I don't reload handguns, don't plan to for awhile, but I just picked up some federal aluminum cased fmjs for my 9mm, are they worth saving? I've only ever dealt with steel and brass but they were cheap and 100 more cases if they can be reused.....
Aluminum federal cases
- Thread starter horsey300
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jeeptim
Member
Not worth the trouble if boxer primed only good for one reload. Brass 9mm is so cheap and avalible why bother.
Reefinmike
Member
Not worth saving. I've never gotten a fired aluminum case to expand, seat and crimp without cracking. 9mm brass can be bought for 2¢ a piece.
FROGO207
Member
When you are ready to start reloading ask around, somebody will probably give you a bag of once fired 9MM brass if you need it. One of the most common caliber brass I find lying about on the ground at the local range. Start saving it now as you find it and you will soon have hundreds and will not need the aluminum ones. I reload the 45 ACP aluminum one time to use where I will not be able to recover my brass. For the higher pressure 9MM I do not take the chance of a problem.
jwrowland77
Member
Just a matter of looking around. I see it often on Facebook groups for 1.5 to 2.5 cents all the time.
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carbine85
Member
When I leave the range I always leave with more brass than what I started out with. I don't calculate the brass into the cost of reloading at this point since it was free.
jmorris
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They are the same as CCI blazer aluminum cases ammunition.
The "NR" in the head stamp stands for nonreloadable. Now that doesn't mean you can't reload them, they are just telling you that you shouldn't.
There are countless people that will tell you how they can be reloaded, I personally know one of them.
He thought he was cleaver in reloading them, for about 6 months. Turns out most split on the second firing and over that time the chamber of his Kart barrel had eroded enough he had to replace it.
He learned the difference between "can" and "should" and it only cost him a few hundred bucks.
The "NR" in the head stamp stands for nonreloadable. Now that doesn't mean you can't reload them, they are just telling you that you shouldn't.
There are countless people that will tell you how they can be reloaded, I personally know one of them.
He thought he was cleaver in reloading them, for about 6 months. Turns out most split on the second firing and over that time the chamber of his Kart barrel had eroded enough he had to replace it.
He learned the difference between "can" and "should" and it only cost him a few hundred bucks.
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highlander 5
Member
Haven't bought CCI/ Federal aluminum cased ammo in quite a while but as I recall the cases are berdan primed which can't be easily reloaded. As someone said you can reload most any type case but is it worth the time and the expense to do so.
ljnowell
Member
I sell 9mm for $20/k, $26/k shipped anywhere the USPS goes. Mine is cleaned in walnut and corncob and ready to go. I sell it here on the forum frequently. I pretty well always have it also.
Load Master
Member
Can you reload aluminum successfully? By all means yes. Is it worth it, maybe, maybe not. I have done 9mm for use at places where recovering the cases may not be an option. I only reload them once. NEVER wet tumble to clean, they will crack with the first reloading if wet tumbled. You can see the dark spots of corrosion.
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