How would you answer this from a new reloader?

gunwalker

Can you reload Blazer ammo? This guy reasons that if it was strong enough to be loaded once for full house 357, then it could reloaded after trimming to size. He figures he can reload it at least once safely. How would you respond?

Varmintmist

Strength isnt the issue. AL doesnt take to forming over and over and it will crack. That and I think some are berdan primed.

gunner81

I had problems with new .357 Blazzer ammo I wouldnt try reloading

tennmike

How would I answer? I would say that I would do so only in the most desperate of circumstances. The type of aluminum alloy used is not an alloy that is made for reloading. It work hardens quickly and will fail at some point; might be the first reloading or the third, and when it does fail, it can be nasty. Is saving a couple of cents per round worth destroying a firearm and maybe injuring the shooter? I don't think so.

Here's a website that shows some aluminum case failures. Worth looking at:

http://headstampfinebrass.blogspot.com/

HAWKEN

The original Blazer ammo was boxer primed. I found a bunch of it, (several hundred .45apc), at a local gun range. I reloaded them with .230 grain LRN over 4 grains of Clays, with no problems. Try a couple and see how they look and chamber. Remember that these are target loads, so don't go crazy with them. Let us know how it works out. Inquiring minds want to know. Keep yer powder dry........Robin :applause:

shooter

gunwalker wrote: »

Can you reload Blazer ammo? This guy reasons that if it was strong enough to be loaded once for full house 357, then it could reloaded after trimming to size. He figures he can reload it at least once safely. How would you respond?

It depends on what type of "Blazer ammo".

This issue has come up on the forum in the past and some folks were not aware that Blazer ammo is also available in brass cases.
If you are talking about reloading "aluminum" Blazer cases…. Don't. The Blazer brass cases as shown in this photo are a.o.k to reload.

Teach

Doesn't aluminum case Blazer have an oddball-sized Berdan primer?
Jerry

shooter

Teach wrote: »

Doesn't aluminum case Blazer have an oddball-sized Berdan primer?
Jerry

Yes, the aluminum variety has Berdan priming and is not easily reloadable. The brass variety of Blazer is a.o.k. for reloading.
It is boxer primed.

gunwalker

Thank you gentlemen. I will ask him to read this thread. Who knows, maybe he will join us.

Zee

gunwalker wrote: »

Can you reload Blazer ammo? This guy reasons that if it was strong enough to be loaded once for full house 357, then it could reloaded after trimming to size. He figures he can reload it at least once safely. How would you respond?

"If you do, be sure to take video."

Jayhawker

Zee wrote: »

"If you do, be sure to take video."

That's what I like about you...short...to the point and chuckle generating....

Teach

I want to watch the first case go through the decapper/resizer. Punching that new flash hole is going to require some serious grunt!
Jerry

41magnut

I have reloaded a bucket full of Blazer Brass in 9MM & 40S&W. As someone mentioned earlier the aluminum cases are berdan primed, as are Monarch steel cased ammo. I confirmed this by breaking a decapping pin, with a aluminum case that got by me.
If my memory serves me correctly, a writer on the G&A staff, did an acticle conserning reloading steel cases. Seems like his conclusion was "Yes, it could be reloaded.......". There were some precautions, caveats, and so on.