does steel cased ammo hurt your gun does steel cased ammo hurt your gun

A shell contains a firing primer and gunpowder. During World War 1, countries such as Germany experienced a shortage of brass as a raw material and looked to using steel cased ammo as an alternative. They also claim that using aluminum cases can help reduce weight, which makes carrying your ammunition easier. One of them is the excellent LuckyGunner test. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but the majority of them are for companies that collect empty cases for reloading purposes. Cutting open the bullet and inspecting its composition is the only way to tell the difference. When most people think of rifle or pistol cartridges, they think of a shiny brass case with a copper jacketed bullet sitting on top. Its a bolt gun and doesnt care. The __qca cookie is associated with Quantcast. From discussion withRead more . A value-priced red dot with a full set of features. This cookie can only be read from the domain they are set on and will not track any data while browsing through other sites. I tried the winchester steel case ammo. I get paid cash for brass but they dont pay very good on either. I used to shoot steel cased ammo through my Ruger P97 all the time, too. Brass, being less hard than steel, will spring back to a smaller dimension than a steel case will after firing. These 5.56 cartridges push a 62 grain projectile designed with a boat tail, lead core, and a special steel penetrator tip. The majority of steel cased ammo is Berdan primed. The casing is usually made of steel. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If you are buying ammo for home defense or your carry weapon, then DO NOT BUY TulAmmo. Steel-cored rounds have a much greater likelihood of damaging a backstop than lead FMJs do, so theyre nearly universally prohibited on indoor shooting ranges. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Unlock the Benefits of Knowing Your Winchester Serial Number, Complete Buyers Guide to the Sig Sauer P228. The main concern is that the soft metal of the casing can lead to wear and tear on your firearms barrel and chamber. By comparison one was as accurate as the other in group size. As for the increased wear on the barrel, my logic is that I will have saved plenty of money by shooting steel cased ammo that I could buy a new barrel and still be ahead. Opinions vary, but I think the prevailing wisdom is that Yes, steel cased ammunition is hard on extractors. Some people might think that using cast aluminum instead of regular aluminum for bullets would make them stronger. Quantserve sets the mc cookie to anonymously track user behaviour on the website. However, this is not the case. Our Sitemap. The steel case doesn't seal as well so you will get more carbon fouling in the gun. There are times when rules are unclear. 3 What are the disadvantages of steel cased ammo? Some of it is sealed with lacquer that stinks. Different gauge shotshells should not be mixed together because: a smaller gauge shotshell can slip past the chamber of a larger gauge gun and result in serious personal injury. This cookie is used to keep track on user informations and reports it to Alexa analytics service. Price. M855 is often called green tip ammo for its special color coding (the full metal jacket is painted green at the nose). Cartridges or shells of ammo are referred to as casings, not bullets. Each one has its pros and cons and many shooters are firmly entrenched in one camp over the other. The guns are just slightly over-gassed to ensure reliable operation with underpowered cheap ammo. Its not as powerful, clean, or pretty as brass-cased stuff, but it runs fine if your gun is properly-gassed. Accidental shootings are a big problem, and they happen all over the world. Modern production steel-cased ammo is not corrosive, even when Berdan primed and it will not destroy your extractor. The other real downside is that steels coefficient of friction is greater than that of brass, so when the spent casing is being extracted from a hot chamber, it requires more force to break the initial bond. With ammunition in short supply and good ammo priced very high, many people are buying cheaper steel cased, bi-metal jacket ammunition from Wolf, TulAmmo, Herters, etc. Felt recoil was greater with the steel load but not by muchagain that stems from the difference in velocity. Its that way with everything if you noticed. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In this article,, Read More What is a Bull Barrel Bull Barrel Variations and BenefitsContinue. With a price tag well below the average cost of American-made brass-cased ammo, many American shooters on a budget gobbled up the ammo in droves. Would shooting the steel cased ammo damage the pistol in any way? One difference between steel-cased rifle and pistol ammo is the working chamber pressure. As far as man-made issues, many ranges ban the use of steel-cased ammo out of concern for their backstops this is particularly true with indoor ranges. While I dont generally recommend steel cased ammo, its not going to hurt your rifle in limited amounts. However, steel-cased ammo has become popular in recent years primarily due to the substantial price difference between it and brass-cased ammo. There is no other way to put it. If used exclusively however it will reduce the barrel life by YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. Larry, who is a family man and a gun enthusiast, enjoys keeping his collection in pristine condition. With a little fouling, it is easy to see how the more-tapered 7.62x39 mm would be easier to extract than the 5.56 NATO. So, should you shoot steel cased ammo through your rifle or pistol? A tapered case fares much better during extraction, since once the seal is broken and the case moves even the slightest amount to the rear, friction between the case and the chamber is appreciably attenuated. Having said that, I don't use it in my high end guns, The cookie is set by crwdcntrl.net to collect statistical data such as the number of visits, average time spent on site, and what pages have been loaded, for targeted advertising. So, I disagree with all steel case ammo is great. The steel used is a very soft mild steel vs. the very hard feed ramp and chamber. This causes carbon build up between the case and the chamber wall. Another often overlooked advantage is the spent cartridge cases can be policed up with a magnet. YouTube - Store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen - 2. Cast aluminum has a lot of great properties that make it perfect for manufacturing things like bullets: These qualities make cast aluminum an ideal material for making bullets and other ammo components. I have had very few issues with reliability when using steel-cased ammo. It can start a heck of a fire in a rubber backstop medium. The extractor may be the first part to show wear, but the wear is going on nonetheless. Winchesters USA-Forged steel-cased ammo performed as well or better than comparable brass-cased ammo in my guns. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. I have never had a problem with it in my pistols. Generally speaking, its not gonna hurt it. Is steel cased ammo bad for your gun? If depends on the quality of the ammunition and the quality of the firearm. Some lots of ammunition have too Why? As long as I do some research beforehand, I feel more confident, and I dont take the chance of my reputation getting damaged. The 556 has little taper. Steel-cased ammo may also be associated with an increased fire risk because it tends to cause more sparks than bullets without steel cases. Steel casings are therefore coated with a lubricant. Its no secret that the cost of shooting ranges is high. 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). It was founded in 2005. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This anonymous data helps us to better understand users' needs and customize the website accordingly. The steel used for the cases is much softer than that in your gun. The old Soviet Bloc countries have manufactured and used used steel ammunition in their AK platforms since day one, the AK / SKS is somehow designed to Then, the prices skyrocketed. This is why cast aluminum is used for things like engine blocks and transmission housings. I'd buy a little and try it out. Theres nothing about steel-cased ammo that says this has to be the case however, Hornady proved that with their competition-ready Steel Match ammo that is produced with all the quality and attention to detail that any of their other premium offerings are made with. Bullets with steel cases differ from bullets with steel cores. With the current supply and demand issues when it comes to ammo, steel-cased rounds can be found for less than half the price of certain brass-cased cartridges. One reason people give for not shooting steel case-ammo is that it damages their rifle or pistol. Ive reloaded a few 9mm boxer primed steel cases and they work fine. Because steel is cheap and readily available, and the steel required to make shell casings is bottom of the barrel recycled steel. The chamber abso It needs to be strong enough to withstand a lot of stress. The former is utterly reliable in most platforms in which it is chambered. I shot thousands of rounds of it in AKs SKS with out trouble. So, it expands to snugly fit the walls of the chamber. The other problem with steel cased ammo is that the cases dont expand the same way that brass cases do. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Steel cartridge case use in handguns (as well as long guns) has been the source of controversy since their inception. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Most of them are Sig, Beretta and CZs. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and, Read More 5 Helpful Tips for Disabled ShootersContinue, Getting a new gun is not the easiest thing. Another common reason people give for not shooting steel-cased ammo is how dirty it is. This is apparent in higher-pressure cartridges.An example would be in comparing 7.62x39 mm and 5.56 NATO. The pellets weigh one-third less than lead pellets of the same size. It is possible to get steel-cased ammunition for half the price sometimes. This is because Berdan primers dont contain an anvil. The softest of steels has a surface hardness at least 2 1/2 times the surface hardness of annealed brass (on the Brinell scale), that being the case, unless the chamber was manufactured for the use of steel, from a metallurgical standpoint, steel will erode the chamber over time, not just the extractor. Steel is less dense than lead. WebSteel case ammo shouldn't damage your gun, though some guns will have reliability issues with it. 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. While a more expensive option than brass, steel is a very durable, resilient metal. Americas oldest Second Amendment News outlet. This is partly due to the design of the tapered case, which enhances extraction regardless of case-material composition.Although the 5.56 NATO cartridge is slightly tapered, it is not nearly as forgiving as the 7.62x39 mm in a dirty chamber during extraction. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Funny how you didnt mention the elephant in the room RELOADING. Today we only have to wait one week to get the opposite answer to what they just said yesterday. The same considerations can be utilized with pistol ammunition, especially when used in semi- and full-auto firearms. Another problem with steel cased ammo is a lot of it seems to be somewhat underpowered which can cause short stroking issues. This build up can cause stuck cases. To me, this is not a big problem because I regularly clean my rifle. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I am not sure that steel cased ammo would wear out anything faster than brass, and would like documentation rather than theory on this. I shoot steel case all the time in my ARs but haven't tried it in a pistol yet. This means that they are less prone to fragmenting. This is not actually due to the steel case, but the Bi-metal steel jacket of the bullet that most steel-cased rounds have. How can I stop being frustrated while reading? To the firing pin, etc? Youtube - Track the views of embedded videos. In answer to your question specific to the. Steel retains less energy and may not kill birds cleanly at the same ranges. The benefits in favor of steel-cased ammo are mostly economic, making it cheaper to shoot than conventional brass offerings. There are two reasons ranges sometimes ban steel-cased ammo: Steel jackets cause more wear and tear on backstops than copper ones, even though they do not damage backstops to the same extent as steel core rounds. Also, make sure to keep your chamber clean. 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. AKs weren't "designed" to fire steel cased ammunition. Otherwise, you could end up with a gun thats not only ineffective, but also dangerous. This leaves air pockets in the metal, which make it less strong. Yes, you can cast bullets out of aluminum. Maybe NOT, POF 5PK MP5 The Budget Reverse-Stretch Semi Auto from Pakistan, Ammo InStock: PMC Bronze 223 Rem 55 Grain FMJ Ammo 1000 Rounds $397.00 FREE S&H, Survival Deal: Thyrosafe Potassium Radioactive Iodide Tablets $21.95 FREE S&H, Gun Deals: Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol 12 Gauge Shotgun $949.00 FREE S&H, Brownells Coupon Codes www.brownells.com Updated Monthly. Whats The Problem With Shooting Steel-Cased Ammo At The Range? Your Arsenal build will be fine with it. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". You can reload them. This causes additional blowback, which causes more residue buildup in the action. 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. In fact that's all they use in the Comblock countries. 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. No issues with Steel (Tula or Wolf) and full power striker springs, occasional FTE with aluminum and I had one yesterday with Fiocci brass. Is aluminum cased ammo bad? Finally, cast aluminum can be recycled over and over again without losing any of its strength or quality. Don't worry, AKs won't get hurt by the steel case. Not one mention of reloading. bigdogbuc Banned Joined Mar 22, 2012 2,112 Posts It is not possible to reload steel cases. Coffee good, coffee bad, dark chocolate bad, dark chocolate good, eggs bad, eggs good. In addition, there may be surplus ammunition from other countries that have higher lead prices than the United States. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. Well, it depended on the action and type more than anything. The same considerations can be utilized with pistol ammunition, especially when used in semi- and full-auto firearms. In general, any type of ammunition can be harmful to your gun if it is not properly cleaned and maintained. Pre-Covid, steel cased .223 ammo could be found 10-50 cents less per round than brass cased ammo. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Some guns have steel casings because steel holds up better than brass. It is much softer than the steel used to make gun barrels and actions. Russian primers have also proven to prove vulnerable to being punctured, which results in the hot gases of the powder detonating rushing back through the punctured primer onto the bolt face, which can significantly damage the firearm. And, just like with any ammo, bullet weight and twist rate are also big factors when it comes to accuracy. Same load as their white box ammo with exception to using steel cases. The jury is still out on this one. I have also found some deviations is accuracy with different brands of ammo. The old Soviet Bloc countries have manufactured and used used steel ammunition in their AK platforms since day one, the AK / SKS is somehow designed to function with that ammo. And for quite Id take this ammo over a lot of cheap brass out there. The direct-impingement AR-15 can be ammo sensitive especially when not ran, wet. The steel load printed a few inches higher than the brass load, most likely because it chronographed 60 fps faster. The general rule for steel-cased ammo is high-pressure loads in straight-walled cases tend to have more extraction problems than high-pressure loads in tapered cases or lower-pressure loads in straight-walled cases. Higher velocity bullets, such as the .223 Remington, will usually cause more wear. Brass is better at this sealing action because it is more malleable than steel. The bullet traps are not designed to handle steel bullets. Non brass ammo is my JIC prepper ammo. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I asked what ammo they were using and it was the steel case. Unless you plan to reload the spent cases, Id say the steel is fine for general purposes, leaving price as the only consideration. Over time, this can result in decreased accuracy and increased jamming problems. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Because of this, most if not all steel ammo comes with a coating to help extract easier and stay free of rust which can also cause extraction issues. Here are two excellent articles regarding the issues with steel cased ammunition that I always recommend. Also, they dont want steel mixed with that for obvious reasons. Thats it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. My Blog does steel cased ammo hurt your gun In a world where all ammo is accurately loaded, finely-tuned gas systems are ideal, the gun has less felt recoil, lasts longer, and requires less cleaning. 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. That does tend to clean up the excess grass in the range area. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Ammo with steel cores has a smaller steel bullet that is coated with lead on the outside. This makes a very strong piece of metal. 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 Many people in wheelchairs shoot firearms. 5 What are the pros and cons of using steel-cased ammo? I reload, so Ive no interest in shell casings I cant reload. Despite its rarity, some gun ranges still prohibit steel-cased ammunition. There is a lot of debate surrounding aluminum cased ammo and whether or not it is bad for your gun. Everything I have shot through it has been either steel or aluminum cased. Steel case ammo is cheaper to shoot and generally works well in most firearms, but does have some downsides. If you are a reloader, dont bother with the steel cases. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On the other hand, the 9 mm, especially in military loads, is twice the pressure of the .45 ACP. There are different types of coatings (polymer and lacquer), both of which are used as lubricants. Foreign manufacturers often use powders that are dirty and contribute to the chamber fouling. Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: A guy who works at my LGS said some of the russian steel cased stuff has a coating that can leave a gummy residue in the chamber once the gun starts heating up. He also likes to take his kids shooting as often as possible. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cases made of steel cannot be reloaded, so they must be thrown away. It is strong enough to withstand the stress of firing, yet light enough to allow for high-speed projectiles. Envision the contact surfaces with the chamber as the cartridge case is being extracted. Steel case ammo is cheaper to shoot and generally works well in most firearms, but does have some downsides. That using such ammunition is dangerous and will also void the manufacturers warranty. Semi-autos sometimes have problems if the chamber is tight and because it hasnt fully contracted when the extractors try to grab it. I have shot some 9mm in my my SW M&P and my SW 3913, not a lot but some. It is pretty dirty & tends to leave some lacquer when the gun heats up. It doesnt contract as fast as brass does, but you can shoot it in a bolt or lever gun without any problem. Some Glocks will indeed eat anything, others not quite.