Is steel case ammo worth the price difference? Is it even safe for your firearm?
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Iām certain this has been touched on here multiple times.
Likely with multiple opinions.
The range marshal said that they prohibit it because it doesnāt conduct heat as well, and after a few magazines can start creating failures to extract?
I guess Iāve just never gotten any of my guns hot enough to notice that? 
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Iāve seen steel cases get stuck in pistols. One guy had a Glock 19, I also had my G19, and he had a few stuck cases in not too long a time. We swapped guns for a bit, he fell in love with mine, and Iām thinking āsame gun, bro, just not using crap ammoā. The other guy, forget what pistol it was, but high end dream gun, and I walk in and heās frustrated and trying to get the case out. I notice the gun, way too nice for me, ended up popping the case out, and itās steel. Dang, $2000 pistol and saving a couple cents a round on ammo.
Otoh, Iāve been shooting copper plated steel case and have had no issue in my Glocks, M9 or Stribogā¦and the AK wouldnāt know what to do if I put a brass case 7.62-39 in itās chamber 
Certain guns, people justify the extra wear by the cost savings, and some guns run steel case just fine.
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Iāve never shot steel cases before. Steel and brass donāt act the same, so I was wondering how the difference played out in the ammo.
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Thanks for the replies. I figured this would be the best place to ask.
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I will add I do see a lot of aluminum cases in the ground at times where I shoot. No experience with aluminum, but I guess it must be nice on the back not having cases worth the effort of picking up lol. Iāve got a box full of brass and will be getting together with my reloading buddy Barry54 next month.
My guess with aluminum is thinking it expands quicker that brass, but probably not the rigidity of steel so easier to eject or extract if need be.
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Iāve shot a ton of it through an AK. It worked fine never had a problem extracting.
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Ill shoot it periodically, mainly out of revolvers but will always choose brass first.
Ive never had a problem with steel, i just think handloading.
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Selling spent brass to a recycler is a significant revenue stream for most ranges. If there is too much steel case in the recycle their price/lb may be reduced or the recycler may decline to take it at all.
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The chances of me running steel cases through my beloved guns is on the negative side of zero. But I have zero problems with anyone running it through AKs and SKS if their having fun doing mag Dinoās at the range. I just wonāt, and I tell folks if they bring any to my training be ready to pay me for my brass cases ammo because Iām not about to waste MY time troubleshooting their guns and cheap ammo issues.
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Have you guys heard about 7mm backwoods? This is a steel case but made with high quality steel and allows ridiculous pressures. As far as Wolf and Tula, I pass on it. Iāll pay a little more for something closer to what Iād use. Nickel plated critical duty is my choice for every day.
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Iāve shot quite a bit rifle/pistol and never a problem. If a range wonāt let you use it they are reselling what brass you donāt pick up simple as that.
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I have shot some aluminum cased 9mm and not had any trouble with it. That being said, Iām a traditionalist and prefer brass on a gut level. Steel just āfeelsā wrong, unless the gun was designed for it.
MOO
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As the thread has expanded,ā¦
I have run several mags (30 rounds) of steel case through my Tavor 5.56ā¦. It doesnāt care.
My FNX tactical.45 has zero regard for aluminum vs brass cases,ā¦ that said Iāve never shot steel case .45 through it.
None of my Glock pistols as of yet have had an issue regardless of steel brass or aluminum casings.
and to date Iāve never fired steel case through my Sigs.
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I have only ever shot a few rounds of steel or aluminum through my firearms so I canāt contribute with direct knowledge.
One thing I have read though is that steel ammo often uses some kind of lacquer coating to help reduce friction. But if you shoot enough of it, that coating can gum up the chamber. If you then switch to using brass which expands a very tiny bit after firing the brass cases can get caught up in that muck and not reliably extract.
Not a good idea to go back and forth without a very thorough cleaning.
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BTW my comments were strictly about steel ammo. Aluminum range ammo is fine and I and some of my students have fired thousands of rounds with zero issues.
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Personally I only use steel in my CZ 82 9mm Makarov!
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