Ever hear of stainless steel shell casings?

[40pa]

Recently got a response to my ad for buying 308 brasss. Guy claims he makes his own stainless steel casings in his machine shop. States they use them exclusively, stand up better to multiple reloads, etc. My instinct tells me BS, but thought I would run it by guys that have more experience than me. I never even responded back yet.

[nicholst55]

And how much does he charge for these hand-made jewels? And, how well do they expand to seal the chamber from gas? How long does he reckon your sizing die will last when loading them? Color me (very) skeptical.

[40pa]

Expansion was also my first thought, sizing die abuse I never considered. I am no metallurgist but my general knowledge of metals tells me stainless is a bit more brittle than iron steel.

[Bullshop]

I have some trouble believing as well. There was at one time long ago what was called OConner steel head cases. I think they were SS but were only case heads that held a thread on case body. The idea was that a steel head would handle extreem pressure where a brass head may fail. If you have ever been around or seen whats left when the head blows on a high pressure round you know why you would want to avoid it. I guess there must have been a negative side to them because they never seem to have caught on.
Kinda like the Herters cyclone double shoulderd cases, a flash in the pan.

[Ragnarok]

They make turned brass cases...but never heard of turned steel stainless or otherwise.

[429421Cowboy]

Also wonder if case cap would be reduced from thicker walls? Gotta think it's not gonna seal well either. I'm pretty sure that there is a reason that after all these years we are still using brass for the vast majority of our cases!

[Bullshop]

Steel cases are not a new idea. Look at all the steel case milsurp ammo comming from China.

[429421Cowboy]

I understand that, as well as the guys on here that reload steel or aluminum cases for times where they might not be able to recover their brass, my point was if there was a better metal, we likely would have seen the switch before now!

[Bullshop]

Better no cheaper yes. If there ever is a swictch it will likely be on the order of plastic with molded in steel, kinda like a glok. Already in the works for low pressure shot shells.

[Whiterabbit]

Not stainless, but i've heard of S-7 tool steel cases

http://www.vigilancerifles.com/338yellowbastard.html

[uscra112]

I know of one guy who had and used one single stainless case for his breech-muzzle-loader single shot Schuetzen rifle. But that's a special case. [smilie=1:

[Blammer]

have him send you one for a sample so you can review it.

I'd say he's clueless or trying to sell you something.

[Artful]

for what it's worth - turned brass cases I bought were about $5 each after postage - as was stated steel has been in wide use since WW2 - I actually prefered the steel 45 ACP for heavy loads (45 Super pressures), I have not seen stainless steel but have seen coated steel that bright and shiny like nickeled.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I saw a guy at the range the other day shooting Hornady steel cased ammo through his Steyer Scout. Looked like the Russian ammo,green/olive shiny case. Seemed to have a boxer primer which looked to be the same size.

I once saw a guy who had machined out a SS 222Remington case that was chambered to take a Hornet round. If he saw a fox with a decent skin or a bunny for the pot,he would chamber his 'special' case with a nice light load and pop it.

[Artful]

FF of D - you can find cartridge chamber adaptors from several sources
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_chamber_insert.htm
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/930188-Rifle-cartridge-adapters

http://www.gaugemate.com/
http://www.mcace.com/adapters.htm
http://www.lothar-walther.com/210.php
http://www.gunadapters.com/
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/rifle-chamber-insert.aspx?a=471502
http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/mosin-nagant/106432-report-7-62x25-chamber-adapter.html

[williamwaco]

Recently got a response to my ad for buying 308 brasss. Guy claims he makes his own stainless steel casings in his machine shop. States they use them exclusively, stand up better to multiple reloads, etc. My instinct tells me BS, but thought I would run it by guys that have more experience than me. I never even responded back yet.

This is known as a "Solution in search of a problem . . ."

[nova_gjones]

Yes, and the are not reloadable.