steel cases

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:19 am Post subject: Re: steel cases

Bushmaster wrote:

Berdan primed...That would be my only problem.

just to complete this thread: is not only the Berdan primer that makes the problem!

I cleaned 20 Barnaul cases, even trimmed them to the exact length after depriming them with the RCBS-thingy and when I wanted the prime them with my Lee-handtool, the primer fell out the primerpocket...

no I have only 2 different sizes in Berdan primers and the one with the largest diameter is still about 1 mm too small for these Barnaul steel cases...

so: lesson learned and a decent donkey doesn't hit the same stone twice...

res45 · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Some steel cases can be reloaded relatively easy,223 and 45 AC come to mind some of the mfg. use boxer primed steel cases in those calibers.

7.62 x 39 steel case ammo are also reloaded by some individuals I know and they all seem to get go case life when using moderate loads with cast lead bullets,I believe the lighter loads are the secret.

Basically when it comes to berdan primers there are only two sizes available KV-24N Large Rifle these primers a .217" in dia. are low cup .097" cup height and fit all 7.62 x 39 berdan primed steel an brass cases.

Then there are the KV762N primers which are (.217" diameter x .105" cup height) is the correct size for all the WWII style cases (most European Calibers) including 7.5x55 GP11, 8x56R Steyr, 7.5MAS, 7.62Nato, 7.9mm German/Czech etc, 7.62x54R (Late Chinese, Albanian, East German, Czech, etc.); European-made .303 British.(FN, PPYU,(early) S&B(early) PS (Spain)). and French, FN, AMA,Kynoch .30-06. All the Latin American manufactures.(7mm & 7.65mm); 6.5 Swede.

Anything that takes the larger size berdan primer is either tossed or converted to boxer primers for low velocity plinker/small game load. Just realize I only did this just to see if I could as I have plenty of boxer primed brass for all my rifles.

There are a couple ways to deprime the cases,one is the RCBS berdan depriming tool it's kind of expensive though around $70. My two favourites are the punch and pry or hydraulic method there simple and cheap and can be done with common tools you already have or can make.

As to resizing case I don't do steel other than neck size for bolt guns as all the chambers on my rifle over expand the case to a point that it's a bear to FL resize steel so I just avoid them for that purpose,brass cases on the other hand resize fairly easy. I just remove the decapping pin and adjust the expander ball accordingly.

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:59 am Post subject: Re: steel cases

Res, sorry that I have to inform you that these Barnaul cases need a berdan-primer of .252" (don't focus on the last number because I couldn't find my digital calipers soon enough, I will correct it when needed as soon as my calipers show themselves again)

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 7:30 am Post subject: Re: steel cases

You made your calipers mad at you and they left you?

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:24 am Post subject: Re: steel cases

sometimes parts of my harddisk play hide and seek
and experience learned me not to seek but to wait till I get a vision...
it seems to work OK, but sometimes it takes some time Smile

Vince · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Bushy wrote:

You made your calipers mad at you and they left you?

I don't think they've actually left home Bushy...they just hidin' mate. Very Happy

Aloysius wrote:

sometimes parts of my harddisk play hide and seek
and experience learned me not to seek but to wait till I get a vision...
it seems to work OK, but sometimes it takes some time Smile

dhc4ever · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Looks like Aloys has the same black hole in the shed that I have.
Or its just encroaching old age........

Aloysius · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

but still trusting my experience in such matters...

so I left my digital calipers on my lathe...

and now I measured the primerpocket of such a Barnaul case: .2575"
My guess is that somewhere in the world they are using berdan primers with a different size...

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Hummm...Considering what has occurred recently near where you are at I assume you are O K...Aloysius.

Vince · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Bushmaster wrote:

Hummm...Considering what has occurred recently near where you are at I assume you are O K...Aloysius.

Good point Bushy. Fortunately I think most of the refugee problems are a ways from Aloys home ground, or at least I hope they are.

Hey Aloys...how are you traveling mate? Any dramas surfacing in your neck of the woods mate?

res45 · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: steel cases

Aloysius wrote:

Res, sorry that I have to inform you that these Barnaul cases need a berdan-primer of .252" (don't focus on the last number because I couldn't find my digital calipers soon enough, I will correct it when needed as soon as my calipers show themselves again)

I totally understand,I have around 300 pieces of Yugo Surplus 54r brass same company that makes PPU that are berdan primed that take the larger 250"+ dia. primers as well as around 2K of Lapua X39 berdan primed brass.

The Lapua x 39 brass I'm just loading up as field ammo so if I loose it it's no big deal. As to the 54r though around 300 rds. it shot so well out of my Mosin I just put it in my rainy day stash other than the 15 cases I did my test firings with. I still have the cases and if I get bored over the winter I might convert them to boxer primer for use with my subsonic plinker loads.

OldSchoolRanger · Member Joined: Feb 15, 2017 Posts: 88

Steel cases can be reloaded, but at the risk of scratching your dies. Brass isn't that expensive, so why bother.