Can you reload Aluminum Casing
- Thread starter ed.griffin123
- Start date
The official answer is NO.
However, they can physically be reloaded but IIRC they might be Berdan primed, so you need a berdan decapping and priming tool. You must also expect the cases to split, potentially on the first reload, so wear your safety glasses when shooting....
It isn't really worth the effort and consequence IMO. I must have picked up 5000 .45ACP cases over a few seasons. There is no need to buy pistol brass for 9mm/.40/.45, it is easy to scavenge (unless you shoot at one of those ridiculous ranges where they forbid picking up brass so that they can sell it back to you!).
However, they can physically be reloaded but IIRC they might be Berdan primed, so you need a berdan decapping and priming tool. You must also expect the cases to split, potentially on the first reload, so wear your safety glasses when shooting....
It isn't really worth the effort and consequence IMO. I must have picked up 5000 .45ACP cases over a few seasons. There is no need to buy pistol brass for 9mm/.40/.45, it is easy to scavenge (unless you shoot at one of those ridiculous ranges where they forbid picking up brass so that they can sell it back to you!).
https://_ _ _.youtube.com/watch?v=HmrT9t8MGFc
Fix the hyper link yourself and you will see someone do this. Reload once fired 9mm alum.cases.
IIRC CCI does not recommend one attempt this for obvious reasons, but there is always someone willing to prove the Engineers wrong and create employment for lawyers.
here is a story I picked up via google and one mans experience.
''A while back I bought some Blazzer .45acp (on sale for $11). I finally got around to taking a few boxes to the range today. This is where my issues began.
1. It was so underpowered that 9 times out of 10 it would not cycle. After 50 rounds everyone at the range finally realized why I was racking my slide back after every round.
2. On the event that the slide was pushed back a good amount, it would not eject but instead would double feed the spent case and a new round.
3. If that wasn’t enough, it didn’t like to feed either.
To ensure that this was not an issue with my pistol I loaded up with my duty rounds (Remington UMC). These cycled through my pistol (FNP 45) without issue. Not a single Failure to feed/fire/eject. It was completely flawless. I am extremely happy I decided to wait to use these for work until I tested them. Blazzers caused so many issues that I’m not even going buy them for target practice. This was not a 1 box issue. This was the way all the boxes preformed.''
From the firing line in 2012.
You now have two different experiences to choose from.
Whats your choice going to be?
Rob
Fix the hyper link yourself and you will see someone do this. Reload once fired 9mm alum.cases.
IIRC CCI does not recommend one attempt this for obvious reasons, but there is always someone willing to prove the Engineers wrong and create employment for lawyers.
here is a story I picked up via google and one mans experience.
''A while back I bought some Blazzer .45acp (on sale for $11). I finally got around to taking a few boxes to the range today. This is where my issues began.
1. It was so underpowered that 9 times out of 10 it would not cycle. After 50 rounds everyone at the range finally realized why I was racking my slide back after every round.
2. On the event that the slide was pushed back a good amount, it would not eject but instead would double feed the spent case and a new round.
3. If that wasn’t enough, it didn’t like to feed either.
To ensure that this was not an issue with my pistol I loaded up with my duty rounds (Remington UMC). These cycled through my pistol (FNP 45) without issue. Not a single Failure to feed/fire/eject. It was completely flawless. I am extremely happy I decided to wait to use these for work until I tested them. Blazzers caused so many issues that I’m not even going buy them for target practice. This was not a 1 box issue. This was the way all the boxes preformed.''
From the firing line in 2012.
You now have two different experiences to choose from.
Whats your choice going to be?
Rob
I have reloaded the 9mm cases for a laugh. It worked fine, but the case mouths were cracking by the second reload. This was back in '96 or '97, so CCI may have changed the alloy.
IIRC their primer was the same size as a boxer SP primer, I punched out the old primer leaving a central flashole and reloaded with SP boxer primers.
Like I said- I did it for a laugh, and to see if it would work. But I wouldn't call it viable.
IIRC their primer was the same size as a boxer SP primer, I punched out the old primer leaving a central flashole and reloaded with SP boxer primers.
Like I said- I did it for a laugh, and to see if it would work. But I wouldn't call it viable.
The NR on the case stands for not reloadable I suspect. However I reload the 9mm and 45acp cases because I can. I typically get 4 reloads from the 9mm cases before the primer pockets loosen up. I've also reloaded tula's 45acp steel cases as they are boxer primed. I've gotten 20+ reloads from them.
The Frogge
CGN Regular
- Location
- Prince George, BC
New Blazer aluminium uses small pistol primers.
I've reloaded a few. Roughly 2/5 will crack during the first resizing, never had any last more than 2 reloadings.
I use them now to have a setup round. Aluminium casing means they aren't likely to mistaken for anything else and it holds sharpie well for writing OAL on the round.
I've reloaded a few. Roughly 2/5 will crack during the first resizing, never had any last more than 2 reloadings.
I use them now to have a setup round. Aluminium casing means they aren't likely to mistaken for anything else and it holds sharpie well for writing OAL on the round.
officialy,,,no,,,but lots of guys do it,,including myself,,,not crazy hot loads mind you,,but good loads,,great in winter so i dont have to worry about my brass,,,AND i only load them ONCE,,after that,,it the garbage can,,,lots of cases available since almost nobody picks them up..and they are BOXER primed,,,the berdan stuff is getting a bit rare,,but check your cases before running them through your dies,,,i also give cases a quick shot of spray lube to prevent galling od the aluminum cases,,,i do 9mm,,45acp..38 special,,357 mag,,i would never try to load them more than once,,,there is too much of it to risk it,,
NO. Do not reload aluminum.
Some basic metallurgy. Brass can be reshaped many times without loosing its strength. Aluminum on the other hand loses its strength quite rapidly when it is reworked. If the aluminum case was lightly loaded you may get away with it but you may not. Remember when a cartridge is fired the case is very rapidly heated and deformed. When we reload the case is deformed for sizing, deformed again to create the bell, deformed again to seat, deformed again to crimp and violently deformed when you fire it. Aluminum does not like any of these steps and each step weakens the case even further. Once fire brass is relatively cheap or you may be able to get it free from the range as I do. Any brass case it better than fired aluminum.
Some basic metallurgy. Brass can be reshaped many times without loosing its strength. Aluminum on the other hand loses its strength quite rapidly when it is reworked. If the aluminum case was lightly loaded you may get away with it but you may not. Remember when a cartridge is fired the case is very rapidly heated and deformed. When we reload the case is deformed for sizing, deformed again to create the bell, deformed again to seat, deformed again to crimp and violently deformed when you fire it. Aluminum does not like any of these steps and each step weakens the case even further. Once fire brass is relatively cheap or you may be able to get it free from the range as I do. Any brass case it better than fired aluminum.
Technically, aluminum strengthens with the work hardening (deformation) involved with firing and reloading. The problem is it loses its ductility which means it becomes more and more brittle. Brass does this as well but, as mentioned, does so more slowly (greater number of deformations). Annealing brass to recrystallize the structure and return it to a weaker but more ductile state is easy. Aluminum isn't since recrystallizing alone isn't enough, you need to dissolve the precipitates that form and then reform some of them or it'll be too weak. Dissolving the precipitates would take something like 800'F for 15-20 minutes. Aluminum also age hardens after a few months by forming the precipitates naturally. This can be done in 6-8 hours if kept at 400'F or so.
The heat of combustion when it fires wont do anything. The temperature is both too low and not held for a long enough period of time to dissolve the precipitates. Fired cases can be hot enough to burn skin but that can happen below the boiling point of water. We aren't talking about sustained fire with machine guns after all.
If I wanted to reload some just for fun, I would do it but absolutely only reload them once. After that I'd either throw them in the trash at the range or crush them to make sure I don't mix them up.
If they fail from becoming too brittle, it would be in a similar way to how a brass case fails when reloaded too many times without annealing. Split necks or case walls.
Personally, since 45ACP brass is available fairly easily, I wouldn't bother with aluminum cases on any sort of regular basis. If you want to reload your brass, pay the extra and buy brass cased factory ammo.
The heat of combustion when it fires wont do anything. The temperature is both too low and not held for a long enough period of time to dissolve the precipitates. Fired cases can be hot enough to burn skin but that can happen below the boiling point of water. We aren't talking about sustained fire with machine guns after all.
If I wanted to reload some just for fun, I would do it but absolutely only reload them once. After that I'd either throw them in the trash at the range or crush them to make sure I don't mix them up.
If they fail from becoming too brittle, it would be in a similar way to how a brass case fails when reloaded too many times without annealing. Split necks or case walls.
Personally, since 45ACP brass is available fairly easily, I wouldn't bother with aluminum cases on any sort of regular basis. If you want to reload your brass, pay the extra and buy brass cased factory ammo.
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i have to say,,i only reload aluminum cases ONCE,,no more,,then it's in the trash,,,also,,i mainly do 9mm and 38 special,,,sometimes light 45 acp,,and i really only uses them in the winter,so i dont have to worry about finding brass in the snow,,,again if you do reload aluminum,,,ONLY ONCE,,,even at only one time,,i get cracked cases maybe one out of ten,,,and DEFINITELY do not load hot,,,or they might be calling you lefty soon after,,LOL..
- Location
- West Quebec
Nice idea using the aluminium in the snow only..
I did a few and tracked them down after shooting the reloads. They all came through fine. As a result I go hot and cold on picking up the aluminium cases. I keep thinking I'd use it in a "no pickup" match. But I do find that a couple of guns don't work as well with aluminium as brass. And do I really want to shoot aluminium in a match just to avoid the desire to pick the brass later on? Not really.
So I'll likely let it sit here for now then dump it in the scrap metal some day.
So I'll likely let it sit here for now then dump it in the scrap metal some day.
umm, never thought of that,,but it's true,,45acp is lower pressure,,,but again,,no more than one reload on ANY aluminum case i use,,and even after one time the 9mm gets a lot of cracked cases,,,so if you do it,,use your head and dont go nut on the hot loads....i use for winter use,,,and for an old Star Model B that will NOT run on brass cases without jamming on the third round,,EVERY TIME,,,with aluminum cases,,no jams,,,go figure..
