Reloading steel cases?

[thunderflash]

Anyone ever try reloading any Norinco 7.62 X39 w/ laquered steel case ??
I know it's a whole NEW ball game w/ likely needing a lot of lube & much more force on the press .
Any success stories out there ??

 

[Missing Something]

I have reloaded steel cases...its a real pain and unless you REALLY have to don't bother. It is very hard on a set of dies. Steel on Steel is never a good idea and your trying to compress steel (again not a good idea) more often than not you will damage the neck as it wont want to become smaller.
Secondly the cases are more offen berdan primed which you need to know how to remove the primer and getting berdan primers can also be a pain.
With loaded 7.62x39 easy to get and brass cases readily available I would not bother.

 

[CanAm]

There was a recent article in an Italian magazine on reloading steel cases. The Russians uses Boxer primers in many of the Western cartridges.

 

[ben hunchak]

Ahhh, resizing steel cases and decapping berdan primers, sounds like a fun way to spend a week.

 

[Garand]

It would be virtually impossible to crimp with any success.

 

[CanAm]

Lee factory crimp should work fine.

 

[.45-90]

Never been that hard-up.

 

[RePete]

You will never get it resized the same as brass.

Why bother, and end up buying a new set of dies because you ruined the original set?

 

[jim webster]

it is a real pain in the ass and not worth all the hassle that you run into with stuck cases..ruined dies and the occasional berdan that slips into the mix and ruins your day...there is lots of inexpensive brass out there both new and once fired range brass that is alot nicer to work with

 

[Garand]

canam, funny thing was when I tried reloading World War 2 steel .45 casings, the lee factory crimp didn't work. And personally I swear by Lee's factory crimp dies.

 

[sunray]

Pitch 'em. Steel cases are not reloadable. Despite Missing Something's experiments. Even the mild steel used in them is not as elastic as brass.

 

[Missing Something]

Pitch 'em. Steel cases are not reloadable. Despite Missing Something's experiments. Even the mild steel used in them is not as elastic as brass.

Well.... everyone has to try something once to see if it can be done

 

[thunderflash]

Garbage Thread

Well , sounds like so much "fun " , that I can't wait to chuck every steel case asap ! I respect my dies too much!