New upper for "steel match" ammo

Mobuck · September 8, 2018, 08:00 AM

I found a good deal on a pile of Hornady "Steel Match" ammo so I've decided I'm going to have a designated steel case upper. Nothing special, just a diet of 100% steel case ammo. We'll see if things work or break due to the steel cases but I'm doubting I'll note much diff. My S&W 5.45 upper has been working for years on steel case only ammo w/o issues.
If the steel match ammo is as accurate as the brass case Hornady econo grade ammo, I'll be a happy camper.

Ben Dover · September 8, 2018, 09:13 AM

The Hornady steel case is "Match Grade." It should be more accurate than their brass case.

marine6680 · September 8, 2018, 11:07 PM

It uses their match bullets, so barrel life should be good.

The extractor may wear out quicker, and it will be more dirty probably.

Mobuck · September 9, 2018, 07:25 AM

Since the ammo is actually loaded by Hornady, I'm not sure it will be any "dirtier" than other domestic ammo. The 5.45 V-Max Hornady I've used seems no worse than other caliber domestic.

brasscollector · September 9, 2018, 08:33 AM

Are you going to buy an upper off the shelf or build your own? I know certain manufacturers recommend against using steel cased ammo for some reason.

marine6680 · September 9, 2018, 06:35 PM

By dirtier, I mean because of case blowback. Steel doesn't seal the chamber as well.

Manufacturers recommend against steel case for a couple reasons... The main reason is that most steel case is Russian, and has an odd pressure curve that may not cycle an AR well. So they want to avoid warranty claims due to weak ammo. The other reason is that cheap Russian ammo wears out parts faster.

Mobuck · September 9, 2018, 09:58 PM

"Are you going to buy an upper off the shelf or build your own?"
Already assembled (not built), test fired, and zeroed. A jumble of assorted parts including some second hand pieces from the parts box. Brownells BCG, decent standard PSA FCG, 18" rifle gassed barrel from an internet sale, used gas block/tube/handguard, and generic upper BUT it runs like a champ and showed pretty good accuracy with generic commercial reloaded FMJ. I assembled uppers using two of these barrels and this one seems a bit more accurate right off the blocks. The 18" rifle gas was just barely getting enough gas during the initial test firing but a few shots took the edges off and it now does fine.

Marine6680, I understand your comment now. Hadn't really given that much thought. Guess we'll see when the ammo gets here.

bfoosh006 · September 11, 2018, 04:57 PM

Be sure to get a chrome lined chamber. Chrome is about ten times "harder" then steel... so very little chance of steel case "wearing" a chrome lined chamber.

Mobuck · September 11, 2018, 08:15 PM

Melanite inside and out as far as I know.

bfoosh006 · September 12, 2018, 12:20 PM

Melonited Chamber Barrels are better then a SS barrel, IMHO, with steel cases.

Any way I look at it.. the "harder" the chamber surface the better.

BTW, which Steel Match Ammo ? 75gr ?... If so... buy a decent barrel... I repeatedly have hit man-sized steel torso targets at 794yds with 75gr Horn. Steel Training ammo.

And given the Horn. 75gr bullet... it doubles as a GTG SD round. All for about 30cents per round.

T. O'Heir · September 12, 2018, 02:26 PM

The entire upper won't make any difference at all. A steel case only extractor will though.
The material the case is made out of has nothing to do with 'Match' grade either. The bullet does. Just remember that Hornady Steel cased ammo is not reloadable.
You're doing the whole thing backwards too. If you're going to use factory ammo, you buy the rifle first and try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo it shoots best. Not the ammo first and hope a new rifle will shoot it well.

Ben Dover · September 12, 2018, 05:01 PM

Steel cased Match only means that Hornady has decided to load their Match grade bullets in a less expensive steel case so the "unwashed masses" can now afford them,

Mobuck · September 12, 2018, 09:13 PM

The ammo I got is 55 grain flat base HP. I've shot the same bullets in Hornady's brass cased "American Gunner" grade the last two winters with positive results. I'd prefer V-Max bullets for coyotes but the 55HP has done OK out to maybe 300 yards.

September 8, 2018, 08:00 AM	#1
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	New upper for "steel match" ammo I found a good deal on a pile of Hornady "Steel Match" ammo so I've decided I'm going to have a designated steel case upper. Nothing special, just a diet of 100% steel case ammo. We'll see if things work or break due to the steel cases but I'm doubting I'll note much diff. My S&W 5.45 upper has been working for years on steel case only ammo w/o issues. If the steel match ammo is as accurate as the brass case Hornady econo grade ammo, I'll be a happy camper.

September 8, 2018, 09:13 AM	#2
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	The Hornady steel case is "Match Grade." It should be more accurate than their brass case. __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

September 9, 2018, 08:33 AM	#5
brasscollector Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2015 Posts: 526	Are you going to buy an upper off the shelf or build your own? I know certain manufacturers recommend against using steel cased ammo for some reason. __________________ He may look dumb, but that's just a disguise. -Charlie Daniels

September 12, 2018, 02:26 PM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	The entire upper won't make any difference at all. A steel case only extractor will though. The material the case is made out of has nothing to do with 'Match' grade either. The bullet does. Just remember that Hornady Steel cased ammo is not reloadable. You're doing the whole thing backwards too. If you're going to use factory ammo, you buy the rifle first and try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo it shoots best. Not the ammo first and hope a new rifle will shoot it well. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 12, 2018, 05:01 PM	#12
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	Steel cased Match only means that Hornady has decided to load their Match grade bullets in a less expensive steel case so the "unwashed masses" can now afford them, __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

September 8, 2018, 11:07 PM	#3
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	It uses their match bullets, so barrel life should be good. The extractor may wear out quicker, and it will be more dirty probably.

September 9, 2018, 07:25 AM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Since the ammo is actually loaded by Hornady, I'm not sure it will be any "dirtier" than other domestic ammo. The 5.45 V-Max Hornady I've used seems no worse than other caliber domestic.

September 9, 2018, 06:35 PM	#6
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	By dirtier, I mean because of case blowback. Steel doesn't seal the chamber as well. Manufacturers recommend against steel case for a couple reasons... The main reason is that most steel case is Russian, and has an odd pressure curve that may not cycle an AR well. So they want to avoid warranty claims due to weak ammo. The other reason is that cheap Russian ammo wears out parts faster.

September 9, 2018, 09:58 PM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"Are you going to buy an upper off the shelf or build your own?" Already assembled (not built), test fired, and zeroed. A jumble of assorted parts including some second hand pieces from the parts box. Brownells BCG, decent standard PSA FCG, 18" rifle gassed barrel from an internet sale, used gas block/tube/handguard, and generic upper BUT it runs like a champ and showed pretty good accuracy with generic commercial reloaded FMJ. I assembled uppers using two of these barrels and this one seems a bit more accurate right off the blocks. The 18" rifle gas was just barely getting enough gas during the initial test firing but a few shots took the edges off and it now does fine. Marine6680, I understand your comment now. Hadn't really given that much thought. Guess we'll see when the ammo gets here.

September 11, 2018, 04:57 PM	#8
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Be sure to get a chrome lined chamber. Chrome is about ten times "harder" then steel... so very little chance of steel case "wearing" a chrome lined chamber.

September 11, 2018, 08:15 PM	#9
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Melanite inside and out as far as I know.

September 12, 2018, 12:20 PM	#10
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,089	Melonited Chamber Barrels are better then a SS barrel, IMHO, with steel cases. Any way I look at it.. the "harder" the chamber surface the better. BTW, which Steel Match Ammo ? 75gr ?... If so... buy a decent barrel... I repeatedly have hit man-sized steel torso targets at 794yds with 75gr Horn. Steel Training ammo. And given the Horn. 75gr bullet... it doubles as a GTG SD round. All for about 30cents per round.

September 12, 2018, 09:13 PM	#13
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	The ammo I got is 55 grain flat base HP. I've shot the same bullets in Hornady's brass cased "American Gunner" grade the last two winters with positive results. I'd prefer V-Max bullets for coyotes but the 55HP has done OK out to maybe 300 yards.