Steel case ammo

[Meatwad]

My gut tells me to stick to brass, but steel cased ammo is worth getting due to the cheap price, or should it just be avoided all together

[Maverick]

I used to think it was pretty much trash but now even US ammo manufacturers are using steel cases for some lines. I followed some folks on you tube including a gunsmith page who said they had not had any repairs or issues with steel cased ammo in either pistols or rifles. If you have a tight match chamber it might be a problem but I doubt it will hurt anything. Some folks say the plastic coating can gum up the works but you'd have to fire a lot of ammo and not clean the gun, not a good idea no matter what kind of ammo you use.

[Meatwad]

I've been buying brass, but since its hit and miss I've wondered about steel, but as "filler"....use mostly brass but toss a steel in every now and then. I've read from it being fine and then saying no, it will split and jam. But not rely strictly on steel, just toss a round in every so often, like 1 out of 5 brass

[Gman]

The only steel case ammo I have is Chinese bulk 762x39 SKS/VZ/AK ammunition.  It works fine, I've shot samples out of dozens of 1440 round containers we've received (bought/sold millions of rounds of this), and never had any serious complaints about the steel casing. 

I've not run any of the steel case pistol or 556/308/etc ammunition however.  Lots of YT vids out there of guys using it with no ill effects, probably depends on the brand, type, and what Maverick said, what type of barrel and chamber you're pushing it through. 

[Vulcan]

I used to think it was pretty much trash but now even US ammo manufacturers are using steel cases for some lines. I followed some folks on you tube including a gunsmith page who said they had not had any repairs or issues with steel cased ammo in either pistols or rifles. If you have a tight match chamber it might be a problem but I doubt it will hurt anything. Some folks say the plastic coating can gum up the works but you'd have to fire a lot of ammo and not clean the gun, not a good idea no matter what kind of ammo you use.

Yup, I tried it on a 223 (Savage Stevens) a few years back, definitely had trouble with the gunk on the steel fouling up the breech - and that was just on one packet of the stuff (20 rounds). Had to give it a thorough clean afterwards. Would stay away from it.

[Slash27]

My gut tells me to stick to brass, but steel cased ammo is worth getting due to the cheap price, or should it just be avoided all together

It's worth getting.

[hazmatt]

7.62x39, 7.62x54R and 9mm steel case seem to be fine.
5.56  steel case caused malfunctions.

[Shuffler]

I've been reading intently. Never used any nor had a hankering to. Good info to have though.

[hazmatt]

Thought more detail might be useful here as I'm sure this could vary widely depending on what you are using it in.

7.62x39,(AK) 7.62x54R(Mosin-Nagant) and 9mm(G17) steel case seem to be fine.
5.56(AR)  steel case caused malfunctions.

[Nefarious]

My cousin got a cheapy AR and got a case of Tula Steel Cased and it functioned flawlessly.

[FX1]

I don't own a rifle or pistol that will not run steel case. Lots of guys bring their ar to the ranch just to find out dust and gas operated systems don't mix. I really believe that a good rifle will fire anything you can feed it. Your better off with brass but running steel is a good test.

[Vulcan]

The steel case ammo I've used (eastern block manufactured) had a coating on the outside, and once the rifle started to warm up started to come off and stick inside the rifle. Doesn't matter if your rifle is good or bad, once it clogs up with junk it makes no difference - it clogs up.

[Meatwad]

Its a 5.56 AR rifle. Ive bought brass so far, and I have read the same about the coating on steel ammo coming off and gunking everything up. Price on brass keeps going up, but have been finding brass 5.56 at Academy sports on truck days

[Nefarious]

Its a 5.56 AR rifle. Ive bought brass so far, and I have read the same about the coating on steel ammo coming off and gunking everything up. Price on brass keeps going up, but have been finding brass 5.56 at Academy sports on truck days

YMMV, but I'd shoot it. If it fouls up and causes issues, diagnose and try to keep ahead of it or try another brand.

I shoot steel cased in 98% of my rifles, which are mostly Commie Surplus rifles. But I have never shot Steel in my 2 AR's. I got some brass back in March when everyone started panic buying TP. I've held onto it, but I don't regularly shoot my ARs either.

[Chalenge]

I have three favorite calibers (5.56, 6.5 CM, 7mm Rem Mag) and I have plenty of brass right now. Primers and powder will be a hard spot one day, but still no reason for steel cases.