Steel case ammo

[millwrightdude]

Is it ok to shoot steel case ammo in my new Ruger American .308

 

[DGW1949]

Does the manual refernce the question of what constitutes proper ammo for your rifle?....
If it does, I'd follow Ruger's recomendations.
If it don't, I'd either give them a call, or send an e-mail.

Just my .02 .

DGW

 

[millwrightdude]

Im waiting on ruger to mail me a manual

 

[mishtub]

https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/americanRifle.pdf

 

[millwrightdude]

Thanks

 

[6gun]

I'ts all a matter of chambering, brass expands and seals the chamber when fired steel does not, I know the steel cartrage will fit in the gun and fire it just might not be very accurate if the chamber is design strictly for brass, will be interesting to see if Rugers chambering is made to work with steel ammo or not when you hear back from them.

 

[millwrightdude]

I did send ruger an email, waiting on a response.

 

[millwrightdude]

Ruger's response is

We do not recommend the use of steel cased ammunition. Steel cased ammunition in any rifle can cause bore damage and the lacquer finish can start coating the chamber causing extraction/ ejection problems.

 

[gatling]

I would not use steel cased ammo in any firearm I own. The concern is that if the case is steel, the projectile might be steel also. It might appear to be copper, but the Russian manufacturer(s) put an ultra thin layer of copper on the steel jacket (you can scrape it off with a key). That's what happens in the barrel, and then it's steel on steel (which has to be tough on the bore). The other problem is the "steel on steel" heats the projectile, and steel jacketed projectiles have been known to start fires down range. I think that steel ammo in general is just bad news.

 

[6gun]

Ruger's response is

We do not recommend the use of steel cased ammunition. Steel cased ammunition in any rifle can cause bore damage and the lacquer finish can start coating the chamber causing extraction/ ejection problems.

Well thats good to know, think we all learned something from you post, I once ask a local gun smith about using steel cased ammo in my AR15 he pretty much told me the same thing that the lacquer builds up in the chamber and causes problems, and to make sure to keep the chamber well brushed out and clean if I were to use, and I would be better off to not use it at all. wasn't sure if the same was true for a bolt action but I will take Ruger word for it.

Just makes me wonder whats different about a AK47's chamber that can handle steel cases without any problem what so ever?

 

[MikeJinVT]

6Gun - It is not so much that the AK is different but it is the shape of the cartridges. The heavily tapered body of the 7.62X39 makes it much more forgiving for chambering and extracting. The much less tapered NATO cartridges don't fare as well with steel cases. Some firearms run them and some don't.

Mike

 

[6gun]

6Gun - It is not so much that the AK is different but it is the shape of the cartridges. The heavily tapered body of the 7.62X39 makes it much more forgiving for chambering and extracting. The much less tapered NATO cartridges don't fare as well with steel cases. Some firearms run them and some don't.

Mike

I see what your saying I have a AK round sitting here on my bench it does have quite a taper to it, that also explains how it's able seal the chamber while firing without the case having to expand, acts as a wedge to seal it off.