Difference between Steel Case and Brass Case?

[blairellis]

I'm just getting into the whole shooting thing. See here for my first handgun. However, I wanted to know what the difference between the steel case and brass case outside of the obvious metal difference used, if any.

Steel on right. Brass on left. Correct?



Thanks!

[steve126a]

Some people say that the steel cases are impossible to reload. I have heard they're not impossible, just more difficult. There is some thought that the steel cases cause more wear and stress on the weapon.

[glock_cop_22]

there are some manufacters like spring field inthere XD line that states the war ranty is void if you shoot steel. and other wepons like ARs, the steel case will completely ruen your upper. yeah steel is cheaper and easier to find for the most part, but I use brass.

[TAC]

Brass is a much softer metal than steel. Brass rubbing against steel almost acts like its own lubricant. When a brass casing it cycled though your magazines, feed ramps, and barrel chambers, it causes little if any wear. The steel being a harder metal, holds up against the brass, and if any wear takes place, its on the brass, not the gun's steel.

Some shell casings are made of aluminum, and may look like steel. Aluminum is also softer than steel, so the same applies.

Steel casings can cause greater wear on your weapons. It's steel against steel. Wolf coats some of their steel shell casings with somethin like clear lacquer or acrylic to prevent rust and reduce wear. However I would think it might tend to melt at high temperatures and eventually gum up the works. I've never used them, so I don't know.

[Joeywhat]

Remember that the steel used in these casings is softer then the steel used in your gun...

[7.62 Nato]

Remember that the steel used in these casings is softer then the steel used in your gun...

.... but still harder than brass. Some manufacturers of steel CASED ammo are now coating it in polymer. This is, as I understand it, more like a plastic coating (thinking nylon or teflon for comparison). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer The polymer cased ammo seems to be more popular.

[TAC]

Remember that the steel used in these casings is softer then the steel used in your gun...

Very true.

[Nine29]

there are some manufacters like spring field inthere XD line that states the war ranty is void if you shoot steel. and other wepons like ARs, the steel case will completely ruen your upper. yeah steel is cheaper and easier to find for the most part, but I use brass.

That is absolutely false. Only reloads, handloads, or remanufactured ammo violates the warranty.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/as...s/warranty.pdf

[yocan]

There is a lot of speculation that if there are any machine or other marks in the metal of your gun (especially the chamber, and particularly the end of the chamber) that metal casing will hit it and cause it to exacerbate and become worse, while brass will smooth it out, hence why I've been told and repeat to only use brass the first 500 rounds. Especially with guns that aren't as precicesly machined. IE the S&W M&P which occasionally has machine marks inside.

Basically when breaking in a gun, use brass, whatever break in for that gun is. Brass does do less wear and tear, but with the price of ammo, unless your gun is worth a fortune, I"d have no issue using steel. I won't use it in my carry gun though unless I run out of ammo to shoot.

[pgaplayerless]

There is a lot of speculation that if there are any machine or other marks in the metal of your gun (especially the chamber, and particularly the end of the chamber) that metal casing will hit it and cause it to exacerbate and become worse, while brass will smooth it out, hence why I've been told and repeat to only use brass the first 500 rounds. Especially with guns that aren't as precicesly machined. IE the S&W M&P which occasionally has machine marks inside.

Basically when breaking in a gun, use brass, whatever break in for that gun is. Brass does do less wear and tear, but with the price of ammo, unless your gun is worth a fortune, I"d have no issue using steel. I won't use it in my carry gun though unless I run out of ammo to shoot.

Both the assumption that brass does this and steel does that and the assumption that brass causes less wear are both false.

It is impossible for a softer metal to wear down a harder metal, period.