Ammo question ,non Valk

[da prez]

  I shoot 9mm ,115 grain brass casing for target. I have heard issues with steel casings. Any info pro or con would be appreciated.  Can.t run out now.

                                          da prez

[Bighead]

Steel casings is tough on the extractor.

[DGS65]

I reload 9mm for target ammo I haven't come across steel?  It's all brass but some are nickle plated I have no issue with either.
I have seen steel tip heads which is banned at most ranges.

[old2soon]

I reload 9mm for target ammo I haven't come across steel?  It's all brass but some are nickle plated I have no issue with either.
I have seen steel tip heads which is banned at most ranges.

               The range Ross and I go to when I'm up there read me the riot act on my steel casing .380 ammo I was using that day. ALL my .40 ammo is brass. With my .380 and steel casing have Not had a stove pipe-yet. Good to know steel case hard on the extractor. Ross and I both KNOW to Not use aluminum cased ammo. RIDE SAFE.

[Serk]

I respectfully disagree on steel cased ammo being bad on the extractor or any other part of the gun. The steel used is a very mild steel, while the steel of the extractor and chamber is a much harder steel.

I've shot thousands of rounds of steel cased with no problems I wouldn't have had with brass cased ammo.

IMHO the steel cased ammo thing has become a bit of a holy war thing in some circles, kind of like the firearm equivalent of dark siding your Valk...

[Jess from VA]

I agree with the Serk-man on steel case, except.

1.  It's obviously worth your time to do an interweb search for any discussions about your specific auto with steel cased ammo.  Steel cased ammo in my  __?

2.  And then you buy 25 or 50 of a couple choices and test run it for function and accuracy like any other ammo (and look at the spent cases for peculiarities of extraction, if any).

I think it wouldn't be a first choice for personal defense, but probably a fine choice for range fodder (and squirrels).    

[Serk]

And I'll add - ranges have a vested interest in people being afraid to use non-brass cased ammo.

They generally collect, sort and sell the spent casings. They can't sell the non-brass casings. (Or if they do it's for a drastically reduced bulk scrap rate.)

[Bighead]

I respectfully disagree on steel cased ammo being bad on the extractor or any other part of the gun. The steel used is a very mild steel, while the steel of the extractor and chamber is a much harder steel.

I've shot thousands of rounds of steel cased with no problems I wouldn't have had with brass cased ammo.

IMHO the steel cased ammo thing has become a bit of a holy war thing in some circles, kind of like the firearm equivalent of dark siding your Valk...

Very well, maybe. I have shot some steel case out of my AR with no problems. I had just been told over the years (not by a range) that it was harder on the extractor than Brass. That being said an extractor can be replaced.

[Pete]

Steel on Steel (chamber) or steel on brass. Your money your choice. My choice brass, will not buy steel case will not recommend it.

[TTG53#1717]

I bought an Argentine FM Hi Power clone off GB. It was in very nice shape. Better than represented by the seller. I was stoked.

At the range I put a box of Fiocchi 9mm FMJ through it with no errors.
I switched to Russian steel case and had my 1st malfunction halfway through the 2nd magazine.
The extractor was rolled over and no longer functioned properly.

[Pappy!]

Early on I shot some steel cased stuff. Was not as reliable as brass so no more steel.
To keep costs down I buy bulk, usually a thousand rounds at a time. Has come in handy as I still have enough to go to the range and stay in practice while waiting for the "per round" price to come back down.

[Crackerborn]

I've shot several thousand rounds of Russian steel case 9x19 through my CCW Ruger at the range with no apparent ill affects. I generally shoot 124 gr rounds and load NATO hot HP 7for carry. I always finish with a full magazine of the carry ammo to make sure everything is as it should be before moving on to the next firearm that needs exercise.

[lakehunter]

Over the years I have heard bad things and good comments as well on steel case ammo. I shoot and reload handgun and rifle ammo, usually prefer reloadable brass for that reason. Due to the usually great pricing on steel case I do use some, never a problem in handguns. In rifles, have used them in a .30 carbine and several AR platforms. All steel case ammo brands have some kind of coating to prevent rust / corrosion. This may be a varnish like coating or more modern polymers. The issue for me is not steel on steel galling / jamming but is the coatings melting after rapid fire and sticking fired cases in the chamber. Will usually require a solid rod and some pounding to drive out of the chamber, lots of possibilities for damage. Solution is to utilize a fully chrome lined barrel and chamber, FN makes a great one from machine gun steel and fully lined, in various lengths from 8" to 20". I have the 8, 10 and 14 inch versions and they have no problems with steel case. Never had extractor or ejector issues in rifle or handgun use, just keep them really clean and lubricated as you should anyway. Happy paper punching !

[Jess from VA]

I seem to recall that most Eastern Europe and Russian (commie) steel-case ammo comes with one of two kinds of coatings.

1.  Better polymer coating which usually doesn't burn and gum up actions, and

2.  Varnish or lacquer, which may collect, burn and gum up actions, depending on the firearm.

I think most commie rifles operate both kinds reliably, but not so for non-commie rifles.

I think most AR malfunctions (if any) may be more related to lacquer coating than steel case. (and numbers of rounds fired)