Steel cased ammo bad for gun?

[five5toad]

I've been seeing a few people say steel is bad, and to stick with brass.

Thoughts?

UPDATED: read a good artie about it... http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=2858
One man's opinion I s'pose, but informative.

 

[sgreen3]

Just really preference, it can be a little hard on extractors. But I dont see were it would actually hurt the gun. Ive used it and not had really any trouble with it. Ive noticed like Wolf, Tulammo tends to be a little more dirty than the other stuff.

 

[malern28us]

I've been seeing a few people say steel is bad, and to stick with brass.

Thoughts?

You need to take a closer look at your source for information....
They don't know as much as they think they do.

 

[Shroom]

My SAR-1 loves eating steel. What kind of gun are you running it through?

 

[plowman766]

My only experience with steel cases has been with a Savage bolt action rifle in 223 caliber and the steel cased bullets would hang up and not eject after a few shots but brassed cased bullets do not so I only shoot brassed cased bullets for that reason

 

[five5toad]

My SAR-1 loves eating steel. What kind of gun are you running it through?

DPMS M4

 

[malern28us]

DPMS M4

I guess my criteria for all my firearms is they better be able to run ALMOST any ammo. If my firearm chokes on steel, i cant depend on it if SHTF

 

[DSmith78]

its all i run. if the gun cant handle steel ammo then it isnt worth having

 

[itsgreg]

I've talked to a few firing range owners that say they wouldn't use it. Why put more stress on the gun then you need too?

 

[peberly400]

Steel casing is just fine for your gun. Its all my ak will ever see. Since I plan on picking up a reloader sometime soon, I changed my buying tactics.

Federal bulk 100 = 28$
Tul Ammo 100 = 25 and some change

 

[buckwacker]

Is anyone aware of any studies that look at wear rates to chambers, extractors, ect. when using steel ammo. I know they coat the cases for lubrication purposes, but I have always worried about prematurely wearing parts with steel cased stuff in my firearms so I dont typically use it.

 

[IndyGunner]

I run steel in all my guns... no signs of wear. I would never use them in a defensive firearm, but for the range... hell yeah.

 

[! twitty]

Steel casing is just fine for your gun. Its all my ak will ever see. Since I plan on picking up a reloader sometime soon, I changed my buying tactics.

Federal bulk 100 = 28$
Tul Ammo 100 = 25 and some change

Would love to know where you are getting federal 223 at for 100 for $28

 

[Skywired]

Shoot I'm not an expert, so take this for what it's worth: I sent my Kel-Tec P3-AT back to the factory for a fluff and buff, and they sent a note back saying don't use any steel ammo. Well, I haven't always followed their advice...but I've seen no problems..

 

[malern28us]

Shoot I'm not an expert, so take this for what it's worth: I sent my Kel-Tec P3-AT back to the factory for a fluff and buff, and they sent a note back saying don't use any steel ammo. Well, I haven't always followed their advice...but I've seen no problems..

That pistol would be up for sale....

 

[jworm1420]

Would love to know where you are getting federal 223 at for 100 for $28

ya me too!!!!!!!

 

[davedolli]

All my AKs love it, I have good luck shooting it any of my .45acp and 9mm pistols. I have only shot a small amount of rounds through an AR, but it did fine.

Dave

 

[Mcglockin7]

Look at most high end AR platform warranties. In most cases it states that if you use steel case it voids the warranty. If you can tell a gun has been ran with steel over brass by looking at it, obviously it has some, even if minor adverse effects if the gun companies are telling people not to use it.

 

[malern28us]

Look at most high end AR platform warranties. In most cases it states that if you use steel case it voids the warranty. If you can tell a gun has been ran with steel over brass by looking at it, obviously it has some, even if minor adverse effects if the gun companies are telling people not to use it.

I am curious as to which companies these are.
I don't recall ever seeing something like this on any of my Ruger manuals.

 

[norsk]

Look at most high end AR platform warranties. In most cases it states that if you use steel case it voids the warranty. If you can tell a gun has been ran with steel over brass by looking at it, obviously it has some, even if minor adverse effects if the gun companies are telling people not to use it.

Before I purchased my Spike's Tactical I spoke at length with them on the phone about this. What they said boiled down to 'shoot whatever you can get for the cheapest, and shoot the hell out of the rifle, that's what it was made to do.' I agree with the previous posts that if a gun can't handle steel ammo then you probably don't want that gun.
Here are a few copy-and-pasted responses from someone affiliated with Spike's on their forum:

"What doesn't it like is a shorter list. If you find a factory commercial or military load that it won't eat, let us know. You can go all the way up to 75gr without a problem. Above that you are usually dealing with "match" loads with 80gr rounds and require a match throat barrel.

What do I shoot?

Wolf 55gr 223
Wolf 62gr 223
Federal 55gr 223
Federal 55gr 5.56
Federal 62gr 5.56
PMC 55gr 223
PMC 62gr 5.56
Multi NATO 5.56 Contractors

Basically I go for whatever is cheapest and readily available at the time I'm looking to buy more. Honestly, I buy and shoot mostly Wolf now and have never had a lick of trouble in any Spike's rifle I've owned."

And:

"TNBayou wrote:So firing the cheap wolf ammo won't void your ST warranty? I've seen other companies that won't cover their product if you do.

You can shoot Wolf without anything to worry about."

I was told specifically over the phone that in no way would steel ammo void my warranty.