non brass cartridges??

[bigo5552000]

Just wondering if you can reload non-brass cartridges? I didn't know if you could re-load these or not? I found steel(i think) cartridges in .380, 9x18, 9mm Luger, .38spl, .40, .45, .44mag. can you reload these? Also i pick up a bunch of .380's that look like copper(probably not but the same color)... Can you re-load these? Also what about the green coated wolf ammo? I have not started re-loading yet I'm just stock piling brass until I have the money for the equipment.
Thanks for the info!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[showmebob]

Check to see what type of primer they have. If the primer uses more than one flash hole they aren't reloadable as far as I know.

[mcp1810]

Steel yes, but I don't know if you would want to. As I understand it the process is a little more involved than working brass and is harder on your equipment. Another question is are the cases Boxer or Berdan primed? If you look into the case and see two flash holes instead of one it is Berdan. That means you now need special tools to remove the primer, and you need to find a source of Berdan primers. Best bet for those (from what I understand) would be someone in Europe.

[Roadrunner]

Are those cases stamped CCI or Blazer? If so they're aluminum and not reloadable. I've heard of steel cased rifle ammo but never steel cased pistol ammo. Blazer aluminum pistol rounds are quite common and most likely what you have there. Just toss them in your recycling bin with the aluminum cans. Your oddly colored .380 brass is probably just discolored brass. I have some .380 brass that looks really dark too.

[bigo5552000]

so if the primer is a box primer i should be able to do it? but it could cause more wear on my dies?

what about the copper ones and the green ones?

[boscobeans]

Use a magnet to determine steel cases..

The following video shows more about reloading steel cases.
YouTube - Reloading Steel Case ammo

I have several thousand steel cased Wolf pistol cartridges in .45 ACP.

I also have enough brass that I wouldn't bother with steel cases. But if TSHTF who knows.

bosco

[Jmac00]

so if the primer is a box primer i should be able to do it? but it could cause more wear on my dies?

what about the copper ones and the green ones?

This is very simple, LOOK in the case. If you see one hole, and the case is brass,, reload them.

If you have anything other than whats described above, throw them away.

If the cases look like copper, throw them in a tumbler for a couple of days and let them polish up. If they are brass, keep them and load them, anything else I would trash.

BTW: I use crushed walnut in my tumbler, and I have let it run for a couple of days (literally, 48 to 72 hours straight) the cases come out really shiny

If you have questions about ammo, go to ammo guide dot com, they got LOADS (hehehehe, pun intended) of information

[Jmac00]

ooh ya, one more thing. Some brass cases are nickle (or Chrome) plated, you can reload them also.

[A1C Lickey]

Sorry, I don't mean to steal the thread, but what's the advantage of nickle or chrome plating brass?

[rocky]

Sorry, I don't mean to steal the thread, but what's the advantage of nickle or chrome plating brass?

More reliable cycling for defensive ammo. I have hear that reloading the plated casings is a no-no too.

[bigo5552000]

ok so there seems to be a mixed opinion on reloading non-brass casings!

[cvhoss]

More reliable cycling for defensive ammo. I have hear that reloading the plated casings is a no-no too.

There is nothing wrong with reloading nickel plated brass cases though in my experience, they don't have as long a life as straight brass. The nickel plating makes the case "harder" and the cases tend to split at the mouth after just a few loadings. When I first started CAS, I bought 1000 nickel plated cases from Starline (45 Colt). After only two loadings and firings, several of them were starting to split at the mouth. I gave them all away.

I would never attempt to load anything other than a brass case (or nickel plated brass case). Messing with the steel cases isn't worth the hassle and aluminum, IMO, is just flat dangerous.

Hoss

[Tom G]

I've reloaded Berdan primed cases using boxer primers when I couldn't get ammo for a particular gun. As for nickeled cases , they are no good for repeated Loading due to the cases split at the rim.

[farronwolf]

If they are truely steel, use a magnet to see if they are, you might as well just throw them away. The same goes for aluminium, these would be CCI Blazer ammo as stated earlier, just toss them as well.

If they are discolored brass, the ones you refer to as copper, they should polish up just fine in a tumbler. The nickel plated, shiny silver ones, are reloadable until they start to split like cvhoss refered to. Depending how much the case is worked will determine how long these or any brass for that matter will last you.

[mcp1810]

I have reloaded nickel plated cases. They tend to be a little more brittle and more prone to splitting. I have also read that they must be very clean when working them or you have a chance of scratching your dies. I have not scratched a die yet, so either I am cleaning my stuff adequately or that warning may be a bit of an exaggeration.