NO thank you !!! the prob with steel cases is they do not expand properly thus not filling the chamber and letting gas leek back in to the chamber causing stuck cases and inconsistent performance

 

NO thank you !!! the prob with steel cases is they do not expand properly thus not filling the chamber and letting gas leek back in to the chamber causing stuck cases and inconsistent performance

I'd say it's not ideal because it's not reloadable and it has its share of issues lilke the post above (although I think steel's expansion short comings can be worked around).

I'd also say if it can get us a plinking round for $5 a box, I wouldn't care if it could be reloaded or not. I'd be in.

I know it's not reloadable. That's not my point. Inexpensive ammo, better than Wolf is the goal.

I think the expansion would depend on the steel used. Steel has a memory, and wants to go back to it's original shape so stuck cases shouldn't be a problem if the right blend of steel is used. Now aluminum doesn't have a memory and stuck cases could be a problem with aluminum more than steel. Plus, I've used thousands of rounds of Wolf in Colt ARs without a single stuck case. (sorry Kool Aid drinkers lurking on the 'net).

I'm not talking Wolf ammo though. I'm talking about imported steel cases, or domestic steel cases, with domestic modern powders and bullets. From someone like SSA or Hornady for example.

- Steel cased practice ammo. Not match, combat, home defense. Practice and plinking fun ammo.

- How low will the prices go with steel cases?

- Plus you're not panicking for 30 minutes trying to find every single piece of expensive SSA brass that's buried in all the other brass at the range or carbine class.

http://www.tacticalgunfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=553&Itemid=75

 

I'd say it's not ideal because it's not reloadable and it has its share of issues lilke the post above (although I think steel's expansion short comings can be worked around).

I'd also say if it can get us a plinking round for $5 a box, I wouldn't care if it could be reloaded or not. I'd be in.

 

Brass is better because it's more malleable (spelling?) than steel, but a steel case that is anealed up front (like brass is) would have almost the same properties as the brass does in ability to seal. It could only be done for one loading (as steel work hardens quicker and more severe) so reloading is out. What it would come down to is how cheaply it could be manufactured. Since steel cases are one time loaded, the appeal to buy brass plinkers for reloading later is out, so cost becomes a much more important factor. If it can only get to $12 a box, it might not have the appeal as if it can get down to $5 or $6.

 

I've never shot steel cased ammo, just because I prefer brass. But I could certainly see a cheap steel loading in 6.8 bringing a lot more shooters to the 6.8 market. Think about how many people do buy steel cased ammo for their AKs or 223s. There may not be very many users on this forum, but I am sure there enough throughout the country to make it worthwile to the manufacturer.

Even if someone doesn't want to use the steel, we would all benefit from more interest in the 6.8, which would bring about more rifles, ammo, etc...

 

I read on Tactical Gun Fan that Hornady is importing 7.62x39 Russian steel cases and is loading them in the US w/ better powders and bullets.

I was wondering if the plinking/training round we would like to have would benefit cost wise from steel cases?

That may not help much with cost. Note the price tag on the Hornady ammo: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=116209

That'd probably be around $14 for a box of 20.

 

I agree, but take in consideration bullet costs and we might bring the price down some, well a little.

For conversations sake, your $13.96 per box of 20 is with VMAX bullets. With FMJ like the Remington or some newer version, the bullet would be say 7 cents cheaper (Midway prices and some calculating) so that would bring the cost right around the $12.00/box of 20.

So $12/box with better powder and maybe a more consistent practice bullet using a steel case?

 

If the price was right I'd be all over dirt cheap, dirty, steel cased 6.8!

 

Sounds good to me. What manufacturer might be willing?

 

That's the million dollar question.

Would the Hornady model work for the 6.8?

- Euro manufactured steel case.
- Loaded in US with better powder and decent practice bullet

I wonder if South Korea could make the steel cases cheaper?

We've had several big threads with members clamoring for inexpensive 6.8 practice ammo. Why hasn't someone looked into this?

SSA or Hornady would be my preferences of existing manufacturers.

 

I'd think that the Hornady model should work, but a big problem is that steel cases for 6.8 SPC would need to be developed from scratch, along with tooling to make them.

Couldn't expect steel cased 6.8 SPC to be available for quite some time. Note that steel case, 6.5 Grendel (Oops, there's the G-word again! ) low cost, target practice/plinking FMJ load was announced a year and a half ago, but is still nowhere in sight, and it has the advantage of having the same basic case dimensions as 7.62x39. Near term, brass cases will need to be used.

Why doesn't SSA offer low cost, brass cased ammo with the Remington FMJ bullet, if it is the least expensive 6.8 bullet?

 

SSA is suposed to soon release their ''plinking'' round with a 90 gr otm that had produced. The plinking rounds should go for around 13.99 a box. From what I understand, they are only waiting for the new powder to come in. Why didnt they use the Remington? HAve to ask them, but probably because of the accuracy issues, low obtainable velocity making a load that works in older spec barrels, and maybe even price.

 

This may be me barking up wrong tree....

I was under the impression that steel cases getting stuck was caused by the lacquer finish going into a hot chamber and then cooling slightly and the case being glued in place...
I had major issues with a 5.56 upper and wolf lacquer cases. Silver bear- zinc coated steel seemed to work much better in that upper(sold it more than 3 years ago when I converted to and was saved by, 68).

 

I was under the impression that steel cases getting stuck was caused by the lacquer finish going into a hot chamber and then cooling slightly and the case being glued in place...
I had major issues with a 5.56 upper and wolf lacquer cases. Silver bear- zinc coated steel seemed to work much better in that upper(sold it more than 3 years ago when I converted to and was saved by, 68).

Yeah...I think some of the lacquer applications left something to be desired. I'd be more concerned about improper lacquer application than the steel case itself. I've shot plenty of Wolf in practice and classes and have been okay. I think their newer coatings are better though.

 

Not sure who the customer is for the 7.62x39 steel cased ammo is but I read that the Iraqi govt is buying millions of US produced 7.62x39 for their troops as the quality of the US produced ammo is tremendously better.

Here is the link to that story, http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlog/articles/20090616.aspx

Here is where they say the US is buying a large order of .300 Win Mag ammo, http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20090618.aspx

I can't vouch for the validity of either story but these guys do get a few things right.

 

Not sure who the customer is for the 7.62x39 steel cased ammo is but I read that the Iraqi govt is buying millions of US produced 7.62x39 for their troops as the quality of the US produced ammo is tremendously better.

Here is the link to that story, http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlog/articles/20090616.aspx

Here is where they say the US is buying a large order of .300 Win Mag ammo, http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20090618.aspx

The second article was going well until the writer wrote:

"By replacing the barrel and receiver of the $6,700 M24 sniper rifle, for about $4,000, you can fire the .300 Winchester Magnum round."

Doesn't the M24 already have the long action capable of handling the 300 Win Mag? The Army bought long actions originally for the M24 looking down the road at the WinMag. So the writer goofed there, no receiver replacement necessary. On the other hand, the government can do what it wants to.

http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/m24.htm

I can't vouch for the validity of either story but these guys do get a few things right.

Hornady is loading sporting 7.62 x 39 ammo here in the US so who knows, maybe they're in on that 7.62x39 contract for Iraq. That's purely a guess on my part and not based on any sources.

The M24 should have been 300 Win Mag all along. If you already have the long action, why not use the 300 Win Mag? They apparently figured it out.

 

I shoot tons of wolf in my 556, after about 4-5K I had extraction issues, replaced the extractor and the issues went away, it was only having issues with the steel fired a few mags of brass plinking ammo and I had no extraction issues....

I think the biggest issues is like stanc mentioned the 7.62 ammo is already being made with steel cases in other parts of the world so getting cases imported for cheap is easy, finding someone to make steel cased 6.8 is going to be difficult because of the retooling issue... Hopefully SSA's plinking round will work out.

 

When Academy misordered their 50,000 rounds of Monarch 7.62X39, the liquidation dropped the price per round to $.13. I did not have an AK or much desire to purchase until I loaded up on 3,500 rounds for less than a soccer mom SUV payment. Now that an inexpensive semi auto platform had been secured, I greatly increased my range time. I don't feel guilty shooting 20 rounds at a renegade cactus, beer can, turtle, or whatever.

If there was a clean burning, cheap steel case for 6.8, it would help us expand the sport of 6.8. If I am out with a bunch of non military gun owners, I am reluctant to let them have fun with my $1/round option that needs the "press and propeganda" to increase interest in the caliber. Their desire to shoot the fascinating gun will be tremendous, but I will be compelled to direct them to the cheaper 5.56 and AK route. I have seen 2 friends buy 5.56's from plinking at the ranch so this is a valid point.

Cheap, yet clean burning, 6.8 ammo would also help with breaking in a gun. Whether you believe in the clean it every shot for 100 rounds or that a rig shoots better after it has been shot in, $14/box < $19.XX/box. of course if the lacquer fouls your extractor, you were better off with the more expensive stuff....

I would be interested in this steel case alternative or the SSA plinking.

 

At this point I think any affordable 6.8SPC ammo would be a good idea.

 

Agreed 100%. That's why I brought this topic up after learning Hornady was loading steel cased 7.62x39 in the US with better powder and bullets.

Why not do the same with a 6.8 and aim for $10-12 a box of 20?

 

+1 on cheap steel plinking round

The last time I went to the range, it was with a friend who just finished a .223. I just got done paying $25 a box for 6.8 at a gun show. The gun show dealers were out of everything else.

I went to the gun shop to get some .223 to contribute to my usage. All they had was steel, but it was $7.00 a box. I got some anyway. I think one round jammed, but it was fun dumping a bunch of ammo & letting lay on the floor.

$7/box made me want to get a .223 upper for plinking.

 

Exactly.

I absolutely want SSA for hunting and defense. A reliable inexpensive round would be a great addition though.

 

I would shoot steel case 6.8 without hesitation, especially if it's under $15.

 

steelcase

Yes! And it could help save money that could be put towards a progressive press.

 

The ideal thing to do is to have two identically configured uppers--one in 5.56 mm and one in 6.8 mm; that way you can train with the cheaper 5.56 mm ammo (especially if you get it free at work) and use the 6.8 mm for more serious endeavors.

 

The ideal thing to do is to have two identically configured uppers--one in 5.56 mm and one in 6.8 mm; that way you can train with the cheaper 5.56 mm ammo (especially if you get it free at work) and use the 6.8 mm for more serious endeavors.

That is the best option currently.

 

I have shot a shyt-load of steel case ammo from wolf to surplus to russian silver bear without any issues really. I have shot steel ammo out of various platforms including pistols.... The only time I ran into a problem was laquered steel casings offered by barnaul. It was a big problem.

I can see the upside to a good steel case load that is cheap... If I could get 7.00 a box or less I wouldnt even care about reloading those cases...

I would actually love to see a steel cased offering like wolf or russian silver bear for less than 10.00 a box... sheeit if I could get 5-6.00 a box I would be truly stoked and have absolutley no need to train and practice with a 5.56.....

 

I have shot a shyt-load of steel case ammo from wolf to surplus to russian silver bear without any issues really. I have shot steel ammo out of various platforms including pistols.... The only time I ran into a problem was laquered steel casings offered by barnaul. It was a big problem.

I can see the upside to a good steel case load that is cheap... If I could get 7.00 a box or less I wouldnt even care about reloading those cases...

I would actually love to see a steel cased offering like wolf or russian silver bear for less than 10.00 a box... sheeit if I could get 5-6.00 a box I would be truly stoked and have absolutley no need to train and practice with a 5.56.....

Exactly. That's why I brought up this post to see what the feasibility is of reducing costs of practice/plinking/blasting ammunition.