[hotshot357]

I'm thinking about getting some of these to shoot at the range. Just wondering if anyone has tried them. The price is good but are they any good. Since they are zinc coated I don't think wear would be a problem. I'm looking forward to your opinions.

 

[MarkCO]

Since they are zinc coated I don't think wear would be a problem.

And that is based on what?

Most of the problem with steel case is not chamber wear from case abrasion, but rather gas blowby due to cases not being sealed to the chamber, like brass does.

When you see a LOT of sooting on a case, that means that 1, the pressure is too low (one of the reasons we have minimum charge weights for loading) or 2, that the case did not remain sealed to the chamber wall long enough for the pressure to drop. This causes gas cutting/cracking in some cases, primer leakage in others. What that can result in is breechface wear, damage to firing pin tips and or actual chamber erosion, again, not from the case, but from the blowby.

Steel cases with an epoxy or high lubricity coating don't soot as bad as brass, but they won't ever seal as well. So the consumer is tricked into thinking it's all good, until their pistol is damaged.

Now you know enough to make a decision. Is the savings on the ammo enough to buy a new slide or barrel?

 

[leekellerking]

Not a choice for me as none of the ranges I shoot at allow steel case ammo.

 

[DeltaFiveBravo]

Buy a box and try them.

That's the only way to validate whether or not they're "any good" in your gun.

 

[Z71bill]

I bought 500 rounds of American steel from Freedom Munitions to test. At the time they were significantly cheaper than reloaded brass from Freedom. Today they cost $.2283, reloaded brass is $.2264 and new brass $.2428.

I would just buy the reloads. That was 4 or 5 years ago and I still have not shot any.

American Steel 9mm 115 gr RN New

Find American Steel - 9mm 115 gr RN New ammo and other great deals today. Order today and save!

www.freedommunitions.com

 

[Z71bill]

And that is based on what?

Most of the problem with steel case is not chamber wear from case abrasion, but rather gas blowby due to cases not being sealed to the chamber, like brass does.

When you see a LOT of sooting on a case, that means that 1, the pressure is too low (one of the reasons we have minimum charge weights for loading) or 2, that the case did not remain sealed to the chamber wall long enough for the pressure to drop. This causes gas cutting/cracking in some cases, primer leakage in others. What that can result in is breechface wear, damage to firing pin tips and or actual chamber erosion, again, not from the case, but from the blowby.

Steel cases with an epoxy or high lubricity coating don't soot as bad as brass, but they won't ever seal as well. So the consumer is tricked into thinking it's all good, until their pistol is damaged.

Now you know enough to make a decision. Is the savings on the ammo enough to buy a new slide or barrel?

How many steel case would I have to shoot out of my G19 before it would be damaged?

I will guess the gun has 3-4K rounds total with 1K being steel. Gun still looks new.

I tested some steel case in all my 9MM pistols - they all functioned without issue. It gives me a good feeling when a gun will function with any ammo - could just be in my head.

 

[MarkCO]

How many steel case would I have to shoot out of my G19 before it would be damaged?

It depends on the gun and the ammo of course. The looser the chamber, the worse. The harder the finish, the better. I have seen 1911s be toast (due to steel case ammo) at under 10K. I've only seen a few Glock .45s have damage due to steel cased ammo, and it was well over 10K.

Probably (I am not giving you advice pro or con to make your informed choice here) you won't see any issues in a 9mm Glock for 10s of thousands of rounds. That said, I am suspect of a few Glocks of GTers here who have had breech face erosion, firing pin breaks and extractor breaks who, in previous posts have said they were shooting steel cased ammo.

 

[ssweet97]

I was under the impression that most ranges won't allow you to shoot steel cased ammo of any kind.

 

[J_Rico]

Most of the problem with steel case is not chamber wear from case abrasion, but rather gas blowby due to cases not being sealed to the chamber, like brass does.

Do Aluminum cases seal the chamber?

No plans to get back into reloading until I retire, if then. So I can probably stop filling my garage with brass.

Wondering if Aluminum cases are good enough. Would be a way to save a bit and keep shooting.

 

[MarkCO]

Do Aluminum cases seal the chamber?

No plans to get back into reloading until I retire, if then. So I can probably stop filling my garage with brass.

Wondering if Aluminum cases are good enough. Would be a way to save a bit and keep shooting.

Yes, much better.

 

[J_Rico]

Yes, much better.

Thanks.

 

[collim1]

I have shot tens of thousands of rounds of aluminum and steel case ammo over the years.

I find steel case ammo dirty becasue it doesn’t seal the chamber up as well, but it shoots fine and havms never damage one of my guns.