Can aluminum shell cases be reloaded?

[Grumulkin]

Is brass REALLY this scarce?

Especially in these most common calibers?

Yes. Sometimes. But mostly I did it just because it had been said you couldn't or shouldn't do it.

 

[Slamfire]

I would be concerned with burn through and splits. I read a 60's vintage document about the trade offs with steel, brass, aluminum for cases, aluminum was cheap, ultimate and yield were good, but the stuff was very sensitive to scratches that caused case splits. Burn through was also an issue. I don't know why aluminum burns through and brass does not, but, that must have happened. Splits are bad, if you get a split that propagates through the case head, well there are lots of blow up pictures to guns which that happened. One older, WW1 era rifles, you are likely to blow the receiver ring, on auto pistols, you can expect the magazine to be blown out as a minimum.





Firearms are not "designed" to survive after a case head blow. Modern guns are designed with shooter protection features , it is undesirable to have pieces flying about, the intent is that the shooter walks away, but the firearm involved would be considered non serviceable. For many older guns shooter safety was not even a consideration. This falls into the class of "ka-boom" and what happens afterwards is due to luck.

I would not reload aluminum cases. The cost/benefit is not there and I am worried about of damaging a valuable firearm.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Aluminum (Al):
Aluminum is used both as a commercially pure metal and as an alloy. In
finely divided powder or dust form, aluminum
and its alloys are combustible in air and
present a serious combustion explosion hazard.
Aluminum will react violently with many
chemicals. Aluminum particles and smaller turn
ings will react with water to form hydrogen
gas which is highly flammable and explosiv
e in favorable concentrations. The rapid
vaporization of water in contact with molten aluminum can result in rapid phase
transformation explosions. Halogenated ex
tinguishing agents should not be used.

Copper (Cu):
Specific gravity, 8.96; melting point, 1981°F (1083°C). Copper is not known
to produce explosive properties when in finely divided form.

Zinc (Zn):
Specific gravity, 7.13; melting point 786°F (419°C). In the form of dust, in
contact with moisture, alkaline solutions, or
acetic acid, zinc will heat spontaneously to
ignition. Large pieces of zinc are difficult to
ignite but once ignited will burn strongly. In
oxygen, oxidation of the metal takes place rapidly at 300°F (149°C) and ignition occurs at
930°F (499°C) with a bluish flame. Steam is decomposed on contact with zinc at 660°F
(349°C). Acids or caustic soda also liberate hydr
ogen on contact with zinc. In air, zinc burns
to the oxide, forming white or bluish smoke. As a dust cloud, it can be ignited at 1110°F
(600°C).

University of Pittsburgh Safety Manual: http://www.ehs.pitt.edu/assets/docs/combustible-metals.pdf

Brass is usually no more than 50% Zinc depending on the alloy. Typically brass (in ammunition) is 70/30 Cu/Zn.

Brass is often used by welders as a gap backer. It will take a lot of heat and may melt but will not burn or bond to welds. It is also used in welding gas/ oxygen fixtures.

 

[Catpop]

Plus one on ironworkerwill,
I used to use brass as a backer while building up the spring cans on our debarker at the sawmill.
Cat pop