Ammo: Brass vs. Steel and Mixing - Page 2

KW Gary M · December 20, 2015, 07:39 AM

I have fired Steel Case ammo in several calibers and have never had a problem. It is cheaper and often times the only thing you can find with the ammo shortage. As posted several times above, I reload most of my practice ammo so I try to buy brass case ammo when I do buy store ammo but I have shot plenty of steel case ammo and it works just fine. I like Trula a lot. It's steel case, cheep and can be found in just about any Walmart.

ms6852 · December 20, 2015, 07:33 PM

I've never had any issues mixing brass and steel ammo at the same time when shooting if done in the correct sequence. Since steel casing does not expand as much as brass does you get more powder residue around the cartridge and chamber so when you use brass cartridges after shooting steel the powder residue from the chamber makes it harder to extract the brass cartridge because it will expand to the walls of the chamber.

If shooting steel and brass at the same time always shoot brass first than the steel. In all my years of shooting I never had a problem.

cryption · December 21, 2015, 09:23 AM

I prefer steel ammo from a cost perspective, but most ranges around me require brass (so they can then sell the brass for additional profit).

Both are fine.

JDBerg · January 8, 2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

...there is a little portion of my brain that wonders if steel, being a harder metal, increases the wear on my pistols just a bit over brass. As the very knowledgeable Mr. Wright points out, I don't have any hard data to confirm my worry, but I would kind of rather my pistols not become part of the data set if it develops.

I have shot probably 2K rounds of .45 ACP TulAmmo steel-cased ammo through my Gen4 Glock 21 with no problems, this ammo is reliable and accurate. I get this gun armored on a regular basis and I have no wear or damage to the chamber, breachface, ejector, or extractor since the last inspection. I don't like 9mm TulaAmmo steel-cased ammo. BrassMaxx and Perfecta 9mm both work fine for me. I also like Federal Champion Aluminum Case ammo in 9mm and .45 ACP.

Ocraknife · January 8, 2016, 11:38 AM

Is there any issue with the coatings on steel cased ammo coming off and building up residue in the chamber?

NINEX19 · January 8, 2016, 11:53 AM

It appears we now have brass plated steel cased ammo to contend with. I have just recently seen this and as a reloader, I am horrified.

https://www.freedommunitions.com/Ame...el-s/58712.htm

I don't mind steel cased ammo and really have nothing against it, but to disguise it as brass cased so as not to be able readily identify it is just terrible.

I wonder also how Freedom Munitions and other companies that buy brass will deal with these as they are sent in for credit or sold as brass. Big magnets?

It raises other questions too.

1) If steel has no adverse effect on a gun, why brass coat it and add expense that is not necessary. The savings over pure brass is not really significant.

2) does this make them more reloadable since they would not be a hard on dies?

3) would something like this be the "wave of the future" and we start seeing more and more companies going this route. That would drive up reloading cost in the long run.

**Mike Irwin** · January 8, 2016, 12:31 PM

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of that either, but I suspect that the brass wash (probably not plating, really) is there for corrosion prevention only.

One of the biggest complaints people have had in the past about steel ammo is that the coatings used on a lot of surplus and foreign steel cased ammo could flake off and build up in the chamber, causing chambering issues.

I know it could also be an absolute bear to remove some of the Russian military lacquers without resorting to some really harsh chemicals.

James K · January 8, 2016, 01:53 PM

The Germans used steel case ammunition almost exclusively from about 1941 on because their supply of copper (the basic component of brass) was severely limited.

The U.S. made large quantities of steel cases for .45 ACP and .30 Carbine, but never fully worked out the problems involved in producing .30-'06 steel cases.

The coating (laquer, copper wash, etc) on steel cases is primarily to prevent rust and corrosion in storage, not to aid feeding or extraction. Some early WWII German ammo did cause problems when the lacquer used flaked off in hot MG chambers and caused chambering problems.

Steel cases are much softer than the steel used in barrels (and reloading dies) and do not cause significant wear in either. But they are stiffer than brass cases and reloading them requires a heavier tool (and more elbow grease) when resizing than brass.

Jim

December 20, 2015, 07:39 AM	#26
KW Gary M Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2009 Location: Key West Posts: 162	I have fired Steel Case ammo in several calibers and have never had a problem. It is cheaper and often times the only thing you can find with the ammo shortage. As posted several times above, I reload most of my practice ammo so I try to buy brass case ammo when I do buy store ammo but I have shot plenty of steel case ammo and it works just fine. I like Trula a lot. It's steel case, cheep and can be found in just about any Walmart. __________________ *To say that guns kill people is to say that automobiles drive drunk and matches commit arson....*

December 20, 2015, 07:33 PM	#27
ms6852 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,394	I've never had any issues mixing brass and steel ammo at the same time when shooting if done in the correct sequence. Since steel casing does not expand as much as brass does you get more powder residue around the cartridge and chamber so when you use brass cartridges after shooting steel the powder residue from the chamber makes it harder to extract the brass cartridge because it will expand to the walls of the chamber. If shooting steel and brass at the same time always shoot brass first than the steel. In all my years of shooting I never had a problem. __________________ ONLY TWO DEFINING FORCES HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES FOR YOU. ONE IS JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR SOUL AND THE OTHER IS THE AMERICAN SOLDIER FOR YOUR FREEDOM.

January 8, 2016, 11:38 AM	#30
Ocraknife Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,117	Is there any issue with the coatings on steel cased ammo coming off and building up residue in the chamber? __________________ "The loudest sound you'll ever hear is a "bang" when you weren't expecting one." -Jimro

January 8, 2016, 12:31 PM	#32
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Yeah, I'm not a big fan of that either, but I suspect that the brass wash (probably not plating, really) is there for corrosion prevention only. One of the biggest complaints people have had in the past about steel ammo is that the coatings used on a lot of surplus and foreign steel cased ammo could flake off and build up in the chamber, causing chambering issues. I know it could also be an absolute bear to remove some of the Russian military lacquers without resorting to some really harsh chemicals. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 21, 2015, 09:23 AM	#28
cryption Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Location: Huntsville, TX Posts: 247	I prefer steel ammo from a cost perspective, but most ranges around me require brass (so they can then sell the brass for additional profit). Both are fine.

January 8, 2016, 11:53 AM	#31
NINEX19 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2001 Location: Washington State Posts: 470	It appears we now have brass plated steel cased ammo to contend with. I have just recently seen this and as a reloader, I am horrified. https://www.freedommunitions.com/Ame...el-s/58712.htm I don't mind steel cased ammo and really have nothing against it, but to disguise it as brass cased so as not to be able readily identify it is just terrible. I wonder also how Freedom Munitions and other companies that buy brass will deal with these as they are sent in for credit or sold as brass. Big magnets? It raises other questions too. 1) If steel has no adverse effect on a gun, why brass coat it and add expense that is not necessary. The savings over pure brass is not really significant. 2) does this make them more reloadable since they would not be a hard on dies? 3) would something like this be the "wave of the future" and we start seeing more and more companies going this route. That would drive up reloading cost in the long run.

January 8, 2016, 01:53 PM	#33
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The Germans used steel case ammunition almost exclusively from about 1941 on because their supply of copper (the basic component of brass) was severely limited. The U.S. made large quantities of steel cases for .45 ACP and .30 Carbine, but never fully worked out the problems involved in producing .30-'06 steel cases. The coating (laquer, copper wash, etc) on steel cases is primarily to prevent rust and corrosion in storage, not to aid feeding or extraction. Some early WWII German ammo did cause problems when the lacquer used flaked off in hot MG chambers and caused chambering problems. Steel cases are much softer than the steel used in barrels (and reloading dies) and do not cause significant wear in either. But they are stiffer than brass cases and reloading them requires a heavier tool (and more elbow grease) when resizing than brass. Jim