Hornady Steel Match ammo.

[stchman]

Hello all. I was reading my latest American Rifleman and saw an ad for Hornady steel cased ammo.

I then saw the video that brass cases are so much more expensive than steel counterparts.

If that is true, why isn't .22LR ammo using steel cases? I mean .22 is a one shot thing.

Any rate what are people's thoughts on this high quality steel cased ammo? I use a lot of Wolf and Brown Bear in my Mini, AK, and SKS and it all works fine.

I don't use Wolf or Brown Bear in my pistols for two reasons:
1. I have had it jam up.
2. There is not much cost savings on steel vs. brass pistol ammo.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Well...think about how a RIMfire cartridge ignites powder. The answer to your questions should be self evident.

 

[kingpin008]

I would imagine that there isn't steel cased .22 ammo because of the way rimfire cases are formed. Steel is not as flexible as brass, and cases for .22LR are formed by one piece of brass, and sort of folded to create a pocket for the primer compound, unlike centerfire cases.

 

[Justin]

I ran the Hornady TAP 75 grain steel-cased ammo at this year's Texas Multigun Nationals without any problem at all. I know at least two other people who've run this ammo at big matches with no problems at all.

As for why steel isn't used for .22, at a guess:

• The rim of a .22 cartridge must be crushed by the firing pin in order for the round to fire.
• The ammo makers would have to invest in expensive new machinery in order to make steel-cased .22.
• Since the amount of brass used in .22 is much less than most centerfire cartridges, it doesn't make sense to develop steel rimfire cases that will ignite reliably, especially if new machines must be built.

 

[stchman]

There are ways of making steel soft or hard. I gather that steel cannot be made soft enough for a firing pin to ignite the primer material.

 

[Jbmoney21]

I just checked the prices on this stuff, its pretty high for what it is in my opinion.

 

[stchman]

I guess they are good prices for "match" grade ammo.

 

[Justin]

I just checked the prices on this stuff, its pretty high for what it is in my opinion.

Compare the prices to similar premium-type brass ammo, not Wolf.

 

[Sgt.Murtaugh]

Justin,

Is your "Location" a Tom Waits reference? Perhaps Widespread Panic (via Tom Waits)?

Hornady steel ammo has given me no problems yet.