Reloading with Steel Cases?

ScottRiqui · June 7, 2010, 02:58 PM

Looking through Lee's Modern Reloading, I found this:

"Steel cases were used in World War II when brass was scarce. Steel cases are reloadable."

But Speer's Reloading Manual #13 has this to say on the topic:

"Foreign military rifle and pistol ammunition is often loaded in steel cases, which are not suitable for reloading."

Lee's advice notwithstanding, does anyone actually reload steel cases?

**Unclenick** · June 7, 2010, 03:58 PM

Have done it accidentally in a progressive loading .45 ACP. As long as they are Boxer primed, this can be done, but the extra effort needed on the sizing die was really obvious and didn't seem likely to be good either for the press or the dies in terms of wear.

Darren007 · June 7, 2010, 05:10 PM

There was an article in "Shooting Times" magazine not too long ago about reloading steel cases. The reloading editor gathered up some steel cases from a range and reloaded them. If I remember they were .45acp. Anyway, he was successful in reloading them however, several of them had split after firing. He advised that you could probably get a max of 1-2 reloads out of them before they were junk.

So yes, it can be done. Is it worth it? I guess thats up to the indivdual.

scsov509 · June 7, 2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

does anyone actually reload steel cases

Uncle Nick's got it right, can be done but is hard. I've loaded a fair share of steel 223 and 45 cases just because I wanted to see for myself how it worked. Steel is a lot less malleable than brass, so it simply doesn't resize the same way. It is more work, harder on your dies and press, and it is more prone to splitting because of it's hardness. Do some searching and you'll find a lot of threads in this forum on the subject if you're still interested.

**Unclenick** · June 9, 2010, 12:20 PM

Should mention, if it isn't obvious, if you pick up a lot of range foundlings in auto pistol, you probably won't always notice the color difference between a steel case and an aging one with a serious patina. Here, the magnet is your friend and sorts the steel out quickly.

chris in va · June 9, 2010, 08:18 PM

I run a strong magnet through my range scavenge to weed out the steel crap.

June 7, 2010, 03:58 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Have done it accidentally in a progressive loading .45 ACP. As long as they are Boxer primed, this can be done, but the extra effort needed on the sizing die was really obvious and didn't seem likely to be good either for the press or the dies in terms of wear. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 7, 2010, 05:10 PM	#3
Darren007 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,053	There was an article in "Shooting Times" magazine not too long ago about reloading steel cases. The reloading editor gathered up some steel cases from a range and reloaded them. If I remember they were .45acp. Anyway, he was successful in reloading them however, several of them had split after firing. He advised that you could probably get a max of 1-2 reloads out of them before they were junk. So yes, it can be done. Is it worth it? I guess thats up to the indivdual. Last edited by Darren007; June 7, 2010 at 05:18 PM.

June 9, 2010, 12:20 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Should mention, if it isn't obvious, if you pick up a lot of range foundlings in auto pistol, you probably won't always notice the color difference between a steel case and an aging one with a serious patina. Here, the magnet is your friend and sorts the steel out quickly. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 7, 2010, 02:58 PM	#1
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Reloading with Steel Cases? Looking through Lee's Modern Reloading, I found this: "Steel cases were used in World War II when brass was scarce. Steel cases are reloadable." But Speer's Reloading Manual #13 has this to say on the topic: "Foreign military rifle and pistol ammunition is often loaded in steel cases, which are not suitable for reloading." Lee's advice notwithstanding, does anyone actually reload steel cases?

June 9, 2010, 08:18 PM	#6
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I run a strong magnet through my range scavenge to weed out the steel crap.