Aluminum Case Ammo

[ba49]

I have used various calibers of Blazer aluminum cased ammo for many years and actually prefer it in places that I can't pick up my brass. It has always worked in every gun I have used it in and is usually pretty accurate. I have never tried the Federal aluminum though.

 

[fdw]

Just picked up 9 boxes of 9s from Wal-Mart for less than $10 a box.

Couldn't resist...

 

[fdw]

Just picked up 9 boxes of 9s from Wal-Mart for less than $10 a box.

Couldn't resist...

ran 150 through my 9c today and one FTF, so I'm pleased.

 

[sarg1c]

I was at Walmart today and they had Federal 9 mm in alum. For 9.95 and brass Federal for 12.97 so I bought the brass because I wanted the brass cases. But at one of the ranges I fire at maybe should have got the cheaper stuff. I could lay down a tarp because the grass is high.

 

[Freischütz]

I've picked up boxer primed Blazer aluminum 45 ACP cases and reloaded them. Their only problem was short case life.

They had none of the sticking problems one encounters with steel cases.

 

[TX-Badger]

I put 100 rounds of 9mm and 100 rounds of .40 S&W through my SD9VE and SD40VE respectively yesterday and had no issues with Independence Aluminum. Decent stuff and not overly dirty either.

 

[walkinghorse]

I have shot several hundred rounds of the Walmart bought aluminum cases in 9mm through my XDs 3.3 without a problem of any kind. Shot magazines, 7 and 9 capacity, full of mixed aluminum and brass cases again without a problem*.
Have read on the net that some ranges do not allow aluminum cases, presumably as they keep the brass for reloading, but no personal experience with this.

*Maybe jinxing myself or inviting Mr. Murphy to visit, but only use the aluminum cases for range use as the bullets are some version of fmj.

 

[JLLNet]

My baby is a new M&P CORE Ported 9mm 4.25"

I started using 9mm brass ammo from Walmart and just fine, then I noticed the 9mm Aluminum ammo at $9.97 per box so I started shooting that and it seems almost the same, the only difference is that the Pistol does get dirtier, that I did notice right away, but other than than it shoots just the same. It must be the black powder.

I will continue using Aluminum casing for the price (I found a couple of local Ranges in Miami that don't like the use of Aluminum casing)

 

[Radco]

I am in the No issue with the Aluminum Blazer Ammo ! I have burned about 1k rounds of it in my Ruger SR9E and my Shield ! The bad part is if you reload you can not reload it! So burn it up

 

[gwpercle]

Blazer ammo is just fine to shoot, by using aluminum the cost is somewhat lower, the only downside is the aluminum cases are not well adapted to reloading. I did reload a few, once , but it wasn't that successful . Aluminum is not as ductile as brass , when reloaded it cracks and doesn't have proper neck tension like brass cases do.
Gary

 

[Mark IV]

I haven't shot any aluminum Blazers since the 80's, but it was always fine then.
In the past year or two, I've shot quite a few boxes of the Federal aluminum from Walmart, in both 9mm and 45acp, and it's functioned 100% in numerous pistols between me and a few freinds guns (Walthers, Glocks, CZ, Sig, Springfield 1911, 3rd gen Smiths and Shield, Canik, etc. )
I check threads on the stuff whenever I run across one, on several forums, and I just about haven't heard a bad word about it.

 

[e3mrk]

The only issue I have with aluminum cased ammo is You should not reload it.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
If your gun feeds the Blazer, it would make a good backpack/
bailout ammo.
It is SO much lighter and you usually don't carry reloading gear.

 

[Drm50]

Fired lots of it, mostly 9 mm. In S&Ws, Colts, Ruger, Browning, Lugers
ect. Never had a hic- up. Can say anything about it in the plastic ware.

 

[Naphtali]

The consensus appears to be no issues with functional reliability of Blazer ammunition regardless of cartridge. My impression is that the replies all pertain to using the ammunition for practice and/or at the range.

Has anyone used any Blazer ammunition for hunting or "duty" or as everyday carry ammunition? I am particularly interested in Blazer's 357 Magnum version of Buffalo Bore's heavy +P "FBI Load."

I refer to Blazer's 158-grain JHP as similar to Buffalo Bore's because Blazer's .357 Magnum cartridge is catalogued as having ballistics nearly identical with Buffalo Bore's heavy +P .38 Special - that is, a mid-range 357 at about 1100-1150 fps, probably from a test barrel. Test barrel muzzle velocities usually drop in the real world, where I expect the 1100-1150 to become 1000-1075 fps.

One important unknown is whether the 158-grain JHP expands comparably with either the Remington/Winchester/Federal "FBI Load" or Buffalo Bore's enhanced version.

If expansion and penetration are favorably comparable with Buffalo Bore's, Blazer's killer advantage enters the discussion. Buffalo Bore's ammunition is priced well over $1.00 per cartridge. Blazer's 158-grain JHP 357 Magnum ammunition is, I believe, less than 1/3 that price.

My local gun range is isolated for the winter. The road is a skiing/snow mobile trail. The $290.00 ticket I received three years ago for talking with my friend instead of noticing the CLOSED ROAD sign sort've delays my testing the Blazer ammunition for several months.

 

[DWalt]

Blazer .25 ACP Al-case ammo is the only brand that gives complete functional reliability in my pistol.

 

[comtedeloach]

Shoot it, don't try to reload it, and you will be fine.

 

[Jerry N.]

The problem I have is not with the aluminum case but rather:

I recently purchased a quantity of ammo for my M & P, Shield 9mm and meant to buy brass, which I did in 3 out of the 6 boxes I bought, but I ended up with 3 boxes of the aluminum cased ammo.

I hope they charged you differently for the aluminum versus the brass. My experience is that they sell the aluminum a little cheaper than the brass. Probably not worth the drive to get a refund, and it's probably too late, but one might have been in order.