Another noob question.......

tbogart · June 25, 2012, 11:58 AM

New to reloading, have done about 200 no problems loading and firing. Got an order of 380ACP from Precision Delta that included 10 or 12 what appear to be steel casings. Have heard that steel should not be reloaded. Anyway, reloaded 2 with no problem. Should I fire them or dismantle and toss them?

tkglazie · June 25, 2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Should I fire them or dismantle and toss them?

My general rule of thumb is always "when it doubt, throw it out" (in this case, salvage the bullet/powder by pulling the cartridge apart of course).

You would probably be fine shooting them, but why bother. You only have 2 and they arent going to group the same as your brass cased cartridges anyway so I would just salvage the bullet and if possible, the powder. Shoot the now empty case in your gun (safe direction of course) to kill the primers and then toss the cases is my recommendation.

Edward429451 · June 25, 2012, 12:31 PM

First you should be sure that they are steel. Do they stick to a magnet? The only harm to reload these is to your dies. I'm not saying to reload them because you should be nice to your dies. Any that you have loaded can be shot without worry.

serf 'rett · June 25, 2012, 04:56 PM

Are you sure the cases aren't nickel plated?

dacaur · June 25, 2012, 06:21 PM

+1 on magnet test, (wont work with aluminum though) If you dont have a magnet handy, are they silver or grey? Silver would be nickle plated brass, a shiny or dull dark grey is steel, a dull light grey would be aluminum. Either one of the last two should go in the trash IMO... Well, the aluminum ones go in with the cans after being decapped.

marklyftogt · June 25, 2012, 06:55 PM

Probably nickel but I have seen nickel be a little more brittle. They always seem like the ones to split first. Toss 'e./

tbogart · June 25, 2012, 09:28 PM

Thanks for the input and advice. Into the trash they go.

Misssissippi Dave · June 25, 2012, 10:05 PM

There is one good use for steel or alum. cases in reloading. They make good dummy loads. You can load up the bullet without a primer. You can also glue in a chunk of eraser in the primer pocket. It is good for those times when you are trying to teach someone about proper trigger control.

The end of ammo as we know it would have to happen before I would reload Steel or Alum cases for live ammo.

farmerboy · June 25, 2012, 10:11 PM

I wouldn't load steel, my dies are more expensive than those cases.

June 25, 2012, 11:58 AM	#1
tbogart Junior Member Join Date: June 5, 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2	Another noob question....... New to reloading, have done about 200 no problems loading and firing. Got an order of 380ACP from Precision Delta that included 10 or 12 what appear to be steel casings. Have heard that steel should not be reloaded. Anyway, reloaded 2 with no problem. Should I fire them or dismantle and toss them?

June 25, 2012, 04:56 PM	#4
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	Are you sure the cases aren't nickel plated? __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

June 25, 2012, 12:31 PM	#3
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	First you should be sure that they are steel. Do they stick to a magnet? The only harm to reload these is to your dies. I'm not saying to reload them because you should be nice to your dies. Any that you have loaded can be shot without worry.

June 25, 2012, 06:21 PM	#5
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	+1 on magnet test, (wont work with aluminum though) If you dont have a magnet handy, are they silver or grey? Silver would be nickle plated brass, a shiny or dull dark grey is steel, a dull light grey would be aluminum. Either one of the last two should go in the trash IMO... Well, the aluminum ones go in with the cans after being decapped.

June 25, 2012, 06:55 PM	#6
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	Probably nickel but I have seen nickel be a little more brittle. They always seem like the ones to split first. Toss 'e./

June 25, 2012, 09:28 PM	#7
tbogart Junior Member Join Date: June 5, 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2	Thanks for the input and advice. Into the trash they go.

June 25, 2012, 10:05 PM	#8
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	There is one good use for steel or alum. cases in reloading. They make good dummy loads. You can load up the bullet without a primer. You can also glue in a chunk of eraser in the primer pocket. It is good for those times when you are trying to teach someone about proper trigger control. The end of ammo as we know it would have to happen before I would reload Steel or Alum cases for live ammo.

June 25, 2012, 10:11 PM	#9
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	I wouldn't load steel, my dies are more expensive than those cases.