Aluminum Steel Core bullets?

Can you be a little more specific? Are you talking about an aluminum jacket over a steel bullet? I'm stretching to see why you would want to do this, regardless of how much scrap aluminum you have. If it were me, I'd go trade that scrap aluminum for lead alloys that you can cast which have known ballistic properties and reloading charges developed over a century of experience in metallic reloading.

Of note, it is not the weight of a bullet that determines its drop over distance (I'd Google the equivalence principle of gravity for more info) -- basic physics.

FWIW, if you are on THR asking about how to chemically change the hardness of a particular metal, I'd venture that whatever it is you are wanting to do is probably not a good idea for you to do.

Short answer - No you are on the wrong path..

Long answer - Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... lol

Sorry if this sounds like a blow off answer - but you start by asking how to prevent aluminum from damaging barrel steel, which doesn't make any sense to me. Are you also planning on smelting your own blend of aluminum?

If you want to start casting your own bullets - there is a wealth of proven info on the subject, none of it involving using scrap soda cans. Wheel weights? Yes.

If aluminum oxidizes, it (the oxide) is about as hard as diamond, I think. probably not a good idea

Aluminum oxidizes within minutes or being exposed to air, its just clear. Google aluminium and passivation for more info on this. As stated above Aluminum oxide is tough on steel and can be found in many jewelry boxes in the form of a ruby. <random factoid lol

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Not a good idea at all.

Even if the aluminum doesn't damage the bore?
You will get aluminum jacket fouling from it, and nobody makes aluminum fouling solvent to get it out.

The other thing is, it is illegal.
There is a Federal Law against steel core "Cop Killer" handgun bullets.

18 U.S.C., § 921(a)(17)(B)
A projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or

A full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.

Click to expand...

rc

Two things I have found. The aluminum bullets I have used have a dry lube applied to them to keep aluminum oxide from forming. The other thing is to keep velocity below 4000 fps. I did damage one of my rifles pushing them to almost 4600 fps, but had no problems with a different rifle at 3900 fps.

rc, a strong base can be used to remove aluminum fouling without hurting the barrel

as to the legality..

Making bullets that will defeat armor is not legal. If you go get a properly classed FFL you can just go buy armor piercing projectiles, rocket launchers, hand grenades, SAM's and so on.

Find another hobby that will allow you to use things like this, the armed forces maybe.

GS

just because you can, does not mean you should.

Don't know about a full jacket made from aluminum, but the folks over at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php use it for gas-checks.