reloading steel cases?

[philevans]

1. has anybody done this?
what are the foreseeable consequences of reloading tule steel cases?
as an EXPERIMENT.
i've gone to the extent of full length resizing, depriming, uniforming case primer pocket, flash hole, trimming to overall length, chamfer in&out, cleaning, priming.
(i used old rcbs .223 dies to FL resize and deprime and really case lubed heavily)
if .223 case scarcity becomes problematic is this a viable alternative resource?
my new remington brass cases generally reload 6 times before split necks.
update.
2. loaded .223 tula steel with 24gr varget and v-max 55gr, oal 2.245".
a lot of other forum responders says ok to reload steel.
3. 5 steel cased reloaded down range, ~2.5moa at 100 yards, shot factory tula and my reloads also for comparison, none shot better than 1.254moa. cool and no wind at 7am - maybe nervous throughout range session.

 

[Arik]

Yes its possible, people have done it. Just google it. You can also reload Berdan primed cases

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[Maddmax]

I was always told they were too brittle (like aluminum too) and shouldn't be done. You can get microscopic cracks in the brittle metal when resizing and that will and can cause BIG problems. You "could" get by with it (if you're lucky),but I'd never do it. In my book,steel and aluminum cases are for ranges that won't let you pick up your brass. Let them keep the junk cases.

 

[JaPes]

I test loaded five .45 ACP steel cases. Haven't fired them yet. I'm not sure I'd take the same risk at bottle neck .223 case pressures.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Way back when I was young and alot poorer I reloaded 45 acp steel cases after I had shot the original shells. I believe they were REM UMC from WW11. They were repeatedly shot through a Colt Commander with no problems.

 

[Neumann]

A .45 ACP runs at 12,000 psi. A .223 Remington runs at 55K and 5.56x45mm at 60K.

Are you too old to learn to write with your left hand? Learn braile?

Steel cases are for gravel lined ranges that swallow brass as soon as it hits the ground.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Yes it can be done, no it will not blow your gun up by itself, that's usually accomplished with 25+ grains of a fast powder like clays. If a case cracks what happens.....? nothing, the chamber contains it.

 

[tomuchiron]

Steel 45acp reload just fine. work great for matches where retrieving your brass is a problem. drop the steel and move on. or watch the others scrounging their brass. I'm saving the 556. I'll load it when the need arises. Also the alum hulls are good for a one time reload.

My Fire arms do not have the ability to choose one ammo over another.
It fits it fires. There is no difference in a chamber with a dimmensionally
correct shell in it, loaded to proper prssures. If you buy steel or brass, reload steel or brass or alum. They should all be the same. Fire the same, and be interchangeable.
If you cannot make a correct duplicate. It does not matter if you are using steel or not.
To say steel cannot be reloaded,, defies logic.

 

[Mikey217]

Yes it can be done, no it will not blow your gun up by itself, that's usually accomplished with 25+ grains of a fast powder like clays. If a case cracks what happens.....? nothing, the chamber contains it.

Prime example... (although this is a brass example and not steel )

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Wow that's a good one I've never seen a cracked case like that only ones with a single split down the side or maybe casehead seperation if you want to call that a crack.

 

[Robert Palermo]

I have reloaded the steel .45 cases as well. Haven't come across the
.223 cases yet .

 

[Prof_Fate]

Not wanting to rub salt in any wounds...but my club rents out their facilty for training.

A couple of weekends ago there was a training session, 40 officers and each was told to bring 1000 rounds of 223. There were a few club members waiting around to pick it up..I had to go and don't (at this time) reload 223 (that will likley change though).

One guy quit when his back gave out - he had 2 5 gallon buckets full of brass.

 

[rsrocket1]

Tula .223 are typically Boxer primed steel cases. They resize, reload and shoot fine. I wouldn't try shooting them a dozen times, but I do have a stash that I keep when I shoot where I cannot guarantee case retrieval.

The mild steel is hardly any stronger than brass and will not wear out the extractor or your dies any worse than brass, especially since you are lubing the .223 cases. As others have said, the chamber is what holds the pressure in, the case is just a "gasket" except for fluted chambers like HK's or unsupported Glock bellies.

I've seen people's posts where they even shot cases that looked almost as bad as post #9 and they did not blow up their gun. Does that mean you should? No.

If you are afraid to reload steel cased Boxer primed .223, send them to me, I'll properly dispose them .

 

[mikld]

Yep, steel cases can be reloaded safely (I was one of those that used to say "no, too hard, will crack. tought to size, etc. untill I read a good test). Stimpy over on Grey Beards"s forum tested and reported his reloading of .223 ammo. I believe he got over 9 reloads avarage...

 

[Skip Sackett]

45ACP, about 10 loadings:

 

[Rule3]

I guess my question is WHY?
Steel is not as mailable as brass. It will not give and take or stretch as brass will, so the odds of it splitting or cracking is greater.What does it do to your reloading dies?

You mention a possible 223 brass becoming scarce? Seriously?

 

[Skip Sackett]

I guess my question is WHY?
Steel is not as mailable as brass. It will not give and take or stretch as brass will, so the odds of it splitting or cracking is greater.What does it do to your reloading dies?

You mention a possible 223 brass becoming scarce? Seriously?

Nostalgia, bro., plain and simple, nostalgia! At least, that is why I did it. I used it in a PPC league from a 1911 and I could always find my "brass". Stuck out like a sore thumb!

It hurts nothing in your reloading setup unless you have standard steel dies. Then, you have to lube anyway so.....still, no harm no foul.

I just thought it was cool to use them like they did in the Second Great War when there really was a shortage of brass, brass.......If you will!

 

[Arik]

Even cheaper

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[mikld]

Why not? Reloading is fun and little experiments/variations make it funner! It would get boooooring real fast if I only loaded one mfg. case one powder and charge weight, one bullet and one OAL. I don't see any .223/5.56 cases of any kind at my shooting spot nor 45 ACP or 9mm. (I guess the brass picker-uppers get there before I do). I guess if I had some I'd try it.

 

[Titegroups]

I think the bottom line line is it can be done but few do it. When I run out of brass I'll give it a try, when we run out of bud light and steaks I'll look for something else too.