CCI Aluminum cases now Boxer primed?

iraiam · May 4, 2014, 07:13 PM

I would up with a fired CCI Blazer 9mm aluminum case in my range bag.

I went to toss it in my recycle bin and noticed that it was boxer primed, my Dillon was still set up for 9mm, and sure enough, the thing loaded right up.

I'm not going to fire it, but it seems strange that they would make these with Boxer primer pockets now, they still say N R on the head stamp (for Non Reloadable).

KMAX · May 4, 2014, 07:20 PM

Quote:

CCI Aluminum cases now Boxer primed?

How were they primed before? Were they not primed the same way as brass?

kerreckt · May 4, 2014, 07:20 PM

All the ones I have ever seen were/are boxer primed. I have loaded some and they shot just fine. I take that back. I just dug through my reject bucket and found some Berdan primed CCI AL cases

iraiam · May 4, 2014, 07:21 PM

All the CCI aluminum I ever bought in the past were all Berdan primed. I will say, I have not bought any for quite a while.

KMAX · May 4, 2014, 07:22 PM

Perhaps they are primed the same as brass as a cost saving effort.

jmorris · May 4, 2014, 07:23 PM

The 45 aluminum cases have been that way for a long time.

You are thinking correctly to not reload and fire them though.

They will load and fire again, most will split and erode the chamber over time. Know a guy that did so for a few months and had to replace the Kart barrel on his 1911. He wound up not saving any money...

Valornor · May 4, 2014, 07:29 PM

I've heard that you can reuse AL cases for one or two firings before the case mouth splits. The biggest problem is they are usually Berden Primed.

I would guess they found a cheaper source that makes boxer primers more practical then berden.

KMAX · May 4, 2014, 07:32 PM

Not trying to hijack, but does anybody else make aluminum cased ammo? I have never seen any other than CCI Blazer.

chiefr · May 4, 2014, 10:44 PM

I have fired Blazers when they first came out in the 80. They were all Berdan primed.
I too heard they were making new ones using boxer priming. I have not seen any.
As far as reloading, no way.

pctechdude · May 4, 2014, 10:53 PM

I have some 40 s&w aluminum cases on their 6th reload. Using a rainier 135gr plated bullet with 5.6gr hp-38. I'll toss them soon, but with a wimp load like that, they've stood up well. I shoot those out of my M&P 40 compact. No issues so far.

g.willikers · May 5, 2014, 08:35 AM

I've tried reloading aluminum cases, too.
They worked.
No real reason to do it, with all the readily available brass just laying around.
But they would do, in a pinch, though.

May 4, 2014, 07:13 PM	#1
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,057	CCI Aluminum cases now Boxer primed? I would up with a fired CCI Blazer 9mm aluminum case in my range bag. I went to toss it in my recycle bin and noticed that it was boxer primed, my Dillon was still set up for 9mm, and sure enough, the thing loaded right up. I'm not going to fire it, but it seems strange that they would make these with Boxer primer pockets now, they still say N R on the head stamp (for Non Reloadable). __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

May 4, 2014, 07:20 PM	#3
kerreckt Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2011 Location: SE VA. Posts: 216	All the ones I have ever seen were/are boxer primed. I have loaded some and they shot just fine. I take that back. I just dug through my reject bucket and found some Berdan primed CCI AL cases Last edited by kerreckt; May 5, 2014 at 07:22 AM.

May 4, 2014, 07:21 PM	#4
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,057	All the CCI aluminum I ever bought in the past were all Berdan primed. I will say, I have not bought any for quite a while. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

May 4, 2014, 07:22 PM	#5
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Perhaps they are primed the same as brass as a cost saving effort. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

May 4, 2014, 07:29 PM	#7
Valornor Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 244	I've heard that you can reuse AL cases for one or two firings before the case mouth splits. The biggest problem is they are usually Berden Primed. I would guess they found a cheaper source that makes boxer primers more practical then berden. __________________ NM M1A, HK Mk 23, Benelli M4, Ar-15 Lower, CZ 2075 RAMI (P) 9mm, Barrett MRAD .338LM Looking for a new blog dealing with firearms and reloading, check out http://theheadstamp.com/

May 4, 2014, 07:23 PM	#6
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	The 45 aluminum cases have been that way for a long time. You are thinking correctly to not reload and fire them though. They will load and fire again, most will split and erode the chamber over time. Know a guy that did so for a few months and had to replace the Kart barrel on his 1911. He wound up not saving any money...

May 4, 2014, 07:32 PM	#8
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Not trying to hijack, but does anybody else make aluminum cased ammo? I have never seen any other than CCI Blazer. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

May 4, 2014, 10:44 PM	#9
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I have fired Blazers when they first came out in the 80. They were all Berdan primed. I too heard they were making new ones using boxer priming. I have not seen any. As far as reloading, no way.

May 4, 2014, 10:53 PM	#10
pctechdude Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2013 Posts: 159	I have some 40 s&w aluminum cases on their 6th reload. Using a rainier 135gr plated bullet with 5.6gr hp-38. I'll toss them soon, but with a wimp load like that, they've stood up well. I shoot those out of my M&P 40 compact. No issues so far.

May 5, 2014, 08:35 AM	#11
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	I've tried reloading aluminum cases, too. They worked. No real reason to do it, with all the readily available brass just laying around. But they would do, in a pinch, though. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”