CCI Aluminum Case Ammo

LEW1943

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Plan on shooting a boat load of 38 SPL+P CCI clean fire through my 586-8. Would like to hear from others on the forum about their experience with this ammo. I don't reload so I am not concerned with saving spent casings. Will they function reliably in my revolver? Have been shooting only brass over the past two years with no issues (mostly 38 SPL and some 357).
 
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I just ran through about 150 .38 Special 158 grain RNL and .357 Mag. 158 JHP aluminum Blazers today. Had it sitting around for years and just wanted to get rid of it. Not my favorite stuff by a long stretch but it worked and didn't seem to be too much messier than most range ammo. I know a lot of guys won't touch it and I doubt I'll buy more, but again it did well at shooting holes in dirt.
 
The only Aluminum cased Blaser in which I've seen consistent problems has been with the 38 Special RNL. When I ran a gun shop, we continually found the bullets very loosely held in the case. You could actually spin the bullets in the case. Never had a problem with their jacket loads in any other caliber.
 
I've used a fair amount of it in semi autos and it's just fine.

You said you don't reload, those cases cannot be reloaded, says clearly on the box.

As to "gifting" brass to others. Nice idea. My range is so cluttered with brass and in particular crappy steel AK shells and finding what your gun ejected is nearly impossible. Don
 
They will shoot/function just fine, but for the 1-2 dollar savings difference, you can easily sell or gift the brass to someone that reloads and keep all that aluminum out of the landfill.

There are recyclers who will buy the aluminum cases, even with the spent primers still in the case. That keeps them out of the landfills and puts money in your pocket. But you still have to bend over and pick them up.
 
Never heard of any problems in revolvers, a few problems with some autoloaders. A friend of mine was doing some testing on an AR pistol chambered in .40S&W, sorting out which mags worked best, what factory ammo provided the most reliability under different conditions. He was shooting upside down, sideways, double taps, doing everything he could think of to make the firearm fail to fire and the only problem he ran into was aluminum cases often having their rim ripped by the extractor. In short, he did not recommend using aluminum cases for this particular model of firearm. I'm a reloader and never had an interest in aluminum cases. I have picked up the odd box that shows up on the range table on a trial basis, never had any problems with it. It is easily disposed of in the range bucket, it all gets sorted and sold for scrap to fund the Junior's Program, they get a fairly decent price for mixed brass/aluminum, we ask people not to put steel in the bucket. It gets tossed into the trash they may remove it magnetically I do not know.
 
There are recyclers who will buy the aluminum cases, even with the spent primers still in the case. That keeps them out of the landfills and puts money in your pocket. But you still have to bend over and pick them up.

If you are shooting aluminum cased ammo in a revolver and you have to bend over to pick up your spent cases, you need to re-evaluate how you are shooting.
 
Shot lots of it in .40/.45.38/.357

Have had 0 issues in my SA guns and same in my wheelie.

Even my PCC in .40 shoots it no issues.

May be a little dirtier but so what your gonna clean the firearm any way.

Oh it a cost savings for sure.


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It's 38 Special +P, so it is more than safe in your 357 Magnum revolver, but you will need to thoroughly clean the chambers before loading 357 Magnum rounds. Way back when brass cased ammo was more expensive, I did shoot the aluminum cased Blazer ammo. It was fine back then, I expect it is the same today. Personally, I would not mess with it unless it was a caliber that I do not reload or if it was ammo that was going to be shot on a range where I cannot police my brass.
 
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Yesterday shot 100 rounds at the range. Had zero issues with the aluminum cased 38+P. Noted a few tiny aluminum chips in barrel and cylinder bores when cleaning but not a big deal. Does not appear to be any dirtier than other ammo used. Good cost effective alternative if you do not plan on reloading.
 
Back in the 1980's the police department I worked for purchased a couple of cases of the CCI aluminum cased .38 Special for range qualifications. I shot it frequently in a 586, 28, and 19. No problems at all.
 
If I were not a reloader - I would STILLL buy Brass cartridges as they are about the same price as Aluminum when on sale. So after paying the same price - you can either sell them to Reloaders or simply bring them to a scrap metal place and get some money for them after collecting a bunch. Seriously - there is really little to no monetary advantage to Aluminum as I see it! I know a few guys down at one of my Clubs that sell once fired Brass all the time. OR...... you could just hand them to some of the Fellas who DO reload. :)
 
Have used it in .38/.357, 9mm, .40 S&W. Have used it in .45 ACP in both 1911's and S&W 625-2. Have not ever had a single issue of any kind with the Blazer aluminum cased ammo. Do note that recoil w/ this ammo in semi-auto pistols (9mm) seems a bit less than common brass types. Possibly this is only my subjective judgement. Nevertheless, it is my experience. Sincerely. bruce.
 
CCI Aluminum

Thanks to all for your inputs. I may have had second thoughts at first but after firing some yesterday and hearing from you guys, I am satisfied with their performance. Bought 1K rounds from Target Sports at $.34/round. Least expensive I could find although I did not do an exhaustive search. Would be happy to donate spent brass but I don't know anyone who reloads and I don't see many others with 38spl at my local range.


Thanks again,

Lew
 
Would be happy to donate spent brass but I don't know anyone who reloads and I don't see many others with 38spl at my local range.

Thanks again,

Lew

Just empty your cylinder of spent casings into a paper bag or a coffee can each time you reload at the range. If you leave the bag or can sitting there when you leave, I guarantee someone will come along and help make it disappear. :)
 
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