All firearms need ammunition to run, but the vast array of ammo types is mind-blowing. It seems like a new caliber comes out every day, and technology changes constantly. Even within the same cartridge, there is an incredible amount of variation. Today we will examine steel-cased ammunition so you can decide if it's right for you. What Does Steel-Cased Ammo Mean? While most US and western manufacturers produce cartridge cases from brass
, some countries instead produce them from steel
. During WWII, Germany and the Soviet Union produced steel-cased ammunition. Steel cases provided a cheaper case material, which benefited their wartime economies. The Soviet Union, along with many Eastern Bloc nations, continued producing steel-cased ammunition during the Cold War. Currently, Russia provides steel-cased ammunition to the market. In addition to new commercial ammunition, military surplus steel-cased ammo arrives in the US periodically.

Barnaul Steel-Cased .223 is great ammo for your AR15.

Will Steel-Cased Ammunition Hurt My Firearm? The internet swirls with all kinds of opinions on steel-cased ammunition. Generally speaking, steel-cased ammunition is not dangerous for your firearm. Steel-cased ammunition does not accelerate wear and tear on your firearm either. While steel is harder than brass, the type of steel used in this ammo is much softer than any steel component of a firearm. What are the Advantages of Steel-Cased Ammunition? Just as militaries turn to steel-cased ammo for cost savings, consumers buy this ammunition for the same reason. In general, steel-cased ammunition is cheaper than brass-cased ammo. The lower cost comes down to two reasons. Steel is less expensive than brass. Also, nations that manufacture steel-cased ammunition generally have lower manufacturing costs. Needless to say, it's much easier to shoot when ammo is cheaper. Steel-cased ammunition is a big help to folks training and practicing since they can shoot much more, and practice makes perfect.

Russian Steel-Cased 7.62x54r is wholesome food for your Mosin.

What are Challenges of Steel-Cased Ammo? Now that we made you think steel-cased ammo was the solution to your shooting needs, we do need to address some challenges. The gunpowder inside steel-cased ammunition usually burns dirtier than the gunpowder in brass-cased ammo. Dirtier burning gunpowder causes more fouling inside a firearm, which requires more frequent cleaning. Steel cases also do not swell to create a gas seal inside the chamber upon firing like a brass case. This lack of a seal also contributes to additional fouling since escaping gas carries carbon fouling. The extra fouling from steel-cased ammo is not a deal-breaker, however, since firearm cleaning is simply part of the shooting experience. Compared to brass-cased ammunition, steel-cased ammo is much more challenging for reloading
cartridges. The primers used in steel-cased ammunition are known as berdan primers, and they cause these cases to be nearly expendable. While it is possible to reload steel-cased ammunition, there is little point. Shooters that reload brass-cased ammunition do it to save money over purchasing new ammo. They might also work up brass-cased ammunition loadings for specific reasons, like increased accuracy. Steel-cased ammo is already cheaper than brass-cased ammunition. It's also more suited for high volume shooting versus precise target shooting. Steel-cased ammunition is generally off-limits at indoor ranges for a few reasons. Many times the bullets used in steel-cased ammo are bi-metal, which means the bullet core is lead, and the bullet jacket is thin steel. Most brass-cased bullets use a lead core and copper jacket. Ranges usually say that bi-metal bullets can cause sparks when they hit the backstop (the area that stops bullets), which can ignite unburned gunpowder in the air. Some ranges also state the steel bullet jackets damage their backstops. Lastly, most ranges sell spent cases to ammunition remanufacturers to supplement their business. Remanufacturers do not want steel cases because they are harder to reload, and indoor ranges do not wish to sort brass from steel cases.

TulAmmo Steel-Cased 7.62x39 for you AKs and SKSs.

Conclusion Steel-cased ammunition provides a cost-effective way for shooters to maintain their lifestyle. While it has a few challenges versus using brass-cased ammo, the low cost certainly outweighs them. Don't listen to the naysayers; steel-cased ammunition is a great way to shoot more, and we all want that! Browse our wide variety of ammo
and pick some up today.