Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading Aluminum Cases

Why can't aluminum cases be reloaded? I have been told that there is no stupid question. Maybe this is it.

that article does not address the re loading question

It would be my "unsubstantiated unqualified guess," that the aluminum loses elasticity, becoming brittle after being fired.

???

The have similar to a Berdan style primer pocket for one. From my experience doing some fabrication with aluminum I’d be worried about them being brittle from being stretched and then resized. Just guessing but I’d say head separations would be likely.

They can be, but aluminum is a far from ideal material for the task.

The same can be said for steel cases.

The biggest stumbling block are the primers, they're Berdan, or at least they were "back in the day". Everybody then as now proclaimed they weren't reloadable. I proved them wrong. I've always been a magnet for unusual crap and Berdan primers were no exception - I snagged them whenever I saw them at gun shows.

I started with a batch of CCI Blazer .38 Special empties, pulled the Berdan primers out with my Lachmiller Berdan de-capping tool, discovered I had a few of the correct sized primers to fit them, and went at it. Lo and behold they shot just fine. But, that was the end of it because I'm here to tell you that de-capping 50 cases with that primitive tool was no picnic. If I were to do it again I would de-cap with water hydraulics, but then it would become a messy pain in the ass. I've no personal clue as to the aluminum cases holding up for subsequent reloads, but suspect the previous poster's predictions to be true.

well aluminum does not stretch well. think of welds on an aluminum boat or trailer they crack quite often when worked back and forth

reply to The Kid and Gnoahh. I rescued some CCI 9 mm cases from the range trash. I just ran the through the LEE FL sizer and the primers are standard BOXER.

I’ll be. They must have changed them as they used to have a bar or rod, for lack of a better term, across the flash hole leaving two half moon shaped flash holes.

I’d still be very suspicious of work embrittlement and if you can get away with one reload I certainly wouldn’t push my luck on a second one. But I’m no engineer, I just worked in machine and metal fabrication for a good while.

I remember reading an article MANY years ago about this and IIRC what “The Kid” says is pretty much what they found.

I reloaded a few 45 ACP out of curiosity.
They reloaded fine and the ones I worked with had a typical boxer primer.
Almost all of them ended up with neck splits after firing.
When the Zombie Apocalypse hits you could use them for one reload in a pinch.
It seems the aluminum does indeed get brittle and split after second firing.

to NVhntr thanks for the clarification. I will stick to brass

I reloaded blazer aluminum 9mm. They loaded fine, shot them out of a Sig 365. Load was 3.8 grains of accurate #2, unis genex primer and a 135 grain cast bullet. Picked up the empties to try them again.
Reloaded them again and was standing them on the bench. Friend picked one up, the primer was sitting on the bench. So apparently the primer pocket expands to the point of uselessness.
We have shot over ten thousand rounds in brass cases. Pretty mild load I think.

Aluminum and steel cases are JUNK and belong in the trash barrel.

I've loaded 9mm CCI aluminum cases. Loaded them light once . Shoot them at an indoor range and leave 'em lay.