Why can you not reload metal casings ?

[willr1]

I do not know anything about reloading, but it seems that with the surplus of metal casings, the case being stronger and not prone to being bent etc, reloading would be economical on metal, but no one does it that I can find.

I have almost 1000k rounds of .223/556 that are metal and it seems such a waste besides recycling.

 

[CCW]

Reshaping is tough and Berdan primers suck..

 

[flhx]

Hard on reloading equipment

 

[jeffdt]

I believe that steel cases can not be re-sized. Also, if they are berdan primed you wont be able to de-cap the cases unless you rig up a modified de-capping die and use a hydraulic method, (filling the cases with water).

 

[woodstock]

You mean steel, right? ^ What they said

 

[freedom]

I know one person that does it. He will reload it once.

 

[willr1]

ok, I appreciate it. It just seems such a waste of materials and I just sorted out about 4k casings and had to toss some brass due to being dented or crushed and the metal was just as pretty as you could see. Oh well, I will find something to do with it

 

[Clearance_Clarence]

How bad were they dented ... fire em and they will pop right back out

 

[Twitch2120]

steel cases are usually berdan primed (have fun with that) and steel does not flex like brass does. each time you fire the case becomes harder which will lead to cracks WAY faster than the work hardening of brass. brass can also be annealed to soften certain parts and depending on loading, case be used 20-30 sometimes indefinitely. the work for steel just isnt worth the reward.

 

[jcountry]

Here is a good example of Berdan vs. Boxer priming:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&h...200&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:0,i:148

The two holes are small, and very easy to break the de-priming tool on one. (plus-it sure looks like a PITA to align those holes to any sort of a deprimer.)

Most com-bloc countries seemed to be set up for berdan-and they only intended to shoot the ammo once.