Time to add a step to our brass sorting process...

[Candyman87]

Freedom Munitions brass plated steel cased ammo called American Steel.

Not such bad stuff, but I usually cull steel and aluminum by the look of it.

Looks like I can't do that anymore.

Not bad ammo, I like it for times when I know I'll be losing brass.

Anyone taking a strong magnet to their pile of brass yet?

 

[LeftyTSGC]

YIKES!,

Do you know what calibers, all of what they sell? What is the head stamp on the cases?

I guess I will have to add another step, Geeez. LoL

LeftyTSGC

 

[Walkalong]

I use a magnet to check 9MM brass because S&B makes some brass plated steel 9MM.

What calibers does this "American Steel" come in?

 

[Hardtarget]

Man...! Another step!?

small primer .45
split necks
case head separation
crimped primers.....and now
brass plated steel cases!

how many did I leave out?

Can your head really explode?

Mark

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Currently all they list is 9mm. www.freedommunitions.com/American-Steel-s/58712.htm

 

[Havok7416]

I assume you can't reload it more than a time or two due to cracking, but if it is brass plated why couldn't you run it through your die?

 

[jmorris]

Nothing new S&B has been using brass plated steel for years (some but not all of their 9mm cases) and others as well. I have also found nickel plated steel cases.

I use magnets before hand, same time I pick out aluminum cases and also keep magnets on the tube clamps of my case collators. A steel case will stop the collator, if one happened to get by.

 

[Swampman]

There were brass plated steel .45 ACP military cases made back in the 1950's, I loaded 'em for years without even knowing they were steel. I've probably still got a few floating around.

If the only way to tell them apart is by using a magnet, is it really necessary to find them at all?

I can see bullseye shooters worrying about it, but I've never noticed any difference between steel and brass in tactical handgun shooting.

 

[taliv]

jmorris, that is genius. thanks for the idea

 

[rbernie]

I've traditionally used a large magnet to cull steel cases from in my 5gal buckets of brass. I never really stopped to see what the headstamp was - just tossed the steel into the recycle bin.

 

[FROGO207]

I also tend to pick up everything on the ground to make up for the jerks who litter. As noted above I just run a fair sized horseshoe magnet through the sorting tray after removing the paper etc. I am finding that there are more steel casings being discarded as of late.

For the poster that asked about reloading steel casings--you can and I do. Just inspect them to make sure that they are not Berdan primed before you size them. The problem is not splitting sooner but rather when cleaned the coating comes off and they will surface rust soon after if not kept in an airtight moisture free environment. The steel is somewhat soft compared to your dies and will work OK for a while.

 

[horsemen61]

Added this step thanks op

 

[armoredman]

S&B uses brass plated steel? I am not fond of S&B 9mm for the very tight primer pockets, but I've reloaded them for some years with no issues. I'll check for this Freedom Munitions stuff - what does the headstamp look like?

 

[mugsie]

S&B short cases

Scrounging range brass I just came across several S&B 9mm which were .040 shorted than standard 9mm, yet the head stamp was labeled S&B 9mm Luger. Just one more to cull for now!

 

[Candyman87]

Headstamp is FM 9mm Luger.

 

[armoredman]

Nice box, good marketing move, make big hay about cheaper manufacturing. Thanks.

 

[jmorris]

S&B uses brass plated steel?

Not all of it but I have found some 9mm brass plated like this one stuck to the magnet on the side of my ironworker.

 

[Handloader109]

Crap, maybe that is why I have occasionally had an issue with s&b cases...... I'll throw a magnet into the bin.... Thanks for the notice

 

[Gearhead Jim]

jmorris has the idea- I taped a magnet to the side of the case feeder tube on my Dillon 650, should stop any steel cases from getting through.

 

[morcey2]

Scrounging range brass I just came across several S&B 9mm which were .040 shorted than standard 9mm, yet the head stamp was labeled S&B 9mm Luger. Just one more to cull for now!

Odds are it was converted to 9x18 makarov. That's about the right length.

Matt

 

[Dudedog]

S&B short cases
Scrounging range brass I just came across several S&B 9mm which were .040 shorted than standard 9mm, yet the head stamp was labeled S&B 9mm Luger. Just one more to cull for now!

Sometimes you run into 9mm Luger cases that have been shortened to use in 9*18 Mak. 1mm = .0393" or about the .04 you saw. Could be any kind of brass not just S+B. Would be willing to bet this is why. If you see some more measure the Dia. 9mm MAK about .363-.365 ID, larger than true 9mm.

Easy to spot if you are a MAK owner, you get used to looking for them!

 

[Catpop]

Hardtarget, you left out AMERC!

 

[fireman 9731]

Wolf gold 223 is brass plated steel also. I have reloaded steel cased 45acp before with no problems.

 

[medalguy]

I found an old 12 inch speaker from days past, removed the huge magnet, and use it to pass over all my range brass. That honker will pick up steel cases from a couple inches away.

 

[BrianC636]

Ehh....when I bring home bags of brass from the range, I just dump them on my shop floor and run a magnetic broom over it 3-5 times. Culls out all the steel every time. It's the aluminum stuff I hate picking out.