What's the deal with steel-case ammo?

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pak29

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So I put 100 rounds of 9mm Wolf steel-case ammo through my Ruger P95 at the range today. Seemed accurate enough for plinking, and no failures of any kind (never had one on the Ruger). Normally I shoot major brand brass case stuff, but went for it this time due to the price (about $10 per 50, versus, say $12-13 for major-brand).

I've found some threads here while searching about problems feeding Wolf ammo in ARs. This appeared to be due to varnish on the casing, if I interpreted the rants correctly.

What have your experiences been? Is it any less accurrate, and if so, any thoughts as to why? Any feeding problems?

I'll keep brass-case rounds in the gun for HD use, but wondered what the general consensus was on this lower-priced ammo. Thanks!
 
I use Herter's (re-branded Wolf I think?) in my PT1911 all the time during the warmer months at the State Game Area range. I shoot indoors during the winter and my range doesn't allow steel cased ammo because they repackage the spent brass and sell it to re-loaders. It's fairly accurate for my purposes and I've yet to experience any FTF/FTE's.
 
because they repackage the spent brass and sell it to re-loaders.

The metal expands less, so REALLY sloppy chambers can be a problem
the metal RETRACTS less, so Really TIGHT chambers can be a problem

Lacquer hasn't been used for 5? years, and really it's single use, inexpensive ammo,
consider that MANY countries (including the USA) have and do use it as their military ammo.
 
Thanks for your replies. I found another source, this article on Box O' Truth, observing that steel case ammo does not appear to expand as much to form a seal in the chamber, allowing gasses to leak around the cartridge and foul the chamber, leading subsequent brass cases to get glued in place.
 
A fellow shooter used the Wolf steel cased 9mm ammo extensively when it was selling for $99 per case of 5000. I tried two boxes in two different 9mm's I owned and expereinced feeding failures. That was the extent of my experimentation with Wolf steel cased ammo. In any case it was the dkirtiest shooting ammo I have ever used. I have not tried the newly announced Hornady steel cased ammo.
 
Someone told me that they don't use steel cased ammo because they thought it would wear the extractor faster than brass. Has anyone experienced this?
 
I use the Herter's for .30 carbine in my M1 Carbine and it has FTL's occasionally, but that's usually on the 30 round mag and not the 15. FTL's happen but not too often with the standard 15 round mag.

I only shoot brass through my handguns though.
 
Steel cased ammo came about in large numbers in WWII. It workd but brass is considered a better material due to it's flexability. I use both types without problems.
 
Tombac???
well don't tell the commies
and don't shoot any wolf or bear or...

there is SOME IRON ammo out there that's rather exotic (Vz. 82 ammo for the Czech Vz. (CZ) 82) is the ONLY one I can think of, AND it's banned, seem iron rounds are considered AP by the Feds.
 
My Bushy AR loves Wolf ammo. Slick as Chocolate through a fat blonde. Accurate enough for tactical classes and no unusual wear seen. Now that Hornady is putting out steel case ammo I think we all can relax and enjoy the savings. I will say that after about 500 rounds of Wolf, the insides of my AR looks like a blackened tuna steak. A squirt of Breakfree every now and then keeps things rockn.

Alex
 
What i seen on the internet is barrels damaged because of the use of lead bullets glock for example actually reccomends against it
 
Leading in polygonal-rifled barrels is unrelated to steel-cased ammo.

I use Russian ammo in Russian guns. It may not make any difference the vast majority of the time. But I can't bring myself to try it in my grandfather's heirloom M-1 carbine.
 
So, Silver Bear should be fine to use in most if not all guns? I've seen some really tasty prices on 500 round lots of the stuff.
 
I tried some of that Russian stuff in the past. It produces more smoke which smells bad. Using it made me feel like I was buying inexpensive food with lots of preservatives which is very unhealthy to eat.
 
Ruger explicitly says that steel cases are ok in their P series manuals. That's as far as I think about it and if I find cheap steel case ammo, I buy it and use it.
 
I use it pretty often in my guns. Other than residue left by the dirtier propellants used there really isn't any problems with it.
 
I guess I don't understand why they would make steel cases in the first place. Much more difficult to form than brass and doesn't provide near the seal necessary to keep gas from escaping.

Cheaper?

Dan
 
I've only used Wolf Military Classic steel case in my AR and it works great. The steel cased Makarov ammo in my CZ 82 sparks like no other smokless ammo I've seen, but works well.
 
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