Wolf Casings

DR. Furlicker · February 22, 2008, 11:35 PM

Can anyone tell me if it is OK to reload Wolf .223 steel casings. I loaded one case it sized and primed ok and the bullet seams to have seated properly, but I have not shot it because I was told they are not supposed to be reloaded. Thanks

**Unclenick** · February 22, 2008, 11:48 PM

The reason to avoid them, assuming the .223 Wolf is boxer primed, like their steel .45 ACP counterparts, is the wear they put on dies designed to size and crimp (if you use a crimp) much softer brass. I have a friend with a Dillon 1050, and occasionally a .45 ACP steel Wolf case gets in there. It resizes, but you sure do feel the added load at the handle. We stop and toss it before it gets primed. Also note that the coefficient of friction is higher between two pieces of steel than between steel and brass. Lubrication has to be really, really good to be sure you don't stick one. All in all, not worth it.

P.S. I would also expect the necks to fatigue a lot faster than annealed brass. Watch out for neck splits!

eagle1505 · February 22, 2008, 11:51 PM

You're the first person i've heard of that's been able to size steel casings. They will normally get stuck in the die because steel is not pliable enough to be easily reloaded. What i would most be concerned with is what is this doing to my dies? Steel on steel can't be good.

I've never even heard of anyone recommending reloading wolf steel casings and i'm sure there's reasons for that so i think i would quit while i was ahead i.e. no torn up equipment, yet.

SL1 · February 23, 2008, 12:02 AM

Another issue with steel cases is when and WHERE they will split when fired again (and again). They are not intended to be reloaded, and I don't know how they would eventually fail if fired repeatedly. If the necks eventually split, like brass cases, then that is not a problem. But, if the steel slits axially or circumferentially back by the web, a lot of hot gas is going to get blown out the back of the action, probably into the shooter's face.

For that reason, I personally would not reload steel or aluminum cases unless I found a reliable data source on their eventual failure characteristics.

SL1

TexasSeaRay · February 23, 2008, 01:10 AM

+1 to everything said so far.

Wolf Ammo is the steel-case version of Blazer. Shoot it and leave the casings.

Jeff

DR. Furlicker · February 23, 2008, 08:57 AM

Thanks for the info; The one case I loaded was a little harder to size (I small based it) and I really didn't notice a differance when I seated the bullet. But your replies were logical and you've convinced me that it would not be beneficial pursue this practice.

Sevens · February 23, 2008, 11:02 AM

Scrub brushes, cleaning jags that we ram down the bore of our rifles and pistols and those little toothbrush looking cleaning tools are usually made of brass or nylon because both them are softer than steel. Neither will harm the bore or chamber because they are softer.

That steel cased ammo is usually lacquered up with something to completely cover what would be exposed steel getting chucked violently in and out of the chamber of your rifle.

My guns aren't safe queens... if I own it, I shoot it. But forget reloading steel cased ammo-- I don't care to shoot it in the first place. I probably would in some old chinese milsurp, but beyond that, steel cased ammo isn't something I would buy even with the rising costs these days.

tom234 · February 23, 2008, 02:55 PM

I'm confused. When there are so many brass cases available why would one even consider reloading steel cases ?

scsov509 · February 23, 2008, 03:15 PM

Lots of us have done it and continue to do it. There's a great article at ar15.com on reloading Wolf steel located here http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=423

DR. Furlicker · February 23, 2008, 11:10 PM

scsov509; I read the article at ar15.com, I'm always glad to look at a different point of view but, after considering what I've read so far about excessive wear on the dies possible wear on the chamber makes me question how economical this practice would be even if no other problems occur.

scsov509 · February 24, 2008, 02:44 AM

To each his own. Just saying that it's possible and there are many of us who do in fact load these.

On a side note, welcome to the forum, and what's up with your moniker: Dr. Furlicker?

DR. Furlicker · February 24, 2008, 10:41 AM

It's not what most people assume when they hear it. It started years ago when I bought and sold cattle, I was always giving shots, dehorning or castrating bulls and my cousin who helped me gave me that nickname after the veterinarian on the tv show the Wonder Years. I even had to tell my own mother to get her mind out of the gutter when she asked why I allowed my cousin to call me such a disgusting name.

dogfood · February 24, 2008, 01:03 PM

Some time back, I reloaded some Wolf .45 ACP cases just to satisfy my own curiosity. These were the old style lacquer coated cases. My understanding is they have a different "polymer" coating now, although I doubt that makes much difference for the purposes here.

All of the cases reloaded fine on the first cycle. After trying them a second time, the first three split during the case flaring stage. I gave up at that point. Another shooter told me he was able to get 2-3 successful reloads out of the .45 steel cases before they split. I'm guessing his dies worked the cases less.

Anyway, it was an interesting experiment, but essentially fruitless. I agree with what another shooter stated earlier ... with plenty of brass around (in these particular calibers), I don't see any good reason to mess with the steel.

dogfood

February 22, 2008, 11:35 PM	#1
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	Wolf Casings Can anyone tell me if it is OK to reload Wolf .223 steel casings. I loaded one case it sized and primed ok and the bullet seams to have seated properly, but I have not shot it because I was told they are not supposed to be reloaded. Thanks

February 22, 2008, 11:48 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,733	The reason to avoid them, assuming the .223 Wolf is boxer primed, like their steel .45 ACP counterparts, is the wear they put on dies designed to size and crimp (if you use a crimp) much softer brass. I have a friend with a Dillon 1050, and occasionally a .45 ACP steel Wolf case gets in there. It resizes, but you sure do feel the added load at the handle. We stop and toss it before it gets primed. Also note that the coefficient of friction is higher between two pieces of steel than between steel and brass. Lubrication has to be really, really good to be sure you don't stick one. All in all, not worth it. P.S. I would also expect the necks to fatigue a lot faster than annealed brass. Watch out for neck splits! __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; February 22, 2008 at 11:57 PM. Reason: Added post script

February 23, 2008, 11:02 AM	#7
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Scrub brushes, cleaning jags that we ram down the bore of our rifles and pistols and those little toothbrush looking cleaning tools are usually made of brass or nylon because both them are softer than steel. Neither will harm the bore or chamber because they are softer. That steel cased ammo is usually lacquered up with something to completely cover what would be exposed steel getting chucked violently in and out of the chamber of your rifle. My guns aren't safe queens... if I own it, I shoot it. But forget reloading steel cased ammo-- I don't care to shoot it in the first place. I probably would in some old chinese milsurp, but beyond that, steel cased ammo isn't something I would buy even with the rising costs these days. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 22, 2008, 11:51 PM	#3
eagle1505 Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2008 Posts: 7	You're the first person i've heard of that's been able to size steel casings. They will normally get stuck in the die because steel is not pliable enough to be easily reloaded. What i would most be concerned with is what is this doing to my dies? Steel on steel can't be good. I've never even heard of anyone recommending reloading wolf steel casings and i'm sure there's reasons for that so i think i would quit while i was ahead i.e. no torn up equipment, yet.

February 23, 2008, 12:02 AM	#4
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Another issue with steel cases is when and WHERE they will split when fired again (and again). They are not intended to be reloaded, and I don't know how they would eventually fail if fired repeatedly. If the necks eventually split, like brass cases, then that is not a problem. But, if the steel slits axially or circumferentially back by the web, a lot of hot gas is going to get blown out the back of the action, probably into the shooter's face. For that reason, I personally would not reload steel or aluminum cases unless I found a reliable data source on their eventual failure characteristics. SL1

February 23, 2008, 01:10 AM	#5
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	+1 to everything said so far. Wolf Ammo is the steel-case version of Blazer. Shoot it and leave the casings. Jeff

February 23, 2008, 08:57 AM	#6
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	Thanks for the info; The one case I loaded was a little harder to size (I small based it) and I really didn't notice a differance when I seated the bullet. But your replies were logical and you've convinced me that it would not be beneficial pursue this practice.

February 23, 2008, 02:55 PM	#8
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	I'm confused. When there are so many brass cases available why would one even consider reloading steel cases ?

February 23, 2008, 03:15 PM	#9
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	Lots of us have done it and continue to do it. There's a great article at ar15.com on reloading Wolf steel located here http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=423

February 23, 2008, 11:10 PM	#10
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	scsov509; I read the article at ar15.com, I'm always glad to look at a different point of view but, after considering what I've read so far about excessive wear on the dies possible wear on the chamber makes me question how economical this practice would be even if no other problems occur.

February 24, 2008, 02:44 AM	#11
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	To each his own. Just saying that it's possible and there are many of us who do in fact load these. On a side note, welcome to the forum, and what's up with your moniker: Dr. Furlicker?

February 24, 2008, 10:41 AM	#12
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	It's not what most people assume when they hear it. It started years ago when I bought and sold cattle, I was always giving shots, dehorning or castrating bulls and my cousin who helped me gave me that nickname after the veterinarian on the tv show the Wonder Years. I even had to tell my own mother to get her mind out of the gutter when she asked why I allowed my cousin to call me such a disgusting name.

February 24, 2008, 01:03 PM	#13
dogfood Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2004 Location: Southwestern OH Posts: 239	Some time back, I reloaded some Wolf .45 ACP cases just to satisfy my own curiosity. These were the old style lacquer coated cases. My understanding is they have a different "polymer" coating now, although I doubt that makes much difference for the purposes here. All of the cases reloaded fine on the first cycle. After trying them a second time, the first three split during the case flaring stage. I gave up at that point. Another shooter told me he was able to get 2-3 successful reloads out of the .45 steel cases before they split. I'm guessing his dies worked the cases less. Anyway, it was an interesting experiment, but essentially fruitless. I agree with what another shooter stated earlier ... with plenty of brass around (in these particular calibers), I don't see any good reason to mess with the steel. dogfood