reloading steel cases?

eodcoffman · May 30, 2011, 11:07 AM

I've heard that you cant reload steel cases. is that true? will it hurt my pistol dies if i try?

mikejonestkd · May 30, 2011, 11:58 AM

Here's a thread to read on reloading steel cases:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294362

hope this helps.

scsov509 · May 30, 2011, 02:12 PM

You can reload them, and many of us have, but it's not advisable for a lot of reasons including: 1) Steel is harder than brass and can do damage to your dies, 2) Steel is less pliable than brass and more likely to crack or split after even a single firing, and 3) Some steel cases are Berdan primed, meaning you can't reprime them with off the shelf Boxer primers or without some additional work.

Nonetheless, it can be done if you're really committed to it for whatever reason. I've tried myself and decided it's not worth it, but if you want to try then there's a great thread here walking through the process.

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2011, 09:20 PM

I've done it, and it's a pain in the butt.

May 30, 2011, 11:07 AM	#1
eodcoffman Junior Member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Posts: 13	reloading steel cases? I've heard that you cant reload steel cases. is that true? will it hurt my pistol dies if i try?

May 30, 2011, 11:58 AM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	Here's a thread to read on reloading steel cases: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294362 hope this helps. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

May 30, 2011, 09:20 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I've done it, and it's a pain in the butt. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 30, 2011, 02:12 PM	#3
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	You can reload them, and many of us have, but it's not advisable for a lot of reasons including: 1) Steel is harder than brass and can do damage to your dies, 2) Steel is less pliable than brass and more likely to crack or split after even a single firing, and 3) Some steel cases are Berdan primed, meaning you can't reprime them with off the shelf Boxer primers or without some additional work. Nonetheless, it can be done if you're really committed to it for whatever reason. I've tried myself and decided it's not worth it, but if you want to try then there's a great thread here walking through the process.