Russian ammo

[missoak]

Cabellas has some Russian ammo on their website for Cheap. A friend says these are steel casings and that can cause damage to auto handguns. Comments?

 

[Bighouse Doc]

Never had a problem with the stuff.

-Doc

 

[father-of-three]

Some shooting ranges will post signs stating that you can't shoot steel or aluminum cartridges there. However, this is usually because they get $ for recycling the spent bra$$. Some signs may threaten your ejection from the range, so be careful!

I have shot some Blazer aluminum with no problems. I have read that brass puts less wear and tear on the gun than steel, but reportedly only after heavy use. It looks like another use for "moderation," but that's just my novice and humble opinion.

 

[handgonnetoter]

Some shooting ranges will post signs stating that you can't shoot steel or aluminum cartridges there. However, this is usually because they get $ for recycling the spent bra$$. Some signs may threaten your ejection from the range, so be careful!

I have shot some Blazer aluminum with no problems. I have read that brass puts less wear and tear on the gun than steel, but reportedly only after heavy use. It looks like another use for "moderation," but that's just my novice and humble opinion.

I'll second that motion. I think moderation is the key to using steel cased ammo - unless your shooting an SKS or AK of some type.

 

[ddoherty]

I can't use Russian ammo in my PT145. The casings jam with every shot and the powder is so dirty that my magazine started sticking upon hitting the eject button. The dirty powder turned my hands black after only 50 rounds. Good thing it was only $14 for the box! (Tul)

 

[Cocked _and_Locked]

I've put almost 10 boxes of the steel .45 through my Kimber and Sig, no problem. But only for target practice, and only becasue it's cheap. I wouldn't leave it in there any period of time for carry purposes, due to the greater potential corrosive issues where moisture may be present.

 

[B2Tall]

Cabellas has some Russian ammo on their website for Cheap. A friend says these are steel casings and that can cause damage to auto handguns. Comments?

The Wise Man on the Mountain once told me that long term use of steel cased ammo increases internal wear on your firearms. The only time I use the stuff is in my Chinese AK. That thing'll eat anything! :yes4:

Russian ammo has a bit of a bad rep insofar as causing more precise (aka American and Western Euro) guns to malfunction due to their more narrow tolerances. Personally I've only shot the Ruskie stuff through my AK so I have no direct experience, only what I've been told by those who have.

It should be noted that a couple of ammo distributors I've seen online have discontinued selling Silver Bear ammo because of some big-time problems. I use Wolf in my AK.