reloading Steel surplus cases

Death from Afar · May 10, 2005, 06:36 PM

I am not sure why you would want too, but out of curiosity is it possible to reload a Mil surp steel case?

Poygan · May 10, 2005, 06:41 PM

I've reloaded .45 acp steel cases. In my poorer and youthful days, I've even reloaded WWII steel cases with a Lyman 310 tool. Now that's dedication!

I have stopped the practice.

locked'n'cocked · May 10, 2005, 06:42 PM

i have been wondering the same thing for a while, myself. maybe pick up a bunch of wolf ammo cheap and be able to still reload the cases?

dodgestdshift · May 10, 2005, 07:38 PM

I was reloading Wolf ammo, until I got a couple with small flash holes. They pulled the depriming pin out of the die, and tied up the case in the shell holder which I couldn't remove. I had to use a screwdriver to pry out the case. I dumped the cases after that.

G56 · May 10, 2005, 07:39 PM

Is it possible? Yes
Is it worth the trouble? NO!

Death from Afar · May 10, 2005, 08:45 PM

What problems do you strike G56?

CaptainRazor · May 10, 2005, 09:54 PM

I've done it...mostly for the novelty of it.

Also, I needed a little bit of ammo to use in places where case recovery was going to be next to impossible.

The problems I found are, (as mentioned) small flash holes that will let the decapping pin punch out the old primer, but grab it on the downstroke of the press ram. Then it pulls the decapping pin out of the die.

Also, if you're not really careful, you'll end up with a Berdan primed case (a make other than Wolf) and break or damage the decapping pin.
They are hard to resize, ugly as hell, and in general, not very well made.
The primer holes are sometimes oversized, the cases get bend up really easy and don't resize/expand correctly, the case lengths are all over the place, a steel case will all but destroy a trimmer cutter, the list goes on.

If you can afford to buy Wolf ammo to shoot for the cases, you can afford to buy some decent brass to reload. I don't recommend reloading steel/bi-metal cases, it's really not worth it.

I too, have long since stopped the practice. I found it was a whole lot easier to lose some brass cases, rather than to fight with the steel ones for reloading.
As always, your mileage may vary.

G56 · May 10, 2005, 11:39 PM

I would imagine the steel cases are a bit hard on the resizing dies also!

When I'm shooting my AR where I can't pick up the brass, that's when the Wolf comes out!

cheygriz · May 13, 2005, 04:50 PM

Many years ago, when I was young and poor, I was given a case of 1,000 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. This ammo was steel cases. I reloaded each case 5 times.

It worked, and I had the opportunity to shoot, but boy was it a PITA!!!!!!

Since then, I've made it a point to never be that poor again!

Everybody prolly oughta try it once just for the heck of it, though. But you prolly oughta start out loading 10 rounds. That oughta be enought to cure ya!

gschwertley · May 27, 2005, 08:43 PM

I have successfully reloaded Hungarian 1943 dated 8x56R rifle cases, but only of necessity due to rarity at the time.

May 10, 2005, 06:36 PM	#1
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	reloading Steel surplus cases I am not sure why you would want too, but out of curiosity is it possible to reload a Mil surp steel case? __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

May 10, 2005, 06:42 PM	#3
locked'n'cocked Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2005 Location: MN, USof A Posts: 214	i have been wondering the same thing for a while, myself. maybe pick up a bunch of wolf ammo cheap and be able to still reload the cases? __________________ locked 'n' cocked "Make haste, slowly." Wyatt Earp

May 10, 2005, 07:38 PM	#4
dodgestdshift Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Marilla, N.Y. (outside Buffalo N.Y.) Posts: 113	I was reloading Wolf ammo, until I got a couple with small flash holes. They pulled the depriming pin out of the die, and tied up the case in the shell holder which I couldn't remove. I had to use a screwdriver to pry out the case. I dumped the cases after that. __________________ The shortest distance between two politicians is through your wallet. Don N.

May 10, 2005, 07:39 PM	#5
G56 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 302	Is it possible? Yes Is it worth the trouble? NO! __________________ John

May 10, 2005, 08:45 PM	#6
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	What problems do you strike G56? __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

May 10, 2005, 06:41 PM	#2
Poygan Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2004 Posts: 125	I've reloaded .45 acp steel cases. In my poorer and youthful days, I've even reloaded WWII steel cases with a Lyman 310 tool. Now that's dedication! I have stopped the practice.

May 10, 2005, 09:54 PM	#7
CaptainRazor Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2005 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 302	I've done it...mostly for the novelty of it. Also, I needed a little bit of ammo to use in places where case recovery was going to be next to impossible. The problems I found are, (as mentioned) small flash holes that will let the decapping pin punch out the old primer, but grab it on the downstroke of the press ram. Then it pulls the decapping pin out of the die. Also, if you're not really careful, you'll end up with a Berdan primed case (a make other than Wolf) and break or damage the decapping pin. They are hard to resize, ugly as hell, and in general, not very well made. The primer holes are sometimes oversized, the cases get bend up really easy and don't resize/expand correctly, the case lengths are all over the place, a steel case will all but destroy a trimmer cutter, the list goes on. If you can afford to buy Wolf ammo to shoot for the cases, you can afford to buy some decent brass to reload. I don't recommend reloading steel/bi-metal cases, it's really not worth it. I too, have long since stopped the practice. I found it was a whole lot easier to lose some brass cases, rather than to fight with the steel ones for reloading. As always, your mileage may vary.

May 10, 2005, 11:39 PM	#8
G56 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 302	I would imagine the steel cases are a bit hard on the resizing dies also! When I'm shooting my AR where I can't pick up the brass, that's when the Wolf comes out! __________________ John

May 13, 2005, 04:50 PM	#9
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Many years ago, when I was young and poor, I was given a case of 1,000 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. This ammo was steel cases. I reloaded each case 5 times. It worked, and I had the opportunity to shoot, but boy was it a PITA!!!!!! Since then, I've made it a point to never be that poor again! Everybody prolly oughta try it once just for the heck of it, though. But you prolly oughta start out loading 10 rounds. That oughta be enought to cure ya! __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

May 27, 2005, 08:43 PM	#10
gschwertley Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Washington state Posts: 38	Steel Cases I have successfully reloaded Hungarian 1943 dated 8x56R rifle cases, but only of necessity due to rarity at the time.