Reloading Steel-Cased Ammunition

This was filmed on January 30, 2016.

[@ditchdigger93]

I load a lot of them. I think Steel is a misnomer, I'd call them Tin cases as yes, they are pretty soft and easy to size. About the only problem I've ever had with them is neck splitting. This can happen the seventh, tenth, or first time fresh out of the factory box for no reason that I can find. The only big stopper is rust. If you see a bunch of them laying around at the range that have any rust on them at all forget them. But kept in good condition I've loaded them many times.

[@Passportbro33Mark2]

I’m not gonna lie ammo guys are loving this!

[@wemcal]

Great video and great information

[@a.joegevara3519]

I want to pull the FMJ bullets, and re-seat hunting bullets (especially some of the 6.5 Grendel). As far as reloading,I bought 5K berdan primers years ago, and I have a hydraulic de-priming set-up, just in case... I think the hardest part is finding the steel cases after you shoot them, lol.

[@yojimbo05]

you can reload steel cases. I have and always been told that you cant relaod steel ammunition

[@jurajokasa834]

dude even if its berdan primed case just buy berdan deprime pins and thats it ;)

[@walkerwyse1047]

I have only ever loaded brass cases just bc steel cases love to jam up and at times get stuck stuck

[@thelastjohnwayne]

Obturate................I learned a new word.

[@SladeMcCuiston]

"With reference to firearms and air guns, obturation is the result of a bullet or pellet expanding or upsetting to fit the bore, or, in the case of a firearm, of a brass case expanding to seal against the chamber at the moment of firing." - Wikipedia

[@jmf1976jmf]

Slade - I'm new ish to reloading, started in Dec 19, saw the panic coming in March so I bought most of everything I would need to be fairly comfortable. I've made a 100rds each of 9mm and 308 and fired with success is where I'm at experience wise. I have 500rds steel 6.5 Grendel unfired but no fired brass. I'd like to pull bullets and powder on these steel rds to make a better load. Any pointers or videos you can suggest? Thank you.

[@SladeMcCuiston]

I have no experience reloading 6.5 Grendel. If I find information on reloading steel cartridges in this caliber I will forward this to you.

[@jmf1976jmf]

@@SladeMcCuiston You are awesome sir. Mostly just looking fo dos' and donts' of replacement of powder and bullets in a steel case.

[@Viper-dc2wm]

Wolf and Barnual 6.5 steel cased ammo is actually pretty good. Just shoot them.

[@jmf1976jmf]

@@Viper-dc2wm My wolf is fmj so that won't work for hunting applications I'm interested in

[@Viper-dc2wm]

@@jmf1976jmf I bought some PPU 6.5 Grendel before the panic, thank God. Your biggest problem is locating small rifle primers at a reasonable cost I'm sure. In the meantime, maybe research if Grendel brass is available or if you can convert another caliber brass to Grendel. The good news is Remington is coming back. They are now owned by Vista who owns CCI and Federal. Hopefully they can get those Remington primer factories rolling again.

[@calvingreene90]

If you are reloading your own spent cases there is no need to resize and not doing so will increase case life.

[@lucasoldaker2158]

Do steel cases not scratch up the inside of your dies

[@SladeMcCuiston]

No. The steel cases are much softer than the hardened steel dies. Similar in how the steel cases don't damage the chamber of a firearm.

[@thewatcher611]

Can you imagine a cartridge case made of hardened steel? it would have to be made to such perfect specs, you'd have to machine it perfectly to each individual chamber. It's like the difference between an AR500 plate, vs mechanics wire. Take a steel file to a grade 8 bolt, a grade 5 bolt, and a hardened steel drill bit, you will see differences. All steel, different hardness levels.

[@varun009]

​@@thewatcher611that's simply not true. Work hardening is definitely something to consider when dealing with progressively stamped steel. While claims of its hardness have definitely been overstated, the problem is more an issue of heads pacing. They often buckle when you try to resize the opening. I reload steel no more than once and always underload the charge just as good practice with rifle rounds. I wish ammo were cheaper, but they're conspiring to keep prices up.

[@Viper-dc2wm]

DONT RELOAD STEEL CASES!

[@SladeMcCuiston]

Why? Just because of conventional wisdom? We would have never went to the moon if we used that logic.

[@jmf1976jmf]

No reason behind it?

[@kylereynolds4370]

steel over brass anyday

[@buckfizzard291]

@@SladeMcCuistonwe never did

[@huracan200173]

If the dies are carbide or harder steel, there's no problem doing it.