Steel cased ammunition pros and cons, experiences?

[Jchrisls]

This is what I was alluding to in my post above. True steel core ammo is very rare in civilian hands. A bi metal jacket wont damage backstops anymore than copper jackets. It's all about range and velocity. But there are ranges that ban "steel core" because it will damage their backstops. They are simply ignorant to facts. Then there are others that say that the bi-metal jackets can spark and cause fire. I'd actually give that some credence. The whole revenue stream thing is false since the majority of ranges let you bring your own ammo.

I meant recycling of brass

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Here's what people think bi-metal jackets do.



Here's what actually happens.

 

[repete]

So, as u may already know, I'm new to the game. When I purchased my AR from a local shooting range/ gun store, one of the first thing I was told was " never fire steel cased ammunition in this". I was never told why, and dont wish to fall victim to a bias or superstition based on someone else's single experience. So I pose the question...

Can/will it damage your firearms?
Have you ever run it through yours?
Has it run well?
Did you see any long term negative effects?

I searched the forum price to no avail.

You just had to do it didn't you?
This is like the .45ACP vs.9mm vs..40 ectra!
After reading some of the responses I've come to the conclusion that most are guessing and repeating what they've heard, know any more now than you did before?

 

[Calculon]

FYI - Wolf steel case ammo is NOT steel core, it is lead core. The steel in the bi-metal jackets are bad for indoor ranges as the jacket may damage steel bullet traps/backstops etc.

According to Wolf:

• "metal hardness is measured based off the Rockwell Hardness Scale, brass is a 1, while Wolf steel is a 1.1 on the scale. Your barrel is anywhere between 40-60. So not a material difference."
• Is Wolf Ammo Bad for an AR-15?
  Not at all! Because the hardness of Wolf steel isn’t significantly harder than the hardness of brass casing, it is not harder on the ejectors, their primers are not corrosive and the bi-metal jacket, while being marginally harder on a barrel, the wear won’t show up until significant usage. Think 15,000+ rounds.

Edit - added link to source article

Is Wolf Ammo Any Good? - True Shot Gun Club

Is Wolf Ammo Any Good? The short answer is yes, Wolf Ammunition is manufactured in accordance with SAAMI standards. For the purpose of this post, we are going to focus on steel cased Wolf Ammunition and ignore their Gold line with is brass cased. While there is a lot of misinformation...

www.trueshotgunclub.com

 

[Jchrisls]

You just had to do it didn't you?
This is like the .45ACP vs.9mm vs..40 ectra!
After reading some of the responses I've come to the conclusion that most are guessing and repeating what they've heard, know any more now than you did before?

I think I do....lol

 

[meketrefe]

I've seen ranges that ban steel core ammo, but never one that banned steel cased.

Any idea what their rationale for that was ?

Ruining targets, back stops and high risk ricochets. I have seen what some people do with cheap stout rounds shiooting cars, engines, appliances, rock backstops, etc.. and that is huge risk. Basicslly total ignorance of what they are doiing and why people get hurt or killed.
Dont want to be anywhere near one of those "fun" plinkin sites.

 

[meketrefe]

Bimetal is not as aggresive as a steel partition but they can also damage stuff and are more aggresive on the bore erosion.

 

[spat]

Ruining targets, back stops and high risk ricochets. I have seen what some people do with cheap stout rounds shiooting cars, engines, appliances, rock backstops, etc.. and that is huge risk. Basicslly total ignorance of what they are doiing and why people get hurt or killed.
Dont want to be anywhere near one of those "fun" plinkin sites.

Steel core I understand as I explained above.

I don't understand why they would ban steel cased.

None of the things you mentioned are affected by the case.

 

[Acer-m14]

Steel core I understand as I explained above.

I don't understand why they would ban steel cased.

None of the things you mentioned are affected by the case.

the only thing i can think of is . .. if your at a range and brass hits the floor its there brass now to recycle .. mixing it with steel they will have to spend time sorting it so what there recycling is all brass for the better price and not mix metals ..

 

[Acer-m14]

since im back here i will comment on @gun_slinger_boy post of the 2 videos ..

the top video i have seen before .. where they call the 7.62x54r light ball ammo with a silver tip .. that is steel core ammo for the mosin .. its a FMJ with a steel core .. the spam cans with the silver paint on it .. find a spam can with no silver bar of paint is just normal FMJ lead core ..
im not sure if calling the silver tip steel core light ball ammo is correct .. but in the video it seams they don't know what there testing .. lol
it might be steel core or lead something like that .. 1:05 min mark .. come on guys lol

 

[MillidotShooter]

Mine eats steel with minimal problems. As mentioned by others, I too get the occasional failure to extract and subsequent stovepipe. But it usually doesn't happen until I have put 200 or so downrange. I attribute it to carbon build-up. I just break out a rod and some Hoppee's and 5 minutes I'm back in business. Things being what they are, it seems steel is the only thing you can get right now at decent pricing. It's good for plinking, but I wouldn't use it to sight in a scope. No consistent accuracy from either Wolf or Tula with a .223 Wylde. If I am going for accuracy I run Brass.

 

[meketrefe]

Steel core I understand as I explained above.

I don't understand why they would ban steel cased.

None of the things you mentioned are affected by the case.

I agree. Their logic might be thay many times steel cased is the one that creates the issues so they say fuck it lets ban steel case. You know there are also bimetal, penetrators, API, etc... in brass so unless they check the actual ammo the restriction seems kind of arbitrary.
Hornady steel case is clean, safe to use and expensive but no reason why it ahould not be used that steel case for example.

 

[Podmonkey]

Bimetal jackets can sometimes spark on a backstop and cause a fire hazard.
While this sounds outlandish the indoor range I used to frequent actually had a major fire due to this. Apparently there was video evidence of sparks from bimetal jacketed (but brass cased) milsurp ammunition which actually started the fire.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

Bimetal jackets can sometimes spark on a backstop and cause a fire hazard.
While this sounds outlandish the indoor range I used to frequent actually had a major fire due to this. Apparently there was video evidence of sparks from bimetal jacketed (but brass cased) milsurp ammunition which actually started the fire.

You can see sparks in the slo-mo of the video.

ETA: I was shooting at Davis once when a small fire started on the range. We all had to evac until they declared it to be safe to go back in. It was almost a nothing burger but it happens. They must keep their range relatively clean.

 

[Acer-m14]

what about the fire ball at the firing line ? lol

 

[Jchrisls]

This is what I was alluding to in my post above. True steel core ammo is very rare in civilian hands. A bi metal jacket wont damage backstops anymore than copper jackets. It's all about range and velocity. But there are ranges that ban "steel core" because it will damage their backstops. They are simply ignorant to facts. Then there are others that say that the bi-metal jackets can spark and cause fire. I'd actually give that some credence. The whole revenue stream thing is false since the majority of ranges let you bring your own ammo.

My bad for not clarifying. Brass recycling is a revenue stream for a range, not strictly sales of ammunition.