Reloading steel cases?

[hoz53]

I am wondering if anyone has tried reloading steel bottle neck rifle cases and if it worked and what different procedures you used compared to brass. Im not talking here about berdan priming. More about the working of the case(sizing) I wonder if steel cases would wreck our standard sizing dies among other things. Thanks

 

[Geno C]

I had a friend that tried it just to see. It worked and didn't wreck his dies. He made sure the cases were spotless though

 

[DRNewcomb]

Why ever would anyone want to? On top of everything else, it's almost always berdan primed.

 

['Freak]

Why shoot that mess a first time?

 

[DRNewcomb]

Why shoot that mess a first time?

I wasn't going to go there but that crap really is the bane of my existence. Everyone who shoots it just leaves it in front of the firing benches. I bring a magnetic wand to pick up what I can. The club just rakes it up every few months but ITMT it's like walking on roller bearings.

OBTW, something else not to try loading is blank ammo.

 

[hoz53]

I wasn't going to go there but that crap really is the bane of my existence. Everyone who shoots it just leaves it in front of the firing benches. I bring a magnetic wand to pick up what I can. The club just rakes it up every few months but ITMT it's like walking on roller bearings.

OBTW, something else not to try loading is blank ammo.

Well yes a person should police their brass(steel). Lots of people where i shoot leave brass cases laying all over to. I shoot plenty of brass that i want to keep and id plan on picking up any other i shoot. but if you just want to plink you cant hardly load it for the price of that stuff and i dont have time either.

like Geno said id want to just to see if i could and thats why i asked

I had a friend that tried it just to see. It worked and didn't wreck his dies. He made sure the cases were spotless though

thanks for that info Geno. Mabie ill get some cheap dies just for that?

 

[hoz53]

Why shoot that mess a first time?

somebodies gotta do it--i will make the sacrifice

 

[joshb]

Somebody went down that road with a Mosin Nagant, a few years ago. Mighta been here or mighta been on the Hide. He started his "experiment" and then we didn't hear from him again.......

 

[ranger3]

I have used factory steel in My Tikka 223, never again. They stick, don't eject well and I was told at Cabelas that none of the employees recommended them. I still havery some only to foul barrels with,

 

[jds holler]

I've read just enough about it to know that it can be done, and enough to know that if there is ANY brass to be had that I'll not mess with it. jd

 

[ebb]

I surely don't want to use any of the Russian stuff. However Hornaday made some steel cased ammo that was match ammo in all respects except the case was steel. There idea was if you weren't going to reload just toss the steel and be done with it. That is the one way I might try it, if I had a bunch of the Hornaday cases.

 

[joshb]

I wonder what the annealing temp should be?

 

[DRNewcomb]

I wonder what the annealing temp should be?

Between 1400º and 1650º, depending on the steel.

 

[hoz53]

I wonder what the annealing temp should be?

1. i sure hope i dont go bang and disappear

2. not gonna anneal it

3. some guys stock class is keeping me to busy to shoot it right now anyway

 

[hoz53]

I have used factory steel in My Tikka 223, never again. They stick, don't eject well and I was told at Cabelas that none of the employees recommended them. I still havery some only to foul barrels with,

i should have mentioned ill only be using it in a 308 semiauto that destroys brass so you arent able to reload many of your empties. That is my main reason for shooting it. i wouldnt shoot it in any of my bolt guns inless its an emergency.

 

[hoz53]

I've read just enough about it to know that it can be done, and enough to know that if there is ANY brass to be had that I'll not mess with it. jd

im sure compared to boxer brass it would be a POA

 

[hoz53]

I surely don't want to use any of the Russian stuff. However Hornaday made some steel cased ammo that was match ammo in all respects except the case was steel. There idea was if you weren't going to reload just toss the steel and be done with it. That is the one way I might try it, if I had a bunch of the Hornaday cases.

that is not a bad idea.

 

[joshb]

1. i sure hope i dont go bang and disappear

2. not gonna anneal it

3. some guys stock class is keeping me to busy to shoot it right now anyway

Well, if you were'nt watching watching market trends and didn't buy a couple thousand rounds of Federal when it was $10 a box, your best choice now is Brass Bombers' military brass. Especially for a semi. You could play with the steel for a bolt gun, maybe. I wouldn't try it in a semi. Too much rough pushing. I'm guessing you own an HK? I didn't buy that one just because it "destroys brass". Get yourself a DPMS SASS. Mine shoots as well as a GAP.
I thought you were "behind" in your build? Seems I know why, now. Off playing when you should be working!

 

[ebb]

If you are talking about a CTME or an H&K on an other gun with a fluted chamber. I understand entirely!!!! I have avoided these guns cause they abuse brass so badly. I think that would be a cool experiment. Maybe if Hornaday still makes the steel cased ammo, you could buy some and shoot it up and reload the empties. Then see how many times they can be reloaded. I understand you now and this may be an excellent idea.

 

[hoz53]

Well, if you were'nt watching watching market trends and didn't buy a couple thousand rounds of Federal when it was $10 a box, your best choice now is Brass Bombers' military brass. Especially for a semi. You could play with the steel for a bolt gun, maybe. I wouldn't try it in a semi. Too much rough pushing. I'm guessing you own an HK? I didn't buy that one just because it "destroys brass". Get yourself a DPMS SASS. Mine shoots as well as a GAP.
I thought you were "behind" in your build? Seems I know why, now. Off playing when you should be working!

Ok Ok you caught me teacher --its just so hard to stay focused with all this good stuff around here rough pushing? Of coarse youre right about the gun--ptr91--- Ive looked at brass bombers and will probably buy some but dont know that ill use it alot in this rifle. i may put together one of the ar10 type one of these days after i get my stock done so that may be awhile. thanks for all your help.