Reloading aluminum casings.Tips and tricks or things to avoid/watch out for?

[DizzyJ]

I will probably do a formal write up if I don't blow my face off.

Meantime, here's a couple pictures of the process….

 

[P7M13]

I will probably do a formal write up if I don't blow my face off.

Meantime, here's a couple pictures of the process….

View attachment 1130758 View attachment 1130759 View attachment 1130760 View attachment 1130761 View attachment 1130762 View attachment 1130764

Love the Brown and Sharpe calipers!

 

[DizzyJ]

Love the Brown and Sharpe calipers!

Honestly, they're my favorite pair. Extremely accurate and smooth as glass when you move the lower jaw back and forth. The colors jive with me too for some reason.

 

[oremike]

This would not really be necessary as loading aluminum cases has typically been a one time only proposition by those who do it regularly.

A load of aluminum .45s (with some SPP brass mixed in) ready for some jack rabbit chasing soon!

View attachment 1130211

Let me know when it's bunny blasting time, I'll make time and join you for an afternoon.

 

[Redheadedlass]

I'm interested to see the results too. Especially since I'm so brand new at reloading just brass. It will be interesting to see the end results.

 

[DizzyJ]

Here's a couple of 9mm I tumbled, sized, deprimed and flared. Flared a little more than I needed, but they didn't split (yet) so there's that.

 

[DizzyJ]

Went out to the range earlier and shot all five charge weights. Will try to get the results posted hopefully tomorrow.

 

[RVTECH]

Let me know when it's bunny blasting time, I'll make time and join you for an afternoon.

I will ! I need to get out and do some scouting to see what the jackrabbit situation is like this year.

 

[tac]

Currently tumbling a load of spent aluminum .45 ACP casings. This will be my first attempt to reload aluminum. Basically want to see if it can be done successfully, or what to pay attention to/watch for in case it ever became necessary down the road.

Don't do it.

 

[RVTECH]

Don't do it.

It's already been done. Not only by Dizzy but others as well - including myself for many years.

Heck it's no big deal actually. It's a good way to get some use out of thrown away cases for one time reloads for field shooting/plinking when you don't feel like chasing brass - like with the jackrabbit shooting I do.

 

[tac]

It's already been done. Not only by Dizzy but others as well - including myself for many years.

Heck it's no big deal actually. It's a good way to get some use out of thrown away cases for one time reloads for field shooting/plinking when you don't feel like chasing brass - like with the jackrabbit shooting I do.

'kay. Here in UK, though, we don't do it.

'Field shooting'?

What's 'field shooting'?.

'Plinking'?

With centrefire ammunition? You just have to be kidding me, right?

I've just bought a single box of 50 Eley Edge .22cal ammunition - $11.45.

 

[RVTECH]

Here in UK, though, we don't do it.

Oh, I'll bet someone has - I'm sure you don't speak for everyone in the UK who reloads !

What's 'field shooting'?.

A generic, traditional term used to describe shooting that takes place in the woods, mountains, desert etc. as opposed to shooting on a prescribed range.

Plinking'?
With centrefire ammunition? You just have to be kidding me, right?

No I am not kidding - many 'plink' with centerfire ammo. For example, Let's say I drive out to one of my 'field shooting' areas (5-10 minutes) and shoot 50 rounds of .357/.38/.9mm etc. 'plinking' at cans, twigs, pine cones, clays etc. OR shoot that same 50 rounds while on a bench at a range shooting at paper - which the closest for me is about 45 minutes. What was the difference? I still shot the same 50 rounds.

And I often bring my portable 'bench' with me when out 'field shooting' for more controlled 'bench rest' shooting at targets as well.

 

[red442joe]

'kay. Here in UK, though, we don't do it.

'Field shooting'?

What's 'field shooting'?.

'Plinking'?

With centrefire ammunition? You just have to be kidding me, right?

I've just bought a single box of 50 Eley Edge .22cal ammunition - $11.45.

Stoppit...yer making me sad for you

Joe

 

[tac]

Stoppit...yer making me sad for you

Joe

Not intentional - just trying to get you guys to appreciating all that you have a little more, that's all.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Not intentional - just trying to get you guys to appreciating all that you have a little more, that's all.

Plinking is a sacrosanct pastime.. you actually had me worried.

 

[DizzyJ]

Haven't had time to do a formal write up as workload has increased.

Update is everything went fine. Even had some surprisingly encouraging results.

The lowest charge on the .45 ACP had one stovepipe, but acceptable accuracy. The rest cycled and shot fine with no issues. The lowest load was dropping the casings at my feet. Each subsequent increased load threw the brass about 2 feet farther until the last loads were bouncing off the wall.

All shooting was done free hand @ 30 feet.

This one put 4 shots into one hole with the exception of the 5th shot I pulled and called it as such. The shots are low as I was using the 6-o'clock hold for a more refined aiming point. Others groups were shot using a center hold as I was afraid they'd print off the bottom of the page on the bottom two bullseyes.

 

[DizzyJ]

More pictures.

Nice little pile of three. Consistent ejection on that one.

The vertical string also had a pulled shot, the rest were what they were.

 

[DizzyJ]

Oh, also did a test on the 9mm last night.

25 shots in a row same target 30 feet also freehand. 5 loads of 5 at each interval. The shot group climbed as the loads got progressively higher.

No cracks or splits. Even the ones that were flared excessively.

 

[CLT65]

The previous post about aluminum corrosion got me thinking. I always had pretty good results with .45 acp aluminum in the past, but not so much when I tried 9mm and .40sw, and terrible when I tried some .45 Colt. Thinking back, I vaguely remember having to clean up the .45 Colt cases because they'd sat out in the weather. As I recall they weren't bad, but I wonder if aluminum weakens quickly from even mild corrosion?

 

[ageingstudent]

The previous post about aluminum corrosion got me thinking. I always had pretty good results with .45 acp aluminum in the past, but not so much when I tried 9mm and .40sw, and terrible when I tried some .45 Colt. Thinking back, I vaguely remember having to clean up the .45 Colt cases because they'd sat out in the weather. As I recall they weren't bad, but I wonder if aluminum weakens quickly from even mild corrosion?

I know acid reacts on the surface of aluminum (oxide) quite aggressively, and if they were out on the ground in the rain for a long time there could be a lot of oxidizing. The soils are pretty acidic up there.