Aluminum casing

[tws3b2]

Stopped by Dunhams today just to check out ammo. They had two boxes of Federal 9mm fmj white box and 15-20 9mm aluminum casing fmj. I know my g3c does not like steel at all. But, Aluminum? Never tried it. I got the two white box.
Anybody have any problems with Aluminum?

 

[gunlaw]

Nope. CCI Blazer has used aluminum for years. Generally not reloadable.
.

 

[tws3b2]

Nope. CCI Blazer has used aluminum for years. Generally not reloadable.
.

That what they had in stock. CCI blazer.

 

[Vonderek]

The only problem I've had with Blazer is some indoor ranges near me don't allow aluminum cased ammo. I guess they don't want it mixed in with the spent brass. Same thing with steel-cased.

 

[DustyGmt]

Is the sausage industry experiencing a shortage of casing materials that they've resorted to using aluminum?

Casings are for ground meats, cases are for projectiles.

 

[DustyGmt]

The only problem I've had with Blazer is some indoor ranges near me don't allow aluminum cased ammo. I guess they don't want it mixed in with the spent brass. Same thing with steel-cased.

They probably scrap the brass to offset operating costs, the scrap yards are pretty strict, around here anyway. If you had 2 tons of #1 prepped copper pipe and they found a single sheetrock screw or any foreign debris whatsoever in it it they will count the entire haul as being #2 or #3 grade scrap and put the screws to ya on your $$$ return.....

 

[kilizyrag]

Just for grins I have reloaded .45 ACP aluminum cases. It worked.

 

[lysanderxiii]

Just for grins I have reloaded .45 ACP aluminum cases. It worked.

Highly not recommended.

Aluminum, unlike brass or steel will burn at high temperatures and pressures. A small crack will allow gas to escape the case and literally burn the hole bigger, causing major damage. Virgin aluminum brass is far less susceptible to cracking as their is no residual stress in the case after forming and heat treating; reloading introduces stress and potential cracking. The Army lost some M14s and M60s to this "burn-through" phenomenon while trying to develop an aluminum 7.62mm case. Oddly enough, bigger cases like 20mm and 30mm are less prone to this as are lower pressure case (like pistols).

 

[230RN]

The only problem I've had with Blazer is some indoor ranges near me don't allow aluminum cased ammo. I guess they don't want it mixed in with the spent brass. Same thing with steel-cased.

Ditto at my range, but they may have changed that. I just wanted to test .357 Blazer and had to promise cross-my-heart, pinkie-swear to not leave any cases on the floor. Revolver, so that was no problem.

Worked fine, but my impression was they were a little light for 158 gr .357s.

I don't understand the problem with steel cases, since it's easy enough to run a magnetic sweeper over the floor. But of course, that's an extra step for the staff, hence more expense for the range.

ETA On re-reading the thread, I see where there's a penalty for impurities in the scrap. That's certainly a good reason for not allowing steel or aluminum casings.

(Couldn't resist using "casings," heh-heh.)

Terry, 230RN

REF:
https://www.gamemastersoutdoors.com/cci-blazer-ammo-357-magnum-158-grain-jhp-3542/

 

[trackskippy]

Ive reloaded the same lot of Federal aluminum 9mm 6 to 8 times before I stopped. Did it as an experiment just to see if I could.

Unlike the Blazers, the Federal cases are boxer primed and they process just like brass. Other than losing a couple of cases each reload to split necks, they worked just fine. I loaded them with the same load I use for my practice brass 9mm, which are close to max.

Never had any issues with the ones that cracked, other than they cracked and weren't useable at that point.

I only did it to see if it was feasible, and, if its all you have, I think it is. Im not suggesting its what you do as a normal thing, but it is an option if you have no other choice.

 

[bersaguy]

As long as reloading isn't a consideration, then aluminum cased ammo is just fine. I used to like to have a few boxes on hand to shoot at one of the ranges around here that doesn't allow me to pick up my own brass. Short story...I don't bother to shoot there anymore. I did have one Ruger that would choke on aluminum 9mm...think it was loaded a little light, and thats when the gun was pretty new, any 45's I've shot aluminum through would eat the stuff right up

 

[Bazoo]

I've not shot huge amounts but some, and I've never had a malfunction with aluminum cases ammo. And certainly never a gun that wouldn't run it. I'd say the OP is safe to try it.

 

[jmorris]

I have had problems with it in some firearms. Weak neck tension and case in general.

I wouldn’t make an attempt at running it until I at minimum made sure just chambering it didn’t set the bullet back and or distort the case.

This 9mm rifle for example is a “no go” with aluminum cases.



I have also seen them flame cut the breechface and even a firing pin stop once.

 

[9mmepiphany]

15-20 9mm aluminum casing fmj. Anybody have any problems with Aluminum?
...That what they had in stock. CCI blazer.

I would have gotten the Blazer. When I used to travel to teach, I would pick up Blazer, in whichever town I was in for the class, as it was easier than traveling with it. This was a bit ago, when you could walking into any Walmart and pick up a couple of hundred rounds for $10/100

Unlike the Blazers, the Federal cases are boxer primed and they process just like brass.

Blazer aluminum hasn't been Berdan primed in close to two decades

 

[Jonesy814]

Just for grins I have reloaded .45 ACP aluminum cases. It worked.

I also have reloaded aluminum 45 auto. I would try 38 special if I had any aluminum cases. I would not do higher pressure rounds like 9mm. None of the ones I loaded split and everything worked
A few years back I got invited to shoot a friends Thompson SMG. He had a case of Blazer aluminum cased ammo. That Tommy gun ran 100% of it

 

[Catpop]

Reloading 9 and 45 cases works in a pinch, but not recommended. Out of a 10 case test I did some time back I’d lose one case to splitting about every reloading.
But I do pick it up at range and save it for those times ahead when I’ll be in that pinch! The aluminum 9mm ammo now tends to be berdan primed. May be a ploy to keep people from reloading it or just where it was sourced by manufacturer.
I never had any problem with any aluminum cased ammo I bought and shot.

 

[Pat Riot]

There is a thread in the Revolver forum regarding aluminum cases as well. One person posted about someone that experimented with reloading aluminum cases numerous times and discovered flame cutting in the chamber(s).
Personally, I wouldn’t risk reloading aluminum cases as Murphy and his “law” always lurks nearby.

I have shot aluminum cased ammo. Not much of it, but my experience in a 9mm was okay. I wouldn’t shoot it in a revolver due to sticking cases.

 

[DustyGmt]

I used to shoot quite a bit of it in 9mm, 10mm and .38spl. I don't recall a single issue and I had to have shot a case of each cartridge type out of my glocks and revolvers. I liked it because it was very cheap, the blazer stuff. Like $5.50/50rds of 9mm..... actually pretty accurate too.

 

[tws3b2]

That what they had in stock. CCI blazer.

Whoops, I have to take that back. Not CCI.
Federal, Federal Aluminum case amml.

 

[trackskippy]

I would have gotten the Blazer. When I used to travel to teach, I would pick up Blazer, in whichever town I was in for the class, as it was easier than traveling with it. This was a bit ago, when you could walking into any Walmart and pick up a couple of hundred rounds for $10/100


Blazer aluminum hasn't been Berdan primed in close to two decades

Was just over at the range blasting and found a couple of Blazer aluminum cases, mixed in with some brass cases someone else had left in the snow and ice, and they were boxer primed. Whatda ya know.

Those are the first Blazers Ive seen that were, and if you hadn't said something, I probably wouldn't have bothered to look. Those that Ive picked up in the past were all Berdan, although I never really bothered to look at them once I saw they were and just assumed that they were.

The Federals I did look as they were something different at the time. They are also most of what people seem to be shooting these days when they do shoot the aluminum at our range anyway. The Blazers I saw today were the first Ive seen in a long time.

The Federals do have an "N" and "R" on either side of the primer pocket, and Im assuming that stands for "not reloadable". Dont know why else it would be there, and Im guessing its lawyer driven.

Either way, I think the Blazers would work too without any trouble. I have seen a couple of people post other places that they have just run the Blazer Berdan cases into their dies and the decapping pin punches right through the bottom of the case and you can still load them. Dont know if that works or not, and sounds a bit sketchy to me. Im not that desperate yet, but never say never.

 

[Drail]

Aluminum makes terrible ammunition cases. It work hardens the first time a strain is placed on it and will fail if reused. There was a very good reason that brass was chosen for cases.

 

[Beck]

Never had any trouble with 9mm Blazer aluminum case. I never tried to reload it. It was a spent and forget proposition.

 

[Reinz]

I recently had a similar experience as bersaguy and jmorris. My Ruger Security Nine choked on the Blazer and also set the bullet back significantly. Brought the round home to break down the save the bullet.

 

[27hand]

I ran a few cases of aluminum.357 Sig in some training classes before Blazer stopped offering it.

It shot well without issue. I did find a few rounds that had been chambered a couple times had some setback ( never shot these). I probly still have a couple hundred rounds.

I eventually changed to a .40 bbl for the Glock 32 as .40 was quite a bit cheaper.

I've also shot. 40 S&W, 9mm and 45 ACP with aluminum cases. No issues feeding, firing or extracting. Decently accurate.

I probly have a few K of 9mm and a few hundred .45s left

 

[entropy]

Just for grins I have reloaded .45 ACP aluminum cases. It worked.

Yup. I've done it with both .45 ACP and .38 Spl. I do powder puff loads, just enough to cycle the action in .45, and real light .38 WC. I just do them one and done, mostly because I load them for winter shooting when I don't want to dig in the snow for brass.

As a matter of fact, I have 300 CCI aluminum .45 ACP cases sized, flared and primed ready to load, but haven't done much winter pistol shooting the last 2 years. I also have 800+ brass .45 ACP cases primed and ready, and 300 .38 Spl. cases ready to go, too. I've been using the powder for shotgun shells.....except the small amounts of Bullseye and AA#5 I have left.