Steel-cased ammo for range days honest pros and cons...
- Thread starter Conman
- Start date
It works. Ive shot a lot of surplus steel cased in mil rifles and hg. Some of it is very corrosive, requires prompt cleaning when finished.
I don’t do that in my more refined firearms. I’ve seen accelerated wear over time. I also prefer brass to reload.
I don’t do that in my more refined firearms. I’ve seen accelerated wear over time. I also prefer brass to reload.
About the only thing I ever use it in is an AK. They seem a natural match to me. I might use it more, but I shoot mostly ammunition I’ve reloaded. Some guns of mine have never seen a factory round, and some handguns have never seen a jacketed bullet, so buying ammo that’s hard to reload makes me wince a little.
As far as problems go, I’ve seen and had more trouble with aluminum cased ammo. I’ve seen it stick in chambers; more in revolvers than anything.
One advantage to steel case ammo I seldom see or hear is that it’s magnetic. My usual range has a nice rolling magnet which makes cleanup after steel case ammo a breeze. With my crippled back, that really is a big deal.
I should also say that the flip side to that. Because the cases are considered disposable, they often don’t get picked up at all or get a half-effort. That can lead to a mess with rusty nasty cases in every nook, cranny, and crevice at the range they always seem to find.
As far as problems go, I’ve seen and had more trouble with aluminum cased ammo. I’ve seen it stick in chambers; more in revolvers than anything.
One advantage to steel case ammo I seldom see or hear is that it’s magnetic. My usual range has a nice rolling magnet which makes cleanup after steel case ammo a breeze. With my crippled back, that really is a big deal.
I should also say that the flip side to that. Because the cases are considered disposable, they often don’t get picked up at all or get a half-effort. That can lead to a mess with rusty nasty cases in every nook, cranny, and crevice at the range they always seem to find.
Last edited:
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- Sep 13, 2025
- Messages
- 109
For ME....
Steel case ammo is not in my wheelhouse on ANY calibers..
I have a hard time thinking about Steel on Steel..
I believe the softer brass cases cause less wear to my firearms/reloading tools.
Also, for me, in todays world, there is so much of available brass cases (For CHEAP) in the calibers I shoot, that I do NOT to even think about Steel Cases==Other than to sort them out of my buckets of once-fired stock...Bill.
Steel case ammo is not in my wheelhouse on ANY calibers..
I have a hard time thinking about Steel on Steel..
I believe the softer brass cases cause less wear to my firearms/reloading tools.
Also, for me, in todays world, there is so much of available brass cases (For CHEAP) in the calibers I shoot, that I do NOT to even think about Steel Cases==Other than to sort them out of my buckets of once-fired stock...Bill.
Deer chaser
Member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2025
- Messages
- 14
I’ve shot steel for practice and it does what it needs to. It’s definitely dirtier but when you’re just putting in range time, the cost is hard to argue with.
