Author Topic: reloading steel cases (Read 392 times)

stimpylu32 · « **on:** January 28, 2006, 11:27:49 AM »

Has anyone done this or is it even possible , Im thinking like the wolf .223 rem. and some of the 8mm mil. stuff .

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2006, 12:54:33 PM »

Don't even...

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2006, 01:45:27 PM »

Fill em with lead, they make good fishin sinkers! Woodbutcher

Cowpox · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2006, 03:15:52 PM »

Steel is pretty much an original loading proposition. I doubt it has enough elasticity to expand during firing, be sized back down, then survive another firing. The Military classes steel casings as expendable items, even the steel 105 artillery casings. The brass casings are non expendable, and at least 80% of the brass casings must be returned to salvage, or the signer that drew the ammo will be presented a Statement of Charges. I believe reloaded steel cases would exhibit a lot of case failures, and suspect it would be impossible to get it back out of a sizing die.

John Traveler1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2006, 08:57:31 PM »

YES, it is possible to reload steel cases, but they are more trouble than they are worth!

Unless the cases are in some hard-to-get or exotic caliber, it's not worthwhile. Years ago, before 7.62x39 cases were widely available, I reloaded military steel cases using RWS berdan primers. The case were more difficult to resize and expand, but it was feasible. I got several reloadings out of each case, without neck splits or case failures.

Ditto for those WWII and korean war era zinc-plated .30 M1 Carbine and .45 ACP cases. They sized just fine in carbide dies, but rubbing the coating off promoted rust. A big negative in using these cases is that they tended to break M1911 extractors.

The US military has alternate ammo specifications for using steel cartridge cases in small arms and cannon calibers. The Government thinks it's worthwhile during wartime materials shortages to use them.

John

ricciardelli · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2006, 09:09:27 PM »

"The brass casings are non expendable, and at least 80% of the brass casings must be returned to salvage, or the signer that drew the ammo will be presented a Statement of Charges."

Oh my...I better go back to Nam and police-up all the empties lying around because some poor GI had to pay for them?

And you guys in Iraq and other gawd-awful areas, make sure you pick up all your brass...or else you will be charged for the ammo...

:eek:

Questor · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2006, 06:16:31 AM »

You may run into another complication if you try to reload them. The priming flash holes may be of the European style. They will not be removable with standard American methods.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2006, 03:54:41 PM »

I don't plan to load any but was wondering if it was possible , i have pleanty of brass , even more than i need most of the time .

Every once and awhile someone will ask me a question that i don;t know the awnser to and this was one of these times .

Cowpox · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2006, 04:59:04 PM »

Hold the phone riccardelli !!!! Don't buy a plane ticket. I don't think the term Non-expendable applies to ANYTHING sent into a combat zone.