Ohioans For Concealed Carry Discussion Forums

What if any are the downside to using aluminum cased ammo? I sometimes purchase these to shoot in my Ruger SR9C and Ruger LC9S. I don't reload, and don't seem to tell any difference, except price.

Can't reload them.

For you, no downside.

If you shoot with anyone who does reload, they can't take your brass!

Some ranges charge a couple of bucks extra if you use aluminum-cased ammo. Not sure if that's to recoup what they would get if you'd used brass or if it's to clean out the aluminum before sending the brass to the recycler.

rimfireOH wrote:Some ranges charge a couple of bucks extra if you use aluminum-cased ammo. Not sure if that's to recoup what they would get if you'd used brass or if it's to clean out the aluminum before sending the brass to the recycler.

Huh. Never heard of that one before. But, if I were inclined to shoot aluminum cased cartridges, I'd find another place to shoot - just like if I ever run across a range that won't let me pick up my own brass as long as it is behind the line...

If we are going to list all the downsides... that stuff (literally) pollutes outdoor ranges.

rimfireOH wrote:Some ranges charge a couple of bucks extra if you use aluminum-cased ammo. Not sure if that's to recoup what they would get if you'd used brass or if it's to clean out the aluminum before sending the brass to the recycler.

Some ranges won't allow aluminum or steel cased because they don't want to separate it from brass.

Occasionally an individual handgun won't like chambering or extracting the aluminum cases.

I shot Blazer Aluminum .357 Magnum at an old fuel tank and put one heck of a dent in the side. Then I shot Blazer Brass .357 Magnum at the same tank and put the same dent, but on the other side after it blew through the first side. Hence, my opinion is that aluminum case in .357 is much weaker. YMMV.

The only real negative for me is that if the gun doesn't like it, then I worry if it is the gun or the ammo. So then I go get some brass ammo and shoot more than I normally might to be sure, thus defeating any price savings from the aluminum ammo.

Ok, kind of over-playing on this one, but any failure in a carry gun is always a worry.

Not magnetic.

concreteguy wrote:Not magnetic.

Okay, yes, but then neither is traditional brass cased ammo.

Brian D. wrote:Occasionally an individual handgun won't like chambering or extracting the aluminum cases.

I had a gun once that ONLY liked aluminum cased ammo.

Morne wrote:I had a gun once that ONLY liked aluminum cased ammo.

I'd have sent that one back to the mother ship. Heck, I wouldn't likely have figured out that it only liked the aluminum cased stuff since I don't buy/use it.