Aluminum vs Brass Casings

[Ed Gallop]

I just received a new revolver with the test fired casing made of aluminum. First one I've seen. I guess it is the new direction with the cost of brass going through the ceiling. I wonder how the aluminum will compare with brass in reloading endurance. Ed.

 

[strat81]

All aluminum cases I have seen are from commercial ammo, CCI Blazer to be exact. They are marked "NR" on the headstamp for "NON-RELOADABLE." They are berdan primed to further discourage reloading. Aluminum apparently isn't as durable as brass and you run the risk of splitting the case if it is reloaded.

So, if you get a berdan decapper, and you can find the proper berdan primers, and you have an affinity for possibly blowing up guns, fingers, eyes, and faces, by all means try.

 

[joneb]

I wonder how the aluminum will compare with brass in reloading endurance. Ed.

Aluminum cases are non-reloadable the metal is not malleable and would fatigue and split to easily. Caseless cartridges maybe a possibility.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

I thought that "Blazer" ammo by CCI had aluminum cases. It's been around for years. I don't think it's reloadable.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Your revolver shoots sausages?!?!

A "casing" is part of a sausage. A "case" is part of a cartridge.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Vern,

Only if you aim carefully, and squeeeeze the trigger. And they have to be lined up right to hit more than one.

From the American Heritage dictionary:

cas·ing
n.

1. An outer cover: a shell casing; a tire casing.
...

Andy

 

[eldon519]

It might work if you were particularly determined and annealed them after every firing. Not much point in my opinion though.

 

[koja48]

Your revolver shoots sausages?!?!

Hmmmm . . . ought to be able to generate some pretty good velocities with Little Smokies, 'course I wouldn't use anything smaller than brats for larger game, although breakfast links should have a pretty fair BC . . . then there's Slim Jim wad cutters . . .

 

[PPGMD]

I thought that "Blazer" ammo by CCI had aluminum cases. It's been around for years. I don't think it's reloadable

Regular Blazer is aluminum, but CCI does off Blazer Brass which has, yep you guessed it brass casings.

 

[evan price]

Aluminum cases are fit only for the scrap bucket. Most aluminum recyclers won't even take them as aluminum due to the brass in the primer. I send mine out with the scrap sheetmetal (and the steel Wolf cases).

 

[Quickdraw McGraw]

Recycling aluminum casings

My son and I recycle cans for $ to buy toys (guns, reloading supplies, etc.) and when we have a batch of shot aluminum 'casings' we simply drop one in each can before smashing with a steel tamper. Adds weight to our cans and we are not ripping of recycler as it is aluminum. Just my $.02.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern,

Only if you aim carefully, and squeeeeze the trigger. And they have to be lined up right to hit more than one.

From the American Heritage dictionary:

cas·ing
n.

1. An outer cover: a shell casing; a tire casing.

The American Heritage Dictionary is not an authority on firearms. Any more than the British Illustrated Dictionary I once saw that showed a firearm (an M1911 in this case) with callouts that solenmly informed the world it is loaded with a "handle clip" and the beavertail of the grip safety was the "firing pin."

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Vern,

In the US Air Force at least, empty cartridges are referred to as casings. That's enough authority for me. Who knows, it may date from paper cartridges, which were twisted/tied at both ends, appearing like little sausages.

Andy

 

[The_Antibubba]

CCI Blaser might use a berdan primer, but the flash holes don't look like any I've seen on any other berdan brass. Instead of two tiny holes they look like half-moons. Very large, comparatively speaking. It makes me wonder if they use a standard primer or something proprietary.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern,

In the US Air Force at least, empty cartridges are referred to as casings. That's enough authority for me

Down in the Infantry, where we do it for a living, it's "cases" or "brass."

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Down in the Infantry, where we do it for a living, it's "cases" or "brass."

Well, you almost have to use itty-bitty words for those itty-bitty cartridges! Note you did not say armor/artillery... :^)

I'm not arguing that cases or brass are not the correct term, but I am arguing that casings is a correct term. And any branch of the US Armed Forces is a good enough authority for me.

Seriously though, I thank you for your service to our country.

Andy