Reloading Steel Cases

[TheZouave]

So, I have a couple thousand steel .223 cases that have been taking up space, and I am thinking about trying reloading with them. I know that its technically possible, but wanted to see if anyone who reloads steel has any suggestions or information on how to treat them differently than brass (if at all). Do I still run them through a tumbler? I'm getting a stainless steel tumbler, but it seems like a dry vibratory tumbler might be a better idea with steel, to prevent rust. Thoughts, anyone?

Thanks in advance!

[JackEllis]

I guess it's possible to reload steel cases but perhaps you should ask yourself whether it's worth the hassle. I just bought a thousand once-fired brass cases, cleaned, sized and swaged for 6 cents apiece from a fellow Calgunner. All I have to do is trim to length. I'll probably get at least two reloads from those cases, and possibly more.

I have at least a couple hundred steel cases I picked up at the range, but they're going to the recycler.

[Bigtwin]

Sure it can be done. There are plenty of YouTube bids showing that.
But is it worth the hassle? For me no.

[Bigtwin]

*vids....sorry can't edit on the phone.

[PatC415]

I spent some time trying this when brass ammo prices went thru the roof.
Tumbling takes the coating off. The coating seems to do two things, help with loading and extraction. Once the coating is off, the cases rust outside, and INSIDE. Unless you loaded them all within a few days....
IMO, was not worth the trouble. Tossed them in the scrap pile.

[Bumslie]

I've done it. With with Berdan cased x39.

It it worth to learn? Sure. Was it fun learning? Yes. Worth it? No.

You'll be lucky to get 2 firings out of them.

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[AGGRO]

Are they boxer or berdan primed?

[Fishslayer]

Wolf steel is .22/rd. I would say no. Start shooting brass ammo & reload those. Pick up free brass at the range.

[TheZouave]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I really appreciate it. Especially knowing that tumbling takes the coating off, really makes it less attractive. I might try it for when I know I can't collect my brass, and will just be shooting and leaving it.

[sbsyncro]

I don't know about your range but on any given weekend I can easily scrounge 10 to 20 lbs of 223 brass (some staked primers mostly non-staked). I don't even reload 223 yet and I probably have 30 lbs of brass. It seems really common and few people save it.

[baranski]

really common and few people save it.

Especially lately.

[zapatito92]

its probably more worth your while just buying steel cased in bulk....

[kcheung2]

Without trying too hard I can pick up an extra 100 cases of once-fired brass cases every time I go to the range, so there's no reason for me to experiment with steel cases.

[Red9]

I don't know about your range but on any given weekend I can easily scrounge 10 to 20 lbs of 223 brass (some staked primers mostly non-staked). I don't even reload 223 yet and I probably have 30 lbs of brass. It seems really common and few people save it.

Um what range?

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[sbsyncro]

Um what range?

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