First steel case failure!

[Skip Sackett]

I recently came into possession of a BUNCH of Wolf steel 45ACP casings.

I was enamored after the first use because of how well they weathered the storm of firing. There seemed to be less marking by the ejector than what ends up on regular brass.

I have some of those that the head-stamp is almost illegible and with no failures.

Well, I loaded up some with my home-cast 200gr LSWC and AA#2 and headed to the range. The data is inside of current data and was checked several times throughout the loading session.

As I was getting ready to reload the cases tonight I was surprised to find a split case. Especially after only two firings. Very surprising.
Here is what it looked like:

I hope this isn't a trend!

 

[Skip Sackett]

I recently came into possession of a BUNCH of Wolf steel 45ACP casings.

I was enamored after the first use because of how well they weathered the storm of firing. There seemed to be less marking by the ejector than what ends up on regular brass.

I have some of those that the head-stamp is almost illegible and with no failures.

Well, I loaded up some with my home-cast 200gr LSWC and AA#2 and headed to the range. The data is inside of current data and was checked several times throughout the loading session.

As I was getting ready to reload the cases tonight I was surprised to find a split case. Especially after only two firings. Very surprising.
Here is what it looked like:

I hope this isn't a trend!

 

[Ernie L]

You can reload steel cases ?!?!? I always just tossed them away.

 

[Skip Sackett]

They need to be Boxer primed.

 

[john traveler]

Smith crazy,

I used to load up some WWII and Korean war vintage Evansvill-Chrysler (EC) surplus steel cased .45 ACP ammunition and fired it in my M1911A1 pistols. I stopped that after breaking two extractors. The extractor groove apparently has a different profile than brass cases, and repeated impact is hard on the extractor claw. I kept on using them in M1917 .45 revolvers with no problems.

I see that the Wolf cases have what looks like a "normal" brass extractor groove. Let us know how that steel case stuff holds up.

 

[Hillbilly Jim]

You make the comment that some of the cases markings are not readable. How many time have they been reloaded?
I have reloaded both Berdan and Boxer primed steel cases with no problems, however the life expectancy of a steel case for reloading is very limited.
If it is not for some obscure case I would not consider reloading steel cases.
Give the current adminstration a few years and reloading any case may be the norm, with steel used as others may be difficult to find and very expensive.
What we throw away today may be tomorrow's treasure.

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, I've never reloaded steel cases, but I do know that steel is not as ductile as brass. Could be you're seeing the start of a trend. Please keep us informed.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Sgt Preston]

Posted 02 March 2009 08:39 PM Hide Post
Sir, I've never reloaded steel cases, but I do know that steel is not as ductile as brass. Could be you're seeing the start of a trend. Please keep us informed.

+1 That's what I'd always heard also Skip. I'd also be concerned about steel damaging my extractor. Preston

 

[Paul5388]

It seems like I saw a steel 7.62X39 that split on the factory load first firing.

Steel cases don't even present a temptation for me.

 

[Skip Sackett]

the comment that some of the cases markings are not readable.

Jim,
I think you misread my post. Or I didn't say it well enough.

The cases with the unreadable markings are some of my brass cases, not these steel ones.

Ron, Sarge, will do. It is just a test anyway. Something to fool around with. It is going to be warm someday and I am going to be able to shoot outside again!

(I think!)

 

[Bompa]

Back in the 70's a friend in the national guard gave me a bunch of steel cases..Loaded them and used them when there was no chance of retriving
the brass..Never had any problems with them..I wonder if there might be a few hidden away aomewhere ?? Got to look..

 

[n4zov]

Steel cases don't even present a temptation for me.

+1 mainly because I don't have any and don't plan to get any!