gas system somewhat which will make the lower powered steel cased ammo work a bit better. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? What does it mean when your boyfriend takes long to reply? Copper bullets may be lighter than lead bullets, but they are also harder. If I were to try ANY steel cased ammo, it would be the new Hornady stuff. Some people might think that using cast aluminum instead of regular aluminum for bullets would make them stronger. To add to a excellent list of reasons,some ranges use rubber peices in the backstops and if steel can start fires on certain outdoor ranges with grass. I seen problems with stuck cases in AR type rifles. Occasionally, people use a gun range and do not pick up after themselves, leaving shells on the ground after they have fired. It is even worse if you fire a bunch of steel cased ammo then fire brass cased right behind it in a dirty chamber. 3 What are the disadvantages of steel cased ammo? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The ferrous bi-metal jackets found on most steel-cased ammo will not damage the rifling of your AR and are perfectly safe to use on any rifle-rated backstop. Vortex to take over customer service and support for the app. Our range has a two mile backstop so there is no limit except, no tracers. What are the pros and cons of using steel-cased ammo? Sounds like a good argument - until you remember that the steel in your chamber is MUCH harder than the The direct-impingement AR-15 can be ammo sensitive especially when not ran, wet. Finally, cast aluminum can be recycled over and over again without losing any of its strength or quality. I agree that the price of steel cases has gone through the roof so the affordable ones are only made in hard plastic. In general, any type of ammunition can be harmful to your gun if it is not properly cleaned and maintained. Wolf and the like are so dirty to shoot. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. For example, a steel-cased .45 ACP is essentially a straight-walled case, but the working pressures are around 20,000 psi which make extraction easier. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. That way you wont get stuck with a bunch of ammo that you cant use if it doesnt work in your particular gun. It is not uncommon to find steel-cased ammunition made in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union using steel-core bullets, which are steel slugs encased in a thin layer of lead. The 556 has little taper. And always follow the manufacturers instructions for cleaning and maintenance. The other problem with steel cased ammo is that the So unless youre looking for an inexpensive way to practice shooting, its probably not worth using aluminum bullets. Well, it depended on the action and type more than anything. Availability may be different depending on where you live. One difference between steel-cased rifle and pistol ammo is the working chamber pressure. generally not that bad, depending on what the coating is, you may have to clean the chamber more after shooting. The main drawback is that you can In fact that's all they use in the Comblock countries. As stated above, as long as it's softer than the steel parts that are coming in contact with it then there shouldn't be a problem, should there? (Video) HERE'S WHY YOU CAN'T SHOOT STEEL CASED Lets take a closer look. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is partly due to the design of the tapered case, which enhances extraction regardless of case-material composition. No, not for any well made gun. It was never engineered to be reloaded, while it isRead more . Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? Aluminum is a softer metal than lead, so it will not produce as accurate a bullet as lead. Our Sitemap. So experiment a little and see which type works best for you! Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Some Glocks will indeed eat anything, others not quite. These 5.56 cartridges push a 62 grain projectile designed with a boat tail, lead core, and a special steel penetrator tip. As its name suggests, steel-cased ammo utilizes steel for its shell casings instead of brass (or in the case of older Soviet ammo, bi-metal). The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to. On the other hand, the 9 mm, especially in military loads, is twice the pressure of the .45 ACP. In testing done by LuckyGunner Labs, rifles using Federal brass cased ammo were still shooting decent groups up to 10,000 rounds. WebAnswer (1 of 2): No, I do not believe you can/will damage your firearm solely because you were shooting aluminum cased ammunition. On the other hand, the 9 mm, especially in military loads, is twice the pressure of the .45 ACP. Now, miraculously, steel-cased ammo will no longer hurt your gun. The only ammo that's is affordable to go blasting with in an AK47 or 74 is Wolf. And for quite The test_cookie is set by doubleclick.net and is used to determine if the user's browser supports cookies. This is not actually due to the steel case, but the Bi-metal steel jacket of the bullet that most steel-cased rounds have. http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu18.htm, http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/. When hes not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly, and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country. Thus, inspecting a gun before buying is a crucial thing. Its not as powerful, clean, or pretty as brass-cased stuff, but it runs fine if your gun is properly-gassed. Those of that opinion are quick to reference extractor breakage or failure, especially in the AR-15/M16 platforms.In reality, its not the steel cartridge case thats the problem. While I dont generally recommend steel cased ammo, its not going to hurt your rifle in limited amounts. The same held true a few years later when Russian Saigas, Mosin Nagants, and SKS carbines hit the market -but not for those guns. Steel is harder on these guns than brass, so it can jam. How do you handle misunderstandings between you and your special someone? Therefore, understanding why certain rules were created will enable you to better perceive how a gun range operates and what factors are involved with using and operating a gun range. A shell contains a firing primer and gunpowder. I wouldn't use steel case ammo in any gun, except for an AK47 or SKS 7.62x39 type rifle. At what point is the marginal product maximum? Many people in wheelchairs shoot firearms. This is why cast aluminum is used for things like engine blocks and transmission housings. This was even more the case a few years ago when most companies made sure their guns were precisely gassed. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Theres nothing wrong with Russian steel-cased ammo, other than it smells like somebody has thrown a cat on a trash fire. I took one car to the crusher years ago. Both bores and barrels of the rifles that fired steel-cased/bimetal jacketed ammunition were basically unserviceable. It doesnt contract as fast as brass does, but you can shoot it in a bolt or lever gun without any problem. One difference between steel-cased rifle and pistol ammo is the working chamber pressure. Pure greed is what it is when it comes to indoor ranges. It is not possible to reload steel cases. Steel case ammo is cheaper to shoot and generally works well in most firearms, but does have some downsides. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The ferrous bi-metal jackets found on most steel-cased ammo will not damage the rifling of your AR and are perfectly safe to use on any rifle-rated backstop. From what I can tell and have seen/read..since steel is less malleable than brass, the cases dont fireform as well to the chamber when fired. Finally, aluminum ammo is typically more expensive than lead ammo. Ive been to some shooting ranges, and this actually bothered me quite a bit. I shot thousands of rounds of it in AKs SKS with out trouble. Brass ammo is generally considered to be better than steel-cased ammo because it creates a better chamber seal than steel. Envision the contact surfaces with the chamber as the cartridge case is being extracted. No. It's annealed to be soft. A lot of old surplus stuff was laquer coated and could gum up chambers. If a round was fired in a hot chamber and coo The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. Personally I do not use steel case ammo in ARs. Winchesters USA-Forged steel-cased ammo performed as well or better than comparable brass-cased ammo in my guns. Brass is better at this sealing action because it is more malleable than steel.

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