Steel Cased vs Brass Cased Ammo in an AR15 Epic Torture Test

[HK Dave]

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/#reliable

Tula, Brown Bear, Wolf, Federal. 10K rounds of each type of ammo through 4 identical rifles.

Click the link for the test and results.

[StratORcaster]

"but out of 1,0000 rounds fired, that’s only a .09% failure rate." interesting

[StratORcaster]

[Arkangel]

Good read, a lot useful info.

[mshill]

While the failure rate may be acceptably low, you have to take into account the wear on the rifle components (barrel, ejector/spring, etc). If you shoot an average of 100 rounds a week you might need to change your barrel every year.

In all likely hood most of us don't shoot under the conditions under which these tests were conducted, so it is likely that the component rate of wear would be much lower after one of us hits the 10,000 round mark.

[stphnman20]

Dupe. Good read thou...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=673972&highlight=torture

[missiontrails]

Ya, it's not a "dirty" issue with steel ammo, it's the inconsistent and lower power, and the difference in material with the shell. I wish they would have included a couple of Colt carbines in that test, those would have had more stoppages... the piston guns in my experience have normally done best with the Russian stuff.

[cfusionpm]

Very good read. Tagged for later.

[SdBoltz]

Wow what an awesome post. Very good info in there. Thanks a lot for posting that

[gunsarefun]

THey said the rate of fire was high and heat build was an issue. I'd sure like to think a guy could get more than 6000 rounds out of a barrel with just normal use.

[Rekrab]

While the failure rate may be acceptably low, you have to take into account the wear on the rifle components (barrel, ejector/spring, etc). If you shoot an average of 100 rounds a week you might need to change your barrel every year.

In all likely hood most of us don't shoot under the conditions under which these tests were conducted, so it is likely that the component rate of wear would be much lower after one of us hits the 10,000 round mark.

The article does take that into account though. Their math shows that you're saving money buying the steel jacketed ammo even when replacing your barrel more often.

[Spaceghost]

Which is why I reload brass for much cheaper than buying steel cased.

The article does take that into account though. Their math shows that you're saving money buying the steel jacketed ammo even when replacing your barrel more often.