Steel Cased Ammo

[Kendall6.8]

I'm sure if this has been posted elsewhere or asked a billiondy times but I am a noob to this site so please forgive me.
What are you thoughts on steel cased ammo? Is it just bull that the rounds will damage an extractor or is there truth to this? I have heard it both ways, more so now as to no it will not but I just thought I would ask. The main reason for asking is I want to buy some, because it is cheap, but since I own an XD I can not buy a new extractor if it becomes damaged (correct me if I am wrong, and point me to where I can buy one if needed). I would have to send it in to Springfield Armory. I want to assume that the steel in the casing is softer than the steel used on the firearm, but I could be wrong.

Thanks for the help.

[zfields]

You will be fine.

Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk 2

[h0use]

i shoot nothing but steel if going to the range. all my guns eat it.

[JeremyS]

The steel in the cases is significantly softer than the steel in your gun -- barrel, extractor, breech face, etc, are all much harder.

I used to shoot almost exclusively steel, but have been able to find brass-cased, whether new or reloads, for barely more. Then, if you keep the empty brass, its value will at least make up the difference. The empty steel is worthless, but the empty brass cases has real value. You can sell them on reloading forums and you'd be shocked how much $$$ it's actually worth compared to what you spent on the loaded rounds.

If you don't want to do that, then just shoot steel and be happy. The only downside to that for me was dirty burning powder (Wolf, Brown/Silver Bear, Tula, etc all burn dirty) and bum primers. I would always find a dead primer every time I shot a couple hundred rounds. The primers also tend to be a little harder, which isn't a problem for most guns but can be for some.

[Czsp-01-9mm]

Gunnuts.net has been testing it for a few months, go to the website and search steel cased ammo test

[KandyRedCoi]

better question is...how come some ranges DONT allow steel case ammo???

[P Funk]

^^^
I am curious about this myself.
Is there a reason other than they can't make more $$$ off of your spent brass?

[JeremyS]

better question is...how come some ranges DONT allow steel case ammo???

I think some indoor ranges don't, because a lot of steel cased ammo has bi-metal jackets (a steel layer or something else) on the bullet and it can damage their backstops. Or, they're worried it might have a steel-core bullet or something. PLUS (or), they have to pick it out of the brass since it can't be reloaded and can't be included in the brass for recycling. ...although, it's easy to pick out w/ a magnet broom... OR... it burns dirty and they don't want it in the air in an indoor range.

[InGrAM]

better question is...how come some ranges DONT allow steel case ammo???

Because they can get more money from brass than steel cases.

OP: Steel cased ammo is fine unless you reload. Some steel cased ammo is corrosive so you need to clean the firearm with Windex or soapy water to neutralize the corrosive compounds (if it is corrosive). Corrosive ammo usually says if it is corrosive or not, luckily.

[JeremyS]

Modern manufactured stuff will not be corrosive. Just military surplus. Most of that is actually brass cased. ...and rifle rounds. I don't think you will find handgun calibers in steel and corrosive these days. No mil-surp in that that I know of.

[zfields]

Modern manufactured stuff will not be corrosive. Just military surplus. Most of that is actually brass cased. ...and rifle rounds. I don't think you will find handgun calibers in steel and corrosive these days. No mil-surp in that that I know of.

7.62x25 is. Common for CZ and Toks. And they make is really hard to tell since they pack it in brass.

[JeremyS]

Show me steel-cased, corrosive 7.62x25 that is in stock and you'll win a prize.

[Kendall6.8]

Thanks everyone!

[scglock]

You'll be fine. I shoot steel at my outdoor ranges

[lmudave]

better question is...how come some ranges DONT allow steel case ammo???

They collect and sell the brass to make more of a profit. Typically it is bundled in bulk and sold by weight, can't sell it by weight if it's riddled with steel casings. (it'd be like recycling aluminum cans and throwing a bunch of rocks in the cans) That's why most ranges that won't allow you to pick up your own brass also won't let you shoot steel cased ammo.

I've shot thousands of rounds of steel cased ammo, never seen a problem on any of my guns yet. It does seem to burn a bit dirtier though.