Steel case ammunition

[vonn]

Anyone use any in the M1 carbine? Haven’t tried any but the prices are very attractive. Read a number of reviews and they are generally very favorable so thought I would ask here for comments. Thanks for responding, positive or negative.

 

[pasound]

Never had any for my own rifle, a .223 M&P 15, but have fired 7.62 steel in a friend's AK clone. Never a problem. If from a known brand, Wolf or Red Army, or if it is American steel, maybe Freedom or Winchester, it should work well. Wolf and Red Army have good quality, it seems.

 

[Racer X]

can be tough on extractors. Not specifically in an M-1, but in general.

 

[JayFramer]

Hard on extractors and will leave a gum in the chambers leading to stiff extraction and ejection.

Avoid at all costs. Treat your M1 right, treat it with BRASS.

 

[brucev]

Have fired a zillion rounds of 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and 5.56mm in various pistols and of course the 5.56mm was fired in a Colt Competition Match Hbar. Never had a single issue at all. The ball ammo shot like domestic production ball ammo. The 5.56mm actually gave very good results in the Colt. HTH. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[LVSteve]

Hard on extractors and will leave a gum in the chambers leading to stiff extraction and ejection.

Depends on how/if it is coated. The old green lacquered stuff wasn't nice in ARs for sure.

 

[stansdds]

Steel cased ammo is just fine when fired in firearms designed for it. I've shot plenty, in fact, that's all I have shot in my SKS. For firearms designed in western nations, I'd stick with brass cased ammo.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Steel cased ammo is a bit harder on extractors and barrels.

But if it runs in your gun the savings from buying steel cased will easily outpace the cost of a new extractor or barrel.

 

[BC38]

Is the newer poly coated stuff any better than the older lacquer coated stuff?
I'm debating spending the extra 3-4 cents a round to buy brass rather than steel for my 556 AR

 

[Racer X]

I'm rounding up numbers, so here goes. You get reduced barrel life from steel cased ammo and bimetal bullets, but you save on ammo. So, you save 5 cents a round, $50 a case. You wear out a barrel in 6K rounds. You saved $300. Buy a new barrel and bolt. Done. It's a wash, BUT you get to shoot whenever you want as it's cheap. If you have a Melonite barrel, lasts even longer. I wouldn't do this with a high end barrel as the ComBloc ammo isn't very accurate, so what's the point in that. Lots of good $200-$300 barrels out there.

The poly coatings have a FAR higher melting/burning point than the older lacquer. Or buy Silver Bear zinc plated, or Golden Bear brass plated cases. Argument gone.

if this is an heirloom matching numbers rifle, your M-1 carbine, I wouldn't. If its a pieced together refurb or new production, just shoot it. New barrels aren't that expensive, and the CMP will install your new barrel for $75 Services for the M1 Carbine - Civilian Marksmanship Program

 

[gregintenn]

Steel case ammo is for commie guns. American guns shoule get brass cased ammo.


BC38, The powder coated ammo, in my opinion, is much superior to the lacquer coated stuff.

 

[Rudi]

I avoid steel case ammo.

 

[BC38]

I avoid steel case ammo.

OK. Care to add anything to that? Reasons? Bad experience? Things you've heard or read?

 

[Andyd]

The extraction problems with steel cases stem from carbon blow back since steel cases do not expand as much as brass cases. Therefore the gas sealing properties are worse. The coating of the steel cases is reducing shell adhesion and friction and there isn't that much stress on the extractor until, or unless a brass case is fired after a lot of steel cases being shot without cleaning the chamber. The expanding brass case will then adhere to the carbon deposits and extraction will be harder.

That said, I have no problem with shooting cheap steel cased ammo in some of my cheap ARs and Glocks, especially in rapid fire sessions.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

In questions like this,always ask the guys who actually have experience ,and dont rely on heresay. I have fired thousands of steel case rounds,with no trouble. Wolf was actually quite accurate in my AR

 

[DWalt]

During WWII, there was a considerable quantity of steel cased .30 Carbine ammo made, just as there was much steel cased .45 ACP ammo made. Most of the steel cased ammo (both calibers) was made at the Evansville Ordnance Plant, some was also made at Frankford Arsenal. It seemed to work OK in carbines back then. I have, and still reload, WWII steel .30 Carbine cases, both Evansville and Frankford.