ammo question.

[GtoRA2]

Hey does anyone know if shooting steel cased ammo is bad for a gun?

Can it harm the chamber on a automatic?

Never read anything one way or another.

[lazs2]

are you talking about steel jacketed ammo or are you talking about the cartridge case like in the russian Wolf brand?   Blazer ammo is aluminum and they claim it is safe in all guns.   I have shot thousands of rounds of wolf ammo in 45. and it seems fine.  I would avoid old steel jaketed ammo as it increases pressure and barrel wear.
lazs

[GtoRA2]

I was talking the wolf stuff.

Does it shoot ok?

I found a place I can pick up 1000 rounds of .45ACP for like 110$

[AKDejaVu]

Do you reload or do you fire it once and throw it away?

AKDejaVu

[GtoRA2]

I currently do not have the room for a reloading setup.


How hard is it to do really? Reloading?

My dad used to do it, and he made up some .357 loads that where incredibly accurate.

I still have all the dies from his setup but the press was all rusty so I got rid of it. Are the dies universal?

[Dune]

Reloading isn't that hard.  My dad reloads almost all of his ammo.  You just need the equipment and the reloading manuals.  Start with mellow loads until you learn the indicators of over-pressure (ie. bulging primers and sticky cases)

However you can't reload the Blazer or Wolf stuff.  Brass only.  AFAIK they shot fine, tho.

[Saurdaukar]

The Wolf ammo is generally thought to be inferior to brass cased ammo in terms of acurracy and basic quality, but Im not aware of it causing any premature wear on the weapon its being fired through.  Ive had zero problems using the .45 and the 7.62x39 Wolf.

[MrLars]

I wouldn't trust anything but competition quality ammo if I didn't reload my own, .11 cents a round is attractive but I know I can trust my .17 cent per load ammo.

Anybody here into modifying or making their own projectiles?

I've done some mods with my own but it's highly illegal in most states

[GtoRA2]

With your .45 can you tell the difference in accuracy, between wolf and say UMC or "good ammo" like Winchester silver tips?

[Cobra]

I wonder what Beet1e uses?

Cobra

[-ammo-]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
With your .45 can you tell the difference in accuracy, between wolf and say UMC or "good ammo" like Winchester silver tips?

Taking the shooter out ofm the equation, yes each gun will have its own personality. You will find some mor excentric than others, and some are very agreeable.  Generally speaking, better quality ammo will shoot better groups in the the average pistol/revolver/rifle.   I handload all my paper and hunting loads and through 1000's of rounds, I know what my guns prefer.

[AKDejaVu]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
I currently do not have the room for a reloading setup.


How hard is it to do really? Reloading?

My dad used to do it, and he made up some .357 loads that where incredibly accurate.

I still have all the dies from his setup but the press was all rusty so I got rid of it. Are the dies universal?

Reloading isn't that difficult.  Read up on it on the web.

If its for fire once shooting... those will be fine.  Pick the cases up when done and throw them out.

Also, if you are going to have them for a while... be leary of corrosion.

AKDejaVu

[GWH]

Originally posted by GtoRA2
Hey does anyone know if shooting steel cased ammo is bad for a gun?

Can it harm the chamber on a automatic?

Never read anything one way or another.

The general consensus amongst the shooters I know is to stay away from steel-cased ammunition.  For one, steel-cased ammo is generally associated with poorer quality than brass-cased ammo from established manufacturers.  One of the reasons Wolf brand costs less than competitors is because steel is cheaper than brass.  

The other issue they raised is that it may induce premature wear in the gun.  Instead of hard steel parts operating against 'soft' brass casings, you get steel operating against steel.  At least that's how they explained it.  

I don't use bargain bin ammunition (such as Wolf), because it's been my experience that you get what you pay for.  Spend the few extra $$ and get ammunition from a manufacturer with an established reputation - that's what I recommend.  And use brass casings.

[lazs2]

I have fired about a thousand rounds of wolf ammo in two 45 autos and one revolver with no problems.   The wolf ammo was more accurate than the italian brass cased 45 ammo I tested it against.   I don't reload for 45's because.... well i am lazy and don't shoot 45's that much..  rather buy bargin 45 stuff by the 500 or thousand lot.  u can't reload steel cases.

I have reloaded since '73.   At one time I cast my own slugs for all my handguns.   With home cast slugs you can shoot a 44 or 45  or 357 for about 2 bucks a box and have really accurate ammo.  To buy cast or jacketed slugs costs a little more but cuts way down on labor.   Useing all manufactured components.. you can reload the same ammo for 4-5 bucks a box.  You can tailor the ammo for the gun and vary the powder, bullet weight and powder weight and see dramatic differences in group sizes with handguns.

you can get started in handloading for a couple of hundred bucks but realisticly... you need a couple of hundred more bucks for time saving essentials like carbide dies, case tumblers, case trimers etc.

lars.. I have made custom ammo..  multiple projectiles in 44.. slice a 250 grain semi wadcutter into 3 pieces and load it into the case... drill out a hollow point and epoxy in a 22 blank.   etc.

The ammo man and cheaper than dirt are two good places to get bargin ammo on the net.  dillons blue press is a great place to get reloading components..  Speaking of Dillon... theyu make the best stage loaders in the world but  I would stay away from them... get a single stage press (one die at a time) and do each operation carefully and one at a time.   Unless you are a competitive shooter who needs to crank out 400 500 rounds an hour... you don't need a progressive loader... stick with the single stage.
lazs

[GtoRA2]

Ok guys!

Thanks for the info.