Brass vs. Steel Cased Ammo – An Epic Torture Test

[pepito]

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

Short excerpt:
Here’s what we did:


We acquired four identical Bushmaster AR-15 rifles (http://www.bushmaster.com/firearms/MOE_series.asp). We chose the Bushmaster MOE Series AR-15 because it’s a widely available, affordable, and mass-market. We didn’t want something too cheap and of lower quality or something too expensive and of high quality since our goal is to help the most number of people.
We acquired 10,000 rounds each of the following ammunition (new production):

Federal 55gr – Brass-Cased – Copper Jacket (http://www.luckygunner.com/federal-223-ammo-for-sale-223rem55fmjbtae-1000)
Wolf 55gr FMJ – Steel-Cased with Polymer Coating – Bi-Metal Jacket (http://www.luckygunner.com/wolf-223-ammo-for-sale-223rem55fmjwolfmcwpa-500) (steel and copper)
Tula 55gr FMJ – Steel-Cased with Polymer Coating – Bi-Metal Jacket (http://www.luckygunner.com/tula-223-ammo-for-sale-223rem55fmjtulablack-1000) (steel and copper)
Brown Bear 55gr FMJ – Steel-Cased with Lacquer Coating – Bi-Metal Jacket (http://www.luckygunner.com/brown-bear-223-ammo-for-sale-22355fmjbb-500) (steel and copper)


We paired each ammunition type with a specific Bushmaster AR-15 and then fired all 10,000 rounds of it through that particular carbine (except for Tula; more on that below)
We systematically observed and tested various things, including (more details below):

At the start: accuracy, velocity, chamber and gas port pressures, chamber cast
After 2,000 rounds: accuracy, velocity
After 4,000 rounds: accuracy, velocity
After 5,000 rounds: throat erosion, chamber cast
After 6,000 rounds: accuracy, velocity
After 8,000 rounds: accuracy, velocity
After 10,000 rounds: accuracy, velocity, chamber and gas port pressures, throat erosion, extractor wear, chamber cast, barrel wear


We logged every malfunction of every rifle-ammo combination
The rifles were cleaned according to a preset schedule and temperatures were monitored and kept within acceptable limits (more below)
We sectioned the barrels and otherwise made unique observations after the test was complete

[patrick0685]

that was a long but good read

[spyder]

I thought it was a great read. I think the barrel erosion was horrible! I would like to see the same kind of test, but done with the same kind of ammo in all guns, and different kinds of barrels. Chrome lined, the wasp lined, stainless, and then throw in a polyagonal. I would like to see the wear characteristics of a polyagonal.

[NightCat]

Those poor 3 Bushmasters :-(

[SA Friday]

Awesome testing. I get asked about this a lot at work. I can now better answer the questions and point to testing. This got bookmarked on my computer.

[Kaiser.Shooter]

That is a good and detailed testing process, I found out a few months ago about bi-metal bullets( steel jacket copper washed) of the russian made ammo and since that I use it only in my beater ar

[onebadfx4]

An awesome read. Answered lots of questions I have had. Will def never purchase steel cased ammo.

[Singlestack]

I really liked the investigations they performed and in-depth analysis. Biggest surprise to me was the extreme barrel wear...

[rockhound]

I wonder how much of the barrel wear etc. comes from have rounds that are covered in desert sand? if your projectile is covered in silica it seems that might cause more wear than normal.

how many of us have put 2500 rounds downthe barrel of our ARs? apparently they are nearly half shot out.

[cofi]

great read my poor dd barrel has over 7000 rounds of steel case through it and 50k 22lr I'm gonna have to start looking into a replacement soon even though it's still more accurate then I am :)

[Bailey Guns]

I've always had good luck with Wolf and Brown Bear. Considering the substantial cost savings and the availability even during some past shortages I think the steel stuff is a great value. Of course, I don't do the type of shooting done in those tests and under those conditions without thoroughly cleaning/lubing my guns.

As a matter of fact, I don't own many guns that won't work reliably with steel-cased ammo. I can envision many scenarios where that's all that's available and I'd rather have steel-cased ammo than none at all.

[mutt]

great read my poor dd barrel has over 7000 rounds of steel case through it and 50k 22lr I'm gonna have to start looking into a replacement soon even though it's still more accurate then I am :)

Good article. The barrel wear surprised me. The bushmasters seem to have all the right specs for the barrel - 4150 steel, chrome-lined, etc but marketing specs are only part of the story. I wished they would have used some Colt, DD or even BCM rifles as well to see how their barrels held up to the same abuse. While an academic exercise since the average shooter will never wear out a barrel, especially with today's ammo prices, it would be a neat thing to compare.

[VolksDragon]

Good article. The barrel wear surprised me. The bushmasters seem to have all the right specs for the barrel - 4150 steel, chrome-lined, etc but marketing specs are only part of the story. I wished they would have used some Colt, DD or even BCM rifles as well to see how their barrels held up to the same abuse. While an academic exercise since the average shooter will never wear out a barrel, especially with today's ammo prices, it would be a neat thing to compare.

These were my thoughts, too. The article was a good read, but I would have liked to see the wear comparison with a high-end, CHF barrel for sure.

[Jer]

Cliff's notes?

[hatidua]

Cliff's notes?

Federal is more reliable than steel cased ammo.

[Jer]

Federal is more reliable than steel cased ammo.

Noted. Thanks.

[Sawin]

Dang good eval. I think I'm going to order a couple spare extractors if i can find them.

[SA Friday]

Noted. Thanks.
And the Russian bullets, being made of copper alloys, wear out the barrel in about 6k rounds. The federal barrel was still going strong at 10k.

[Sawin]

And the Russian bullets, being made of copper alloys, wear out the barrel in about 6k rounds. The federal barrel was still going strong at 10k.

Not under normal operating conditions... this was only the case because they were shooting the barrel constantly until it became too hot to touch, then kept shooting it hard.

[jackthewall81]

My DD has 10,000 brass cased rounds through it and is still more accurate than I am. But I am picky and clean after every range trip because I fear barrel erosion from dust and dirt.

[Sawin]

My cheapest build is a DoubleStar 15 carbine upper...the barrel is very basic. It has 6000+ rounds through it (mostly brass, but some Brown Bear). The barrel, gas tube, gas key, extractor, buffer spring, everything are still in perfect operating condition. As great and detailed as this test was, it's not a very good comparison for the "life expectancy" of your gun. If you're anything like me, you love yours and take good care of it, clean and lube it regularly, and don't mag dump as fast as possible constantly... nevertheless, the take away is Brass jacketed ammo is superior. DUH.