Can steel be reloaded?

[peterotte]

.....In my hobbies I like to do things that is general said to be impossible.... I've learned a lot from this thread.

Justin

Me too ... and I get a lot of flack for it but in the end a lot of people start doing things my way - after I've made all the stuff-ups to get it right. (But many of my good ideas turn out real bad - oh well! - just have to try again!)

But I still want to know more about steel cases. By the way, just an observation I have made, steel cases come with a lacquer coating, is that a requirement for proper functioning in the chamber or only for rust prevention? (No, I'm not going to start reloading steel - I don't have a gun for it!)


303Guy

 

[rcmodel]

It's for rust prevention.

Most of the Com-block weapons that steel case ammo was originally made for have chrome-plated chambers and very robust extractors, and have no problems extracting it.

BTW: WWII U.S. GI steel-case .45 ACP & .30 Carbine ammo was all zinc plated (galvanized) for the same reason.


rcmodel

 

[peterotte]

yesit'sloaded , I've been thinking about your question. Let me put it this way. I'm not suggesting you do it, but, if I had a whole bunch of steel cases for my gun I would most certainly reload them!

De-capping can be done hydraulically - a neat fitting brass rod - a shell holder - water - hammer - done! (Outside, preferably) Burden primers can be had with difficulty but some one will order them in if requested. BUT, and this is a biggy - I would not size them! I would select a powder that fills the case to actually support the bullet without achieving max pressure for the gun. I would then seat the bullets using a paper cup that will hold the bullet firmly - and firmly onto the powder. (I dip the case neck with the cup in place into molten bullet lube then quickly seat the bullet while the neck is still expanded a little. This freezes the wax onto the bullet before the neck contracts.) No doubt there are other 'substances' one could dip the cup into to increase the grip if used in a heavy recoiling magazine gun. (It must melt and lube the bore on firing).

303Guy

 

[The_Antibubba]

As with so many other things, reloading steel might not be anyone's first choice, but it would certainly be useful to know how. Any of you remember Mehdi? I don't know if he ever posted here, but he was a semi-regular on the Makarov Yahoogroup. He lives in Iran, and steel is all he has to work with--Berdan-primed steel, at that.

 

[Walkalong]

If that is all I had, well, I'd probably load it too.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

+1 on what others have said. Its possible, but not recommended