Strange Black 9mm Hornady Case

[rfwobbly]

Ran across something I've never seen before and wanted help to ID it. It's from range pickup after a match. A black-colored 9x19 case marked "Hornady 9mm Luger". Non-magnetic that weighs the same (61gr) as a typical 9x19 brass cartridge case. Doesn't feel like aluminum, but under the black coating looks to be shiny silver, not a brassy color. The black is a durable, professional coating, not paint. The coating is very thin. At first I thought it was simply marker pen, but it's not budging or rubbing off. However, the coating is wearing off at the sharp edges.

 

[Walkalong]

It is from some of their specialty ammo. I forget what it is called right offhand.

 

[Presto]

I believe it is some of their TAP ammo. It is brass. It loads and shoots just fine.

 

[rfwobbly]

I know they just introduced a line of competition ammo in steel cases. That's what I first thought it was, but the magnet didn't like it.

 

[David E]

Not all steel is magnetic.

Is it boxer primed?

 

[Walkalong]

I'll betcha a cold drink all steel used in making cases is magnetic. Good non magnetic SS would be too expensive.

 

[bergmen]

Not all steel is magnetic.

ALL steel is magnetic unless it is 300 series stainless steel. Never heard of stainless casings in my 50+ years of shooting.

Dan

 

[rfwobbly]

Yes, it is boxer primed.

 

[powell&hyde]

Boy that sure looks like a Hornady steel match ammo case.

http://www.hornady.com/store/Steel-Match-handgun/

 

[ReloaderFred]

It's called Hornady HAP ammunition. The cases are brass and the black finish will wear off in the tumbler. I've found them in 9x19 and .45 acp. They load and shoot as any other brass does. The cases are colored for Hornady by a specialty metal finishing company that had a display at the last SHOT Show, but I don't remember the name of the company off the top of my head.

I've duplicated the case color by using a mixture of two parts Copper Sulphate, two parts Sodium Thiosulphate and one part Cream of Tartar, combined with 40 parts of distilled water and heat in a stainless steel pan. They can be made from a light red to black, depending on how long you leave them in the boiling water. The brass also has to be completely degreased before adding to the mixture.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[LiveLife]

I have seen these cases the past year at the range in several semi-auto calibers. Once the black finish/coating wears off, they are essentially same as nickel plated brass cases we are all familiar with.

I used to separate them out, but now use them same as regular nickel plated cases.

 

[1SOW]

On the Hornady sight, they say "HAP" is "Hornady Action Pistol" using less expensive "Steel" cases; so it's not HAP..

 

[LiveLife]

OK, found a Hornady 45 ACP case with most of the black finish worn off (case on the right in the picture and the background is black ballistic nylon). On the left is a 9mm Hornady case with the black finish intact and in the middle is a R-P nickel plated case for comparison.

You can clearly see the nickel plated case under the black finish (and no, the case is not magnetic).

 

[ReloaderFred]

I believe they may have discontinued this line of ammunition. It's not listed on their current website under either general products, or Law Enforcement products.

HAP refers to the actual bullet used, which is the Hornady Action Pistol bullet. It's available as a reloading component. Here is the link to the component bullet: http://www.hornady.com/store/HAP-Hornady-Action-Pistol/

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Steve C]

It is case from Hornady TAP ammo that used to have a black coating on the cases. Here is an example picture of some 9mm:

 

[shaggy430]

Like others have stated, it is Hornady TAP. I've reloaded it just fine. The TAP I believe was made to have less muzzle flash for law enforcement and tactical purposes. It is top quality ammo.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, haven't reloaded any of the few TAP, cases I, have, but if you leave them in a tumbler for a couple of day the black will start wearing off. If you leave it in the tumbler long enough the nickle will wear off. And if you leave a .45 case in the tumbler long enough, it will eventually wear down to a 9mm................ For the three members who don't understand humor, that last part was a joke.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Mystery solved! It's the older TAP, not the HAP. This could turn into a musical production............

Fred

 

[918v]

Boy that sure looks like a Hornady steel match ammo case.

No it don't.

 

[rfwobbly]

Mystery solved! It's the older TAP, not the HAP. This could turn into a musical production............

Complete with some HAP dancing !