.455_Hunter
Member
Used to be extremely common as the lowest cost ammo for folks not interested in reloading and leary of steel case imports. Nowadays it's rarely seen, but it's brass sibling is everywhere.
Is CCI Blazer aluminum case fading away?
- Thread starter .455_Hunter
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.45Coltguy
Member
Haven't seen around in a while either. Wasn't bad for plinking ammo. Guess not any more.
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.455_Hunter
Member
Available online, yes, but rarely at OTC retail.
For only 2.9 cents per round I would run the brass anyway. I don't like the aluminum cases, I have had too many problems with them.
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.455_Hunter
Member
The funny thing is that I am NOT a fan of Aluminum Blazer. I don't go shooting just to use the cheapest blasting ammo possible. The purpose of this post is purely observational curiosity.
halfmoonclip
Member
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Yep. I have an embarrassment of 9mm brass, but a lot of it has been through the press, repeatedly. Currently putting aside the Blazer Brass cases, for some future time that primer prices make it worthwhile reloading 9s.
Moon
doubleh
Member
I used to shoot a lot of it just plinking. Killing paper. caliche rocks, steel, coke cans, and an occasional 2 liter plastic soda bottle filled with water. Never had one problem with it and in different guns. Our farm & ranch store still has it or I should say had it as I haven't done any shopping for anything gun related in almost a year. It was always the same price as the brass cased so I bought the brass instead.
I did pick up and dispose of my cans and bottles properly when done. Thought I would throw that in as many do not.
I did pick up and dispose of my cans and bottles properly when done. Thought I would throw that in as many do not.
2ndtimer
Member
I don’t care for it, as it litters our club range, and unlike the steel case garbage, you can’t pick it up with a magnet to properly dispose of it.
Riomouse911
Member
I have bought and shot lots of it over the years. But thinking about it, the only Blazer centerfire I have seen in quite a while is the brass cased Blazer.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
buck460XVR
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- Feb 6, 2007
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- 10,079
Doubt very much if any of us that reload bought it because of the aluminum cases. But at one time the price difference between it and brass cased ammo was quite significant. I think distribution and handling costs have made for the cost difference not being there any more. A buck and a half a box seemed a bigger difference when it was $7.99 and $9.49. Used to have some around just for when others would come out and shoot at my personnel range, if folks did not want to shoot my reloads. Biggest issue I had with it, was it was pretty anemic compared to my reloads, or other commercial ammo.
Charlie98
Member
That's my spin on it.
My local indoor range has a stash of it behind the counter, on clearance... except, they won't let you shoot it on their range. My guess is rangemasters are tired of contaminating their scrap brass with aluminum they can't cull out easily, or there are safety issues with it, for whatever reason (think Glock bulge/blowout.)
Hugger-4641
Member
I think the reason we don't see it as much now is the economics have changed. In the not so distant past, Aluminum stock/ingot was much cheaper and easier to source than the components for brass. But the metallurgy and mfg processes to use Aluminum are more complex. There were favorable trade practices that allowed China and Europe to dump cheap Aluminum products over here that American companies could barely compete with, if at all. Things have changed and Aluminum is not so cheap any more. Trade laws have changed and the Aluminum smelting industry has went thru various ownership changes and declines. Suits me fine if they quit making it altogether.
jmorris
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Back in 2002 academy had blazer 9mm for $2.99/50 and WWB (blazer brass didn't yet exist) for $3.99/50, 33.3% price increase. Now there is only a 14% change.
That part circled in blue is a tough one to learn sometimes though. Wouldn't shock me to learn that alone isn't a factor, with the rise in popularity of the PCC.
RevolvingGarbage
Member
I've said it before, but it would be nice if there was more good defensive .38spl loaded in aluminum cases. A six shot aluminum frame .38 loaded with aluminum cased rounds is just a nicer carry arrangement, and since it's defensive ammo I will most likely never fire, I'm not concerned about reloading the cases.
I would bet that a double stack micro compact would benefit similarly from a load of aluminum cases versus brass, but with an auto you do also have more of a problem with administrative handling taking a toll on the softer cases.
I would bet that a double stack micro compact would benefit similarly from a load of aluminum cases versus brass, but with an auto you do also have more of a problem with administrative handling taking a toll on the softer cases.
Charlie98
Member
In what way is aluminum a 'benefit' over brass?
RevolvingGarbage
Member
It's lighter.
Out of interest, did some searching for the CCI Blazer round that used to go out of my way to buy. After seeing the price, no wonder some is still available. And the aluminum case version has a noticeable velocity advantage over the brass case, although likely not due to the aluminum vs brass cases.
www.grafs.com
CCI AMMO 44 SPL 200gr HP BLAZER ALUM. 50/bx 20/cs - Graf & Sons
Shoot more for less with Blazer Aluminum. The loads feature aluminum cases to keep price to a minimum, yet offer reliable accurate performance for training at the range. Heat-treated, aircraft-grade aluminum cases Quality bullets and reliable primers Affordably priced for practice shooting...
www.grafs.com
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.455_Hunter
Member
Out of interest, did some searching for the CCI Blazer round that used to go out of my way to buy. After seeing the price, no wonder some is still available. And the aluminum case version has a noticeable velocity advantage over the brass case, although likely not due to the aluminum vs brass cases.
CCI AMMO 44 SPL 200gr HP BLAZER ALUM. 50/bx 20/cs - Graf & Sons
Shoot more for less with Blazer Aluminum. The loads feature aluminum cases to keep price to a minimum, yet offer reliable accurate performance for training at the range. Heat-treated, aircraft-grade aluminum cases Quality bullets and reliable primers Affordably priced for practice shooting...
Yes- That .44 Special load of pretty unique, and one that I do buy on occasion. Not sure why the higher-grade Speer offering is so much slower.
