Can 9mm aluminum cases be reloaded?

[RVTECH]

Steel should definitely not be reloaded as it can damage dies.
Never have shot it either - never needed to.

 

[CLT65]

I've loaded both steel and aluminum cases at one time or another. With the aluminum cases I've noticed that the higher pressure rounds like 9mm and .40 S&W are much more likely to split, so after a little tinkering I only loaded .45acp light loads. I loaded a lot of WWII and '50s era steel cases back in the day, just had to make sure they were clean and lubed well before sizing.

I don't load either any more, and would not recommend it. Brass really is just so much better for reloading, in every way. Brass cases in common calibers is so cheap and plentiful nowadays that I just can't find any reason to use my time loading steel or aluminum. At the same time, I still can't quite bring myself to toss the gallon can full of nice, clean .45acp aluminum cases in the trash like I should.