Steel Case Ammo worked fine...

[TDavis85]

I tested silver bear 55gr hp .223 ammo today in my M17S and it worked fine...20 rounds with no jams no problams at all...now i just need to get the scope zeroed in.

[LFS]

Have fun with the stuff. Perhaps silver bear is better than wolf black box, but I've put all my steel cased ammo in the SHTF pile.

[Vahunter]

I shot a pile of Wolf through my AR when I had it. Never a problem except accuracy wise.

[LFS]

Well, to be fair, I put about 300 rounds of Wolf black box through my Mini-14 before I ever had a problem. Well, a serious problem. But getting a case jammed in your chamber is an uncomfortable feeling.

I found out that the problem is not rare and happens in many types of rifles. The issue relates to the fact that steel cases do not expand as much as brass, and therefore you can have carbon build-up in the chamber. The problem can be really pronounced when switching from steel to brass without a cleaning.

If you use steel cased ammo, keep a bore rod handy to ram the case out if this does happen... and be for darn sure the round fired. You don't want to be slapping away at an unfired cartridge.

If you use steel cased ammo, you need to do a lot of cleaning. For me, life is too short. I hate doing dishes, I don't know why I'd want to spend more time than I have to doing other chores.

[TDavis85]

i use my boresnake often so it doesnt bother me at all and it helps the gun dismantles in 7 seconds

[MuShuGordon]

I have only shot steel cased ammo in my Nagant. I have cleaned it thoroughly after use and thus far I have had no problems whatsoever. Heck, I've even been looking at trying a reload or two of a steel case just to see if it works, I've seen it work before, so why not.

[zephyp]

I have only shot steel cased ammo in my Nagant. I have cleaned it thoroughly after use and thus far I have had no problems whatsoever. Heck, I've even been looking at trying a reload or two of a steel case just to see if it works, I've seen it work before, so why not.

I'd be careful doing this. Matter of fact I wouldnt do it at all. One reason brass is used is because its somewhat malleable. Steel aint. I wouldnt fire one out of my guns. Results could be unpredictable.

[LFS]

i use my boresnake often so it doesnt bother me at all and it helps the gun dismantles in 7 seconds

In my experience, a bore snake does a fine job cleaning the bore but not the chamber. The issue with steel cased ammo is carbon build up in the chamber.

[MuShuGordon]

I'd be careful doing this. Matter of fact I wouldnt do it at all. One reason brass is used is because its somewhat malleable. Steel aint. I wouldnt fire one out of my guns. Results could be unpredictable.

I actually shot some steel cased reloads a few days ago. Worked just like the other stuff. Made a boom, chopped branches and what not out of trees down range. Steel is malleable too, just takes a little more persuasion.

[zephyp]

I'd be careful doing this. Matter of fact I wouldnt do it at all. One reason brass is used is because its somewhat malleable. Steel aint. I wouldnt fire one out of my guns. Results could be unpredictable.

I actually shot some steel cased reloads a few days ago. Worked just like the other stuff. Made a boom, chopped branches and what not out of trees down range. Steel is malleable too, just takes a little more persuasion.

What happens is it only accepts so much stress and becomes brittle very quickly from being worked - expanded in the chamber and resized in the die. Best case accident is the cartridge merely cracks or splits when you fire it. Worst case could range from damaging your gun or yourself. I have read that some do reload straight walled steel cases like .45 with relatively minor effort and problems. I havent found even the bravest that will admit to reloading bottle necked steel cases. Its not worth the trouble.

[Vahunter]

The problem with the older wolf ammo isn't a carbon build up it's a laquer build up in the chamber from that funky coating they put on cases. Chamber gets hot, lacquer starts melting, then you could have a problem with sticking cases. I've put over 2K rounds through my mini-14 mostly wolf and the only problem I ever had was with Winchester ammo and Winchester made good on that.

[LFS]

Vahunter,

First... glad to meet another Mini-14 owner. Sometimes I think I'm the only one.

It was my understanding that the lacquer coated ammo is a thing of the past, and that the current Wolf black box is polymer coated. People have taken blow torches to those cases to prove that the polymer won't melt off.

By way of comparison, my 5.7x28 is also a polymer coated necked cartridge. I've never had a problem with cases sticking in the chamber with that.