Types of cases and reloading

[ChasMack]

I think I know the answer to this but I want to be sure. A friend gave me a box of 45acp. He marked it as 45 GAP as I had one at the time. Turns out it's 45acp and is Wolf ammo in steel cases. I know aluminum can't be reloaded but can steel? I have never heard of it being reloaded...it seems to be pretty stout and looks reloadable. Thanks in advance!

 

[rikman]

I'm sure it can be done if it's a boxer primer, but you'll probably scratch and ruin your sizing die since you'll be pushing steel against steel......I'd shooter and toss 'em

 

[BullfrogKen]

I wouldn't even bother keeping it.

 

[mbopp]

I loaded a few just to see if it could be done. But I figured after a few loadings the lacquer finish would wear off so I don't load them anymore.
I also tried loading aluminum cases. I'll do it - once - and shoot them for field plinking where I don't care about lost cases.

 

[Fishslayer]

If you really need .45GAP or ACP that badly & can't find it at your range, just go here. Used brass is dirt cheap. .45GAP is a bit harder to find... and rightfully so.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

[FROGO207]

I have reloaded both steel and aluminum in the boxer type cases and have concluded the same things as mbopp. The steel, while reloading will work with them they will loose their coating and rust after a few firings so not worth the bother. FYI to the guy that said it would ruin your dies----It will not bother carbide dies at all due to comparative hardness of carbide and the steel dies are hardened also while the soft steel casings are not that big a factor of die wear. If those were all the casings I had available to me I would not hesitate to load them but I would expect shorter useful case life due to rusting, sticking in chamber and such.

I have seen others cut the head down with 45 ACP and use them for 45 GAP with lead bullets successfully. YMMV

 

[Walkalong]

Reloading steel is not generally done.

It does not have the desirable characteristics of brass that makes brass the choice for loading ammo. IE: Elasticity over many loadings. The ability to be worked over and over and still expand to seal the chamber without splitting or rupturing. Bras is by far the best choice for reloading.

Can it be done? Sure, Folks here have. Is it a good idea? I don't think so. If times were really bad and that is I could find or was likely to find for years? Eh, I reckin I would have to make due, carefully.

 

[kingmt]

I load them in .223 & like them for my bolt action. I have many fireings on them without problems.

I had some of my first cases that I had FL sized laying around that I loaded for my AR & some were oversized. These were the first rifle cases I had loaded & thought they would be good to learn on so I'm sure I made a mistake.