Steel case vs Aluminum case

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TanklessPro

TanklessPro

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I would say that most people prefer to shoot brass cased ammo vs steel or aluminum. Which brings to question, which is better steel or aluminum? I would think that the aluminum would be a little better on your firearm, since it is softer than steel. Am I looking at this wrong?

Besides Brass, which is better Steel or Aluminum?
 
I would assume Aluminum would be easier on the gun/extractor but vaguely remember having some aluminum Blazer ammo from a long time ago and I thought i had some rounds i couldn't use because when they loaded the bullet into the case it cracked the case where it didn't expand to let the bullet in there.

Im not a re-loader so i don't know why it was like that? But it seems that even now Hornady uses the Steel Case ammo that i would trust those.

I am very interested in hearing from a real knowledgeable person in this field though just to know why.
 
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones in that both my .40's (CZ and a Glock) work perfect with Blazer ammo. Frankly I don't think one type of case being easier on a gun would be an issue as I've never had a chamber wore by using any particular type in decades of shooting. You also have to keep in mind that aluminum, steel, and brass can all be of various types and various hardness. You just can't say that one is harder than the other without testing. I worked as a toolmaker for a long time and the easiest work I had was always machining slides as that is very soft steel. I've dented steel with brass and their are plenty of types of aircraft grade aluminum that will destroy hardened tool steel. Personally if I want the cases so I can reload them I want brass. If I don't care about saving the cases then I want the cheapest factory ammo (usually Blazer) that functions reliably and is similar in ballistics to my carry or duty load.
 
I'd rank it as brass > steel > aluminum. Aluminum is really the lowest-grade in terms of strength. You won't see any hot-loaded ammo in an aluminum case. Additionally, all aluminum-cased ammo is budget stuff, which tends to mean worse quality control. I frankly don't trust aluminum.
 
WardenWolf said:
I'd rank it as brass > steel > aluminum. Aluminum is really the lowest-grade in terms of strength. You won't see any hot-loaded ammo in an aluminum case. Additionally, all aluminum-cased ammo is budget stuff, which tends to mean worse quality control. I frankly don't trust aluminum.
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According to the Blazer web site their .40cal 180 grain FMJ load makes 1000fps from a 4 inch barrel. I haven't measured it myself but I believe it is a full power load as it kicks in my guns as hard as any other 180 grain load I use. Yes I know that is subjective. Blazer lists their 165 grain FMJ load at 1100fps. Corbon doesn't have a reputation for making anything other than hot-loaded ammo in their self defense JHP line. Their 165 grain JHP load is listed at 1150fps. Blazer lists their cases as "aircraft-grade aluminum that's heat-treated". Not saying it would be my first choice for a hot load but at the same time I don't find it underpowered either. I think it serves it's purpose as inexpensive practice ammo.
 
Brass, aluminum, or steel? As long as it's boxer primed, I'll try it. Brass naturally for reloading. I've also reloaded the NON-reloadable aluminum cases. Yes, it IS reloadable. I have 380 and 45ACP that have been reloaded up to five times. Can't say on the steel stuff. I've never gotten any boxer primed steel cases to try.
 
Brass, aluminum, or steel? As long as it's boxer primed, I'll try it. Brass naturally for reloading. I've also reloaded the NON-reloadable aluminum cases. Yes, it IS reloadable. I have 380 and 45ACP that have been reloaded up to five times. Can't say on the steel stuff. I've never gotten any boxer primed steel cases to try.
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S&B has a lot of brass-plated steel cases that are boxer primed (a lot of times you wouldn't know it wasn't brass if you didn't stick a magnet to it). I've reloaded them and the reloads work fine, though I've heard that reloading steel cases are harder on your dies.
 
mgmorden said:
S&B has a lot of brass-plated steel cases that are boxer primed (a lot of times you wouldn't know it wasn't brass if you didn't stick a magnet to it). I've reloaded them and the reloads work fine, though I've heard that reloading steel cases are harder on your dies.
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The main problem with reloading steel is that it doesn't stretch as much as brass and is a little more brittle. Some people do it, but you shouldn't reload it more than once or twice if you do, and even then it's more risky than brass. I've also heard of people "converting" Berdan-primed cases to Boxer by drilling a center flash hole. Not saying it's a good idea. Just saying I've seen it done.
 
I would buy steel over aluminum. Just my gut feeling after having shot aluminum back before I reloaded, and steel 7.62 X 39 still. No hard evidence either way. I have never seen aluminum in bottle necked rifle calibers, and have never shot steel in a pistol.

One vote steel. What they use for cases is very soft compared to the steel in your chamber.
 
2/3's of the worlds militarys use steel case small arms ammo. (All former com-block countrys)
The other 1/3 uses brass. (The U.S. and NATO)

None that I'm aware of use aluminum.

That should tell you something.

rc
 
WardenWolf I'd rank it as brass > steel > aluminum. Aluminum is really the lowest-grade in terms of strength.
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Uh.......brass stronger than steel or aluminum? On what planet?

Brass IS more ductile, but that isn't the same as strength. It has little bearing on a cartridge that will be fired once, but is a factor in cases that will be reloaded.


You won't see any hot-loaded ammo in an aluminum case.
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Really? I shoot aluminum and steel cased .40 S&W all the time. The pressure of a .40 is pretty damn hot.


Additionally, all aluminum-cased ammo is budget stuff, which tends to mean worse quality control.
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Nonsense.
 
rcmodel 2/3's of the worlds militarys use steel case small arms ammo. (All former com-block countrys)
The other 1/3 uses brass. (The U.S. and NATO)

None that I'm aware of use aluminum.

That should tell you something.
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It tells me that steel is cheaper.
Next question.
BTW....the U.S. military has issued steel case .45acp by the millions. Midway was selling some of the surplus just last year.

fallout mike Steel cased stuff wears the barrel and chamber out in AR's!!!!
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Nonsense. Spend five minutes reading on AR15 and that myth is busted:
http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=268
 
Walkalong said:
I would buy steel over aluminum. Just my gut feeling after having shot aluminum back before I reloaded, and steel 7.62 X 39 still. No hard evidence either way. I have never seen aluminum in bottle necked rifle calibers, and have never shot steel in a pistol.

One vote steel. What they use for cases is very soft compared to the steel in your chamber.
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Not trying to nitpick but everyone uses soft vs. hard here but I think they are meaning something else. The steel in every gun barrel I've ever machined was softer than 7.62 x 39 steel cases. Gun barrel steel is not very hard. Ask anyone here that has ever had to machine it.
 
fallout mike Really Dogtown?
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Yes, really mike :rolleyes:

(from the above referenced link)
"Cases: The most common item made is steel is usually the case. The steel is a mild steel, not hardened steel, and much softer than the hardened steel of the chamber. It's even less of an issue when the chamber is chrome lined. One frequent culprit is supposed to be that steel cases wear out the extractor faster. There's no specific evidence for this, but even if it's true - an extractor is exceedingly cheap, and the cost is more than offset by the savings of shooting steel ammo. "
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I've shot Blazer in 45, 40 and 9 and never had a problem. And they are as accurate as any practice ammo you are going to find. I don't shoot the steel cases in my guns even though it "only" wears/damages the extractor faster, as I don't want to replace the extractors more often. Just because the US military made a bunch of steel cased ammo during a war doesn't make it a good idea. Neither does the fact that a bunch of former Com-bloc countries use it or exports it to us make it a good idea. Now if you want to discuss why brass and aluminum are superior to steel as cases, it is because they do deform to seal the chamber and then "spring back" better than steel does.
 
You do realize that the reason aluminum doesn't corrode is because it forms a coating of aluminum oxide when it reacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere?

Do you know what one of the hardest abrasives on earth is, just below diamonds in hardness, the most commonly used abrasive on sandpaper?

Aluminium oxide is used for its hardness and strength. It is widely used as an abrasive, including as a much less expensive substitute for industrial diamond. Many types of sandpaper use aluminium oxide crystals.
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Yep, aluminum oxide. On the Moh's scale of hardness, diamond is 10, aluminum oxide is 9, and steel is 4.

Makes me laugh when people say they don't shoot ammo made of mild steel. What do you think those aluminum cases are doing to your chamber? I guess it is an easy way to polish the chamber, though!
 
siglite Quote:
Originally Posted by dogtown tom
Yes, really mike

(from the above referenced link)

I think you missed his [sarcasm] tags, dogtown
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I didn't miss a sarcasm tag, as there was none. This is it........:rolleyes:


Coupled with this post I figured it was someone else who thinks steel cases will ruin their barrel or chamber.
The Man With No Name Quote:....The steel in every gun barrel I've ever machined was softer than 7.62 x 39 steel cases. Gun barrel steel is not very hard....
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Wow.:scrutiny:
 
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