Russian Ammo

[Velle]

You would have to shoot a helluva lot of steel cased to get any noticeable wear. The cost savings would more than make up for a new barrel when/if you needed to replace it.

 

[Racer X]

I recall something like 6.5K of bi-metal steel equals about 15K of standard jacketed bullets to shoot out an AR-15 barrel. And that is with real serious abuse at the range.

Pre-COVID pricing that savings buys you a new upper or several nice barrels and bolts.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

"An important factor to consider is that in the real world, barrels are wear items. They will eventually become unserviceable if you shoot enough. If you plan on shooting a lot, don't get too attached to your barrel – think of it as a thing that does a job for a certain period of time at a certain cost. When that time is up, change the barrel. The AR-15 is a modular platform, and barrel changes are quite simple."

 

[shep854]

I recall something like 6.5K of bi-metal steel equals about 15K of standard jacketed bullets to shoot out an AR-15 barrel. And that is with real serious abuse at the range.

Pre-COVID pricing that savings buys you a new upper or several nice barrels and bolts.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

"An important factor to consider is that in the real world, barrels are wear items. They will eventually become unserviceable if you shoot enough. If you plan on shooting a lot, don't get too attached to your barrel – think of it as a thing that does a job for a certain period of time at a certain cost. When that time is up, change the barrel. The AR-15 is a modular platform, and barrel changes are quite simple."

Thanks! I was thinking of that test, but couldn't remember the site and link info.

 

[Racer X]

I truly think the youtube video and the LuckyGunner test pretty much give anyone the info they need for an informed choice.

My take is that steel cased is great for training and becoming familiar and confident with an AR 15 or AR 10 platform. If you want accuracy, you should go with quality brass, or better yet, load your own. And, most importantly, an out of the box 16" mass produced slender barrel AR 15 isn't really built for accuracy.

 

[quikdraw67]

My rule of thumb was that if it was designed to fire steel cased ammo, then that's what I fire in it.

If it was designed to fire brass cased ammo, that's what I fire in it.

I understand that times being what they are you take what you can get.

But so far I'm good to go on ammo for a while.

 

[shep854]

For training and competition junkies where thousands of rounds a week were used in training and practice, steel was often the only affordable choice, provided the ammo was allowed at host ranges.
I've shot plenty of steel through my AR and SU16, but I also have decided to stick with brass as much as possible.
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Regarding accuracy, shooters have been spoiled by the easily free-floated AR pattern. Until recently, 1MOA was a grail attained only by elite, dedicated target shooters.
The military spec for AR-pattern rifles is still around 3 MOA, more than enough to reliably hit a human-size target out to 500m. This is pretty much the default for rack-grade civilian ARs, and to be honest most shooters can't shoot that well themselves...

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Back in the day.....I ran 2 ea 1440 round cases of steel cased 7.62x39 ( 1 Russian 1 German) through my Ruger Mini-30. Didn't hurt it at all. Still have the Mini and still have some Tula steel yet to shoot. I did do a major cleaning after each shoot that as I believe some of it was corrosive.

 

[Oracle]

I tried 223 Wolf steel casing Russian ammunition, 50 round box, with my Ruger AR556 years ago. It fired and cycled okay but it was dirty, very, very dirty, the rifle looked like I had fired 500 rounds instead of 50, did I mention dirty?

 

[shep854]

I tried 223 Wolf steel casing Russian ammunition, 50 round box, with my Ruger AR556 years ago. It fired and cycled okay but it was dirty, very, very dirty, the rifle looked like I had fired 500 rounds instead of 50, did I mention dirty?

It's nasty stuff alright...think of all the character you built mucking it out...

 

[Racer X]

That's what the engine cleaner wand is for at the self service car wash. That and Aero Simple Green. Only partially kidding about the car wash. But no dishwasher. That's for Glocks only.