Will steel ammo screw up my XD9 sc??

[aka108]

I read in some gun mag years ago a article on Russian steel cases and steel jackets on bullets. It stated that the Russians were "masters" in the manufacture of soft steel and that use of their steel ammo would not cause anymore wear and tear on a firearm than brass cased copper jacketed ammo. It all has to do with hardness of the material.

 

[Armedleprechaun]

You're fine.

 

[marb4]

I am by no means a materials engineer (or any type of engineer for that matter) so all I can offer is my own real world experience. I've fired thousands of rounds of steel cased ammo through my 9mm's and Rock River AR15. I've noticed no premature wear on any of the components. Just for kicks though I did a little exercise:

Assuming the worst, that the steel cased ammo was so bad I had to replace my Glock 17 extractor every 1000 rounds I'd still be money way ahead.

Prices from MidwayUSA

1000 Rounds Winchester White Box 9mm - $320
1000 Rounds Tulammo 9mm - $220

$100 savings on ammo

Glock 17 extractor - $18

Still ahead $82

 

[481]

I am by no means a materials engineer (or any type of engineer for that matter) so all I can offer is my own real world experience. I've fired thousands of rounds of steel cased ammo through my 9mm's and Rock River AR15. I've noticed no premature wear on any of the components. Just for kicks though I did a little exercise:

Assuming the worst, that the steel cased ammo was so bad I had to replace my Glock 17 extractor every 1000 rounds I'd still be money way ahead.

Prices from MidwayUSA

1000 Rounds Winchester White Box 9mm - $320
1000 Rounds Tulammo 9mm - $220

$100 savings on ammo

Glock 17 extractor - $18

Still ahead $82

Do that six times and you will have nearly paid off that Glock 17. Can't argue with the economy that steel-cased ammo offers.

 

[YZ]

How long does a 1000 round supply last for you?

 

[Prince Yamato]

Steel case is fine. I've run it all day long in my Glocks.

 

[Kiln]

My XDM has tolerated lots of the cheapest steel cased ammo I could find and it still shoots amazingly well. Don't worry about it. Shoot whatever you like through it.

 

[Potatohead]

I love the steel crap. Gimme more!Gimme more!

And I don't think it's any dirtier than any other either...

 

[allaroundhunter]

I love the steel crap. Gimme more!Gimme more!

And I don't think it's any dirtier than any other either...

It certainly is dirtier. With the exception being for Hornady's Steel Match line (but it isn't really cheaper than plinker brass, either).

If I didn't have ammo given to me, then it would be hard for me to afford much more than steel cased ammo.

 

[Averageman]

I have a G-17 here with about 3-4K rounds of Tula Ammo though it.
Never fails to fire and lives on a diet of whatever I feed it. These are the AK's of pistols.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Yet I here that using steel will damage the gun and frankly sreel on steel bothers me so I'm a brass only shooter. Lets face it brass ammo is what the guns were designed to use so thats what I use.

 

[mljdeckard]

But remember, the XD is a Croatian gun. Part of the idea of modern polymer-framed pistols is that they will eat a variety of ammo in rough conditions. Kind of tough to compete for police and military contracts around the world if it won't eat blank, blank, or blank.

My normal rule is to use Russian ammo in Russian guns, but right now I would love some to shoot in my wife's XD-9. She is carrying plated lead reloads because it's all I can find.

 

[YZ]

There is a posse of Croatians assembling right now, to go after whoever suggested they build guns for Russian ammo.

Several thousand rounds of (real, lacquered) steel is nothing to sneeze at. Well, good for ya. I also heard stories of snubnose smiths shooting +P+ all year round. Glocks do just fine with lead nose reloads specifically forbidden by Mr Glock. There is no controversy here, it's everyone's personal freedom of choice and judgement. We all love that.

 

[J_McLeod]

Got it. I say steel ammo in large quantities is bad for most Western manufactured guns. You say no it ain't, because you used it and so far nothing happened. Okay.

The XD isn't a Western gun, it's Croatian.

I bought my XD9 in 2004 and shot nothing but steel in it until I started reloading in 2010. Still works great.

 

[YZ]

Ouch for the Croats. Is Glock western enough sir?

 

[mljdeckard]

It's not made to eat Russian ammo. It's made to eat ANY ammo.

 

[herkyguy]

oddly enough, the only feeding problems i ever had my with XDsc 9mm were with some really crappy steel cased stuff. but there was no wear to the gun, it just wouldn't load reliably.

 

[atomd]

I used to believe that myth about steel casings causing wear. After doing some research I found that it's a bunch of bs.

Even if it did cause just a tiny bit more wear, it would be almost unnoticeable to the point that it would take so much steel ammo to wear it out that you could buy a bag full of extractors with a fraction of the money you spent on ammo.

 

[YZ]

What kind of research, Atom? Can you name your sources?

 

[Paul24]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx7dcpyzkKc 25 million rounds down range is a statically valid sample.

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

YZ shoot more think less. I hope you can trust Hornady as a valid source.

Just how many guns have any of you seen worn out? Corrosive ammo will destroy a gun, over heating a barrel will destroy a barrel, neglect will destroy a gun. Wear one out? Please. When you do wear one out with steel ammo you have saved enough money to buy a new gun.

Brass ammo only guys, please come shoot at my range and leave your empties.

 

[YZ]

YZ shoot more think less.

OK let me th... I mean... Bang bang bang!!

Hornady steel match will save you 0.0 over the cost of plain brass ammo. We are talking russo-ukrainian steel handgun ammo. Mea culpa I don't shoot 1000 rounds every month. Maybe 100 each caliber. I am fortunate to have a good job. The few bucks a month I might save by shooting brown bear... It is a moot point. But the discussion is entertaining. Speaking of entrtainment. That, and only that, is what YouTube is good for. Fire away.

 

[atomd]

What kind of research, Atom? Can you name your sources?

The burden of proof is really on you here. I am in the vast majority including the companies that make it. You say it causes damage.....let's see some proof. Any metallurgist who is into guns or gunsmithing should easily be able to prove it if it's true. The problem is that if you look at the hardness ratings of the steel (which is one of the things I found on the web) and then the hardness of the extractors (harder to find but an educated guess would get you close).....there's just no way it's doing any extreme damage to that hard of a steel. Sure it might not feed as nice in some guns or shoot as accurate as match grade ammo...but there's just no real proof out there that it damages guns to any measurable degree more than brass. My own experiences agree with the majority - no measurable amount of increased damage to the gun.

 

[JDR]

I bought all the TulAmmo .40S&W I could get my hands on for under fifteen bucks a box, my Gen4 Glock 22 shoots it very well, I ran a couple boxes through it last weekend, you can't beat the stuff for the price.