Steel Case Ammo

[slinco]

I had a 5.45x39 upper for my AR, and the only ammo I could find for it was steel cased. After I had shot a magazine or two through it on each range trip, I had pretty frequent problems with FTE. The explanation that I got, which seems reasonable, is that the steel doesn't expand and conform to the chamber like brass does. This leaves room for blowback of residue into the chamber, around the steel case. After a while the residue is sufficient to keep the cartridge from extracting.

Out of 3 AR's only one will eat steel cased ammo with no problems-a CMMG gas piston. The other 2 rifles will jam every time, not sure why.
Here is a link for running Wolf ammo in your AR.I admit I have not tried his advice yet, maybe next range day.
http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/116021.html

[Excaliber]

I had a 5.45x39 upper for my AR, and the only ammo I could find for it was steel cased. After I had shot a magazine or two through it on each range trip, I had pretty frequent problems with FTE. The explanation that I got, which seems reasonable, is that the steel doesn't expand and conform to the chamber like brass does. This leaves room for blowback of residue into the chamber, around the steel case. After a while the residue is sufficient to keep the cartridge from extracting.

The steel case will most assuredly fully expand to meet the chamber walls under the high pressure of the burning powder.

I suspect the problem may be more due to the fact that steel does not have the natural lubricity of brass. This may increases the friction between the chamber and the empty casein some guns enough to produce extraction failures.

A dirty chamber will aggravate this situation further.

That and the lacquer coating on the steel case.

For the last couple of years Wolf has produced its steel case rounds with a polymer coating instead of the old lacquer. Lacquer residue is no longer an issue unless you're shooting some old stock.

[glbedd53]

I have about a thousand rounds of that "old stock" myself. I've always wondered how the russians handled the problems with it, if they had any.

[RECIT]

I have about a thousand rounds of that "old stock" myself. I've always wondered how the russians handled the problems with it, if they had any.

The Russians shoot Ak's so there is no problem. The AK will eat ANYTHING usually. The AR design is inherently tighter in operation so failures of all kinds are more prevalent. But in turn the AR design is much more accurate than an AK.

[MechAg94]

The only experience I have with steel case in US firearms is 223 in an Armalite AR. The ammo worked just fine most of the time. The ammo was dirty and it was underpowered. The point of impact compared to normal brass ammo was a little lower even at 100 yards. Often, the ammo would just barely extract and fall on the shooting bench as if the ammo was underpowered or it had trouble getting extracted.

I did notice more residue in the chamber. Sure, the steel case does expand to fit the chamber under fire, but it doesn't seal the chamber as well as brass IMO. The powder is also very dirty so that might be part of it. You have to make sure to use a chamber brush when cleaning.

Other than that, I never had any quality issues. All of the rounds went bang. I had heard people say they were hard on extractors, but the difference in cost of a case paid for a spare bolt w/extractor. I've mostly used Wolf, but Silver Bear, Brown Bear, and Monarch all seem to be okay.

Steel ammo in 223, 5.45X39, 7.62X39 all work perfectly in my AK's.