Steel case 45

[Garyshome]

Steel case 45. Loaded 10 Tulammo steel case 45 ACP. 185g swc cast w/6.4 g unique. I just had to give this a try, most likely stand behind a tree and fire them! Firing them out of a Glock so I will check the cases for Glock smiles and bulging.86512

[EMC45]

I load them all the time. They are fine and will shoot/feed/function just fine.

[jcwit]

I did an experiment with steel cases a few years. Moderate load, lead bullets, reloaded them 5 times, had no problems, ya they worked. With that said, I'll stick with brass cases as the steel is not meant to be reloaded, plus brass in 45 ACP is the second most picked up case at our range, # 1 is of course 9 MM. So why bother with steel?

[Garyshome]

I just had to try. Just shot them, load was too light 6.4 g unique would not cycle. Cases still in good shape after being reloaded 1 time. Bumped up the powder to 6.6g unique. Will try again, accuracy was pretty good, no leading.

[MtGun44]

They work fine, no particular difference from brass except more force to resize. I do not
normally pick them up, but if some wind up in the rotation, they get loaded. Only a few
are done, but there is no problem.

Bill

[MTtimberline]

How hard steel on the dies? Is carbide the way to go?

[gmsharps]

Steel cases would be great to use when you are in a area that you are prone to loose cases in. I used to have a bag of berdan 45 cases that I would load and use at pistol matches where we had theft issues. I would count my brass before I left the match for the day and usually there would be several berdan cases missing and with a smile I went on home knowing the jerk that stole the cases would have a nice surprize when he was depriming cases the next week.
gmsharps

[frkelly74]

I will load them and routinely pick them up when I find them. Generally I put a little lube on a few of the cases just for good measure. I think it might be easier on my dies that way.

[Garyshome]

After firing 3 times total, there is still no Glock bulge, or smile. Upped the powder to 6.55g Unique and they cycle fine and shoot nice. I cleaned and reloaded last night and will try to fire them again today.

[SODAPOPMG]

the only problem with steel cases is rust
the protective coating is thin and with enough tumbling and sizing the bare steel will be exposed and rust will start
not too much of a problem if they do not go into storage but are shot soon after being loaded
do not wet tumble with ss pins as the coating will be gone when you are finished

[MTtimberline]

I am thinking of trying this sometime as there are time when I'd like to some shooting while camping and the safest places to shoot often have tall grass and some brass is lost. The loss would be easier to accept with steel.

[Garyshome]

87831All right fired 5 times, this pic is the 4th reload. Next loading will be #6

[EMC45]

Keep runnin' 'em!

[Garyshome]

Alright 6 times this afternoon. Cleaned and reloaded for #7 tomorrow.

[guncheese]

im past 10 count on some of mine
i have had few split along the way
including a couple that split on the expanding die
i just give them light spritz of rem oil or whatever is on the bench to make them happier in the dies
ive had some of my most accurate rounds out of recycled russian steel (old Mosins, submarines and soyuz capsules)
ive been reloading some blazer aluminum as well, same sort of thing
but they dont make it past 6 or 7 reloads
its just fun, i dont do it to save anything
and with my light loads i have no fear of trouble
that all said i ONLY do this with .45 acp i wont try high pressure rounds like 9mm and .40s&w that would be STOOPID!