Blazer Ammo Question

[Guest]

I recently read that Blazer Aluminum cased ammo was not allowed at some ranges, wondering why? Besides being cheap, someone told me that there are no quality control standards when they packed these rounds at the factory? Also said they are bad on your weapon, though I'm not sure how (besides spent powder). Just wanted to hear some feedback on this type of ammo. Thanks.

[Moonclip]

Yeah, it will give you acne and cancer! Seriously though as mentioned, some ranges cite safety concerns that may or may not have been true at some time or with some guns, but a major reason is because steel case and aluminum cases are generally unreloadable and an extra step to cull from range brass.

If Blazer was so unsafe, it would have been taken off the market by CCI long ago or they would have been sued out of existance.

[bwiese]

I've shot a lot of CCI Blazer alum case 40S&W, 45Colt, and 357 ammo.

All have worked well - no feed/cycle/extraction problems. Quite accurate esp in 45LC - better than Winch. 'white box' or Rem UMC 'yellow box' ammo.

There is ZERO risk of harm, wear, etc. to your gun. If you can shoot it and don't need recoverable brass, go for it.

Bill Wiese
San Jose

[Inoxmark]

Blazer is great inexpensive ammo. That said, some manufacturers advise against using it in specific firearms. Ruger PC carbine manual states:

The higher pressures produced by the .40 auto cartridge make the use of aluminum-cased .40 auto ammunition inadvisable in the Ruger Carbine or any other “blowback” -operated firearm. Occasional case separations and jamming of the mechanism may occur. This does not apply to locked-breech firearms such as the Ruger P-94 pistols.

[marklbucla]

Ditto on the reloading issue. The ranges wanna make money off of your left over brass and they can't reload Aluminum or steel.

My dirty AR did screw up a bunch of Blazer ammo though the last time I went shooting. The bolt would slam into the side of the case, letting the powder flakes spill out. Another thing it did was force bullet set-back.

Other than the issues at hand now, I love my Blazer ammo, especially when it's only $3.86/box!

[Moonclip]

Yes, certain guns are not a good idea with Blazer, also the Marlin Camp carbine and Blazer is a no no. But the majority of guns are perfectly safe with it. Sharpshooter range in Torrance even seels it as range ammo sometimes in some calibers.

Blazer for 3.86, you guys are lucky, I heard there is a chain store in other areas that sells the 9x19 for that price.

[maxicon]

My ranges don't allow Blazer, but I shoot it sometimes in revolvers since I can control the empties. It's always worked fine - no problems. I've also tried a few boxes of Blazer Brass 9mm, and it works great too.

max

[marklbucla]

Why doesn't Blazer work in Marlin Camp 9s?

[bwiese]

Mark...

Originally posted by marklbucla:
Why doesn't Blazer work in Marlin Camp9s?

I belive a prior poster was not implying it didn't work, but that it could (ever so possibly) be slightly unsafe. I'm pretty sure there are folks using Blazer 9mm in Camp Carbines that haven't heard this warning and are doing fine, too.

I believe the Camp9 (and Camp45) are blowback operated carbines, and not locked-breech like most bigger-bore autoloader handguns are. The bolts in these are probably pretty light unlike those more massive ones in Uzis, 9mm AR15s, etc.

These may have light enough bolts that the bolt is moving rearward while substantial case/ chamber pressure still exists, and this could rupture the alum case, damage gun, etc.

I take it that the AR you spoke of above, in which you used Blazer alum case ammo, was a 9mm carbine? [I am unaware of Blazer making 223 rounds!]

I've used Blazer alum case ammo in my Colt 9mm AR and it worked OK. Perhaps your gun is a tad out of order - lemme ask you these questions:

<LI> Is it a true as-marked Colt 9mm AR carbine, a 9mm conversion using a Colt upper on a formerly 223 carbine, or is it an Olympic Arms design?

<LI> If Colt, are you using factory Colt magazines or converted Uzi 3-way mags (Uzi, Colt 9mm AR, and Feather or some other carbine, etc.)?

<LI> If Colt, what brand/style of mag blocks are you using? Do you have the bolt hold-open assembly installed along with the mag blocks?

<LI> Are you using a 9mm (heavy) buffer and 9mm recoil spring? (You DO NOT wanna use a 223 spring/buffer!!!)


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[-hanko]

Originally posted by Moonclip:
Yes, certain guns are not a good idea with Blazer, also the Marlin Camp carbine and Blazer is a no no.

I've shot more than a few cases through my Camp 9 & several boxes through a Camp 45 with ero problems. What happened in your camp gun??

-hanko

[marklbucla]

Bill:

Olympic Arms PCR, bought as a complete factory carbine from someone on gunbroker. I'm using sten magazines and the SOCOM block.

I haven't cleaned it in around over 1000 rounds of 9mm, more if you count the .223 and .22LR that's been through different uppers on it. I didn't use to have these problems when I could only fit around 10 rounds in the mag. Since I got a mag loader, I stuffed 33 rounds into the 32 round mags. I'm wondering if it's a mag issue or just that the gun is filty.

[bwiese]

Ah, OlyArms - that explains everything

Might have to clean it good - it doesn't have a chrome-lined barrel. Use the chamber brush.

Take a wooden dowel, stick, ruler, etc. and while watching TV run the mag's follower up & down a few hundred times. A little BreakFreeCLP down the sides of mag aftewards may help.


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[BigAL]

CCI Blazer is the cleanest burning 9mm I've ever seen. It's good stuff for practice.

[Guest]

Thanks, all the responses are appreciated!!

I'm still using the Blazer Alum in my G21 and G26 w/o any probs at all. At $4.99 per 50 in 9mm I stock up and can spend hrs at the range. Think the reason guy there told me that stuff, was because they have to separate that damn aluminum from the brass when its cleaning time. Just a guess.