Anyone reload Blazer aluminum?
- Thread starter Devil Dog
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Welcome, Devil Dog
Our member jcwit started a thread back in 2008 (some time in the fall) that we carried for a week or two. Lots of info there.
Bottom lines:
Our member jcwit started a thread back in 2008 (some time in the fall) that we carried for a week or two. Lots of info there.
Bottom lines:
- Some of us have done it, but aluminum has such a short life that they sometimes split on first reload.
- The case capacity is much smaller. You gotta be really careful with your load data, it will yield much higher pressure than you are expecting.
- The case head expands faster than brass, so the primer pocket gets really loose very fast.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I did reload them once but did so with .38 Special cases and built snake-shot loads with them. (low pressure) I made 20 rounds of #12 shot using Speer shot capsules and used the aluminum cases only once after the initial firing. I would not feel safe loading any "normal" centerfire ammo in a once-fired Aluminum case, even .38 Special target ammo! Like I said, I used them for snake-shot which generated very low pressure. I tried this because Speer uses Aluminum cases for their factory .38 Special snake-shot.
Remo-99
Member
I might be tempted to try lower pressure reloads in Al cases, except I'm given(for free) tried and tested good old brass literally by the bucket load for popular calibres like 9mm, 40s&w, 38spl. Basically the calibres CCI Blaser Al is offered in.
So really I don't have a need to reload Al cases ATM.
So really I don't have a need to reload Al cases ATM.
loadedround
Member
Blazer aluminum cases are not designed to be reloaded...period.
71Commander
Member
No. But I do have some Wolf steel cases that I have 5 reloads on them in 45 acp. 
jcwit
member
I'm the jcwit that did this long ago. Did it as an experiment with both Alu. and steel cases. Search out the data.
My question is WHY? There is so much good brass available why bother, I don't even waste my time with A-Merc. I don't throw it away, I just dont reload it. Brass is worth money, we just turned in our brass ".22 rimfire" to the scrap yard for over $1000.00.
My question is WHY? There is so much good brass available why bother, I don't even waste my time with A-Merc. I don't throw it away, I just dont reload it. Brass is worth money, we just turned in our brass ".22 rimfire" to the scrap yard for over $1000.00.
jmorris
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A fellow shooter that just enjoys doing things that “can’t” be done reloaded a few thousand blazer aluminum cases before they eroded the chamber and he had to replace the barrel. They were 45 acp and almost every case split on the first reload. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
jcwit
member
Why would he load them so hot? When doing my experiment I reloaded them 5 times both alu. and steel with NO split cases. No they were not light loads just a little above medium. A little common sense would have prevented having to replace the barrel. Only reason I quit at 5 reloadings is I proved the point to myself and just stopped.
Wit, I bet he didn't know he was loading so hot. With significantly smaller case volume than brass, I would expect that his 'mid range' loads were actually exceeding max. When the aluminum split, it didn't seal the chamber at all. His chamber would be exposed to a jet of gas right at the splits. Do that a thousand times like the guy said...
jcwit
member
Where do we come up with the "fact" that aluminum cases hold less powder?
Just ran a test volume capacity
Winchester brass head stamp with lg primer=========16.98 grains
Blazer Aluminum case small primer=================16.98 grains
Wolf steel case lg primer========================17.13 grains
So this would seem that recipes from the manual, Light charges would be light, medium charges would be medium, and hot charges would be hot.
Again, why load them so hot?
Just ran a test volume capacity
Winchester brass head stamp with lg primer=========16.98 grains
Blazer Aluminum case small primer=================16.98 grains
Wolf steel case lg primer========================17.13 grains
So this would seem that recipes from the manual, Light charges would be light, medium charges would be medium, and hot charges would be hot.
Again, why load them so hot?
Maj Dad
Member
Personally, I wouldn't load aluminum - too many bad possibilities for very little value added. On the other hand, I had a bunch of EC43 steel cased GI 45, and some guy said they can't be reloaded and another said yes, they can, so I tried it & they could. That was 30 or more years ago, and by now the steel in the cases might have deteriorated to the point it would be bad juju to try it, but then it worked. I never loaded them in quantity, just enough to prove to myself it could be done. I would say this is a similar situation; claim victory, then scrap them & stick with brass, like I did... 
Interesting, jcwit. We measured 9mm cases with a graduated burrette and Blazer aluminum case volume came up smaller than brass. We didn't measure 45acp or any other cartridge. Just 9mm. I have some 38 Special aluminum in the box. I'll go measure those in comparison to brass.
Almost 20 years ago I reloaded bout 5 of the 38 specials, picked the anvil out of regular primers, they shot fine that one time. As I had more 38 brass than I knew what to do with I felt no need to continue, btw shot them in a 357. Would reload most berdan cases if the primers could be bought reasonable.
FROGO207
Member
I have the best use for a few. I resize and put a bullet in, don't bother to decap and use them to set up my seating dies with each loaded bullet used. I do it for 357,44 MAG ,ETC when AL and steel cases are available to save brass. Otherwise I use brass with shot out primer pockets. Use the engraver to list grains and length on side of casing.
jcwit
member
This is a very good idea and I do this also, making up dummy cases from either steel or alu. cases tor setting up dies when switching bullets.
Only other really good use I find for steel cases is they make very good hole punches "they hold up pretty good for this", works for making gaskets and punching holes in plastic lables that I use ongun cases.
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