Steel Cased Ammo

[IcemanUnlimited]

My local range doesn't allow it, why do some ranges ban steel-cased ammo?

 

[gpr]

more than likely, they do not want to sort it out of the brass for recycling purpose.....gary

 

[tyeo098]

They ban steel cased ammo because its more often than not some com-bloc ammo, and those usually have steel bullets. Steel is hard and will eat through their backstop. Hence, they dont allow it.

Most just ban steel bullets and do the infamous "magnet test."

 

[IcemanUnlimited]

tyeo098 - heard that's a myth..

also, they don't ban aluminum ammo, so i'm sure it's not sorting issues.

 

[Robert]

My local range doesn't allow it

Well give them a call and see what they have to say.

 

[tyeo098]

tyeo098 - heard that's a myth..

Which part?

Com-bloc having steel cases? (brown/silver/gold bear, surplus 762x54r, 762x39, 546x39, wolf/tulammo: all steel cased)

Steel cases containing steel bullets? More often than not, surplus ammo does. Steel is cheap, lead is expensive (compared to slag steel)

Steel being harder than lead? (cmon people...)

Steel eating backstops? (All that energy has to go somewhere, soft lead breaks up easier than hard steel)

This data is just based on my experiences.

 

[WardenWolf]

If they ban steel-cased ammo, it's usually a means to exclude people who shoot "commie guns" or people who chew through a lot of ammo. In other words, younger whippersnappers that the old guys don't like. Effectively, they price them out of the market. Steel core is another matter, and it's mostly due to the myth that it's harder on backstops. The mild steel used is really not much harder than lead.

 

[IcemanUnlimited]

"steel eating backstops" - the steel in ammo is usually much softer than the metals used to manufacture firearms.

 

[Robert]

"steel eating backstops" - the steel in ammo is usually much softer than the metals used to manufacture firearms.

It has nothing to do with the firearm and everything to do with most indoor, or ranges that use steel for targets are not rated for steel core ammo. Which the vast majority of Russian made surplus ammo is. Steel core ammo transfers more energy into the target and penetrates the backstop to a deeper degree. Both will render a backstop unusable in a shorter amount of time than normal lead core ammo.

If the range is an indoor range I image they do not want the bullet trap getting tore up too bad. If it is an outdoor range that uses AR500 steel plates I would venture that they do not want to have to replace the expensive plates any more often then absolutely necessary.

 

[IcemanUnlimited]

yeah i just failed, i totally misunderstood LOL

i'm used to people complaining that steel ammo wears down guns badly and was already prepared to fire that. XD

 

[Robert]

i'm used to people complaining that steel ammo wears down guns badly and was already prepared to fire that.

Ah, yeah even steel core ammo has softer copper jacket. And steel case ammo might wear out the odd extractor faster but does not normally adversely effect a well made firearm.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

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I bought some Herter's Steel Cased non-corrosive ammo from Cabelas for my .380 and still debating whether or not to shoot it through my new SW Bodyguard.


I've heard people saying it's fine and people saying it's not.



What do you think?


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[IcemanUnlimited]

I heard "if it'll feed, it'll shoot". Then again, I've never used steel but I'm tempted for the cost.

 

[tekarra]

Some of the steel cased ammunition is lacquer coated for rust prevention. When shooting lacquer coated ammunition special attention must be given to cleaning the chamber as the lacquer will build up in the chamber and, over time, may cause failure to chamber.

 

[jerkface11]

When shooting lacquer coated ammunition special attention must be given to cleaning the chamber as the lacquer will build up in the chamber and, over time, may cause failure to chamber.

OMG no it doesn't. Stop repeating this.

 

[IcemanUnlimited]

That's the only issue I know of.

Also, my place allows steel-case, but not steel-core.. Idk why I got them mixed up.

 

[tyeo098]

Some of the steel cased ammunition is lacquer coated for rust prevention. When shooting lacquer coated ammunition special attention must be given to cleaning the chamber as the lacquer will build up in the chamber and, over time, may cause failure to chamber.

The lacquer used on those cases is based from fibreglass resin.

It doesnt melt.

AT ALL

 

[pockets]

I see here the terms 'steel core', 'steel case' and 'steel jacketed' being used as if they mean the same thing.
A 'steel case' refers to the cartridge itself being made of mild steel.
As for 'steel core'? Bear, Tiger, Wolf, Tula, etc DO NOT normally have 'steel core' bullets...they have 'steel jacketed lead core' bullets. This is usually referred to as 'bi-metal jacketed' because they have a lead core inside a mild steel jacket, which is then plated with copper or brass. This is in contrast to a copper or brass jacket over a lead core.
A steel jacketed lead bullet may affect range backstops more than a copper jacketed lead bullet.....may, possibly, perhaps. Some outdoor ranges ban these due to the perceived fire hazard of steel jackets sparking on rocks.

Yes, There are 'steel core' bullets in SOME ComBloc ammo. I think the last ones I saw were of Chinese manufacture. IIRC, aren't these banned in some places? A steel core inside a steel jacket being considered as armor piercing by some. Anyway, true 'steel core' bullets can be hell on backstops.
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