How long before plastic replaces brass?

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  • K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,632
    AA county
    Doesn't mean that component providers won't still provide new brass for reloading. Just as they do today. .mil doesn't use every cartridge that's out there.
     

    onedash

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 24, 2016
    1,026
    Calvert County
    I know but I suspect if the quality is good enough for the 50 cal it should be even better for most calibers smaller. No idea how easy it might be to reload.
     

    clandestine

    AR-15 Savant
    Oct 13, 2008
    37,031
    Elkton, MD
    They use plastic cases on open bolt designs from my understanding.

    I have used Plastic Cased 5.56. lots of ruptured and case separations when the gun gets hot.
     

    K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,632
    AA county
    I know but I suspect if the quality is good enough for the 50 cal it should be even better for most calibers smaller. No idea how easy it might be to reload.

    It's probably not reloadable. Not by today's methods anyway. Once it expands, it probably would take heat, not pressure to size it back to specs. If at all.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    Telescoped rounds are the core of the LSAT program and perform rather well. We'll still get brass and lacquered steel in our current popular calibers for some time to come, but eventually civilian versions of .mil weapons will slowly shift the balance over the years.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,154
    Lots of people shoot 50+ year old milsurp ammo today.........will you want to shoot 50 year old plastic cases?
     

    toppkatt

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 22, 2017
    1,185
    Plastic cases!!!! Wait, what about the civil war era Smith carbine using gutta pertcha case? Hum, guess plastic cases aren't so new after all...
     

    delaware_export

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 10, 2018
    3,142
    Wondering about the loading and recycle value. With the amount expended in conflict leaving something the bad guys can’t reuse (as easily) would have a benefit.
     

    Postell

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Nov 5, 2018
    291
    The plastic casings are expected to last longer than brass in terms of storage

    Yep, plastic injection is not what most folks think it is, even more so in todays manufacturing world.
    20 years ago I also shot thousands of "Natac" Polymer 5.56 rounds through a few Colts in semi, burst and auto with zero case failures.
     

    Park ranger

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 6, 2015
    2,315
    The plastic casings are expected to last longer than brass in terms of storage

    Wonder why this matters. Sure we used the 45 acp for a long time. 30-06 pretty long. 7.62 is still in use but with improved bullets. They are chomping at the bit to replace the 223 and it's seen a few upgrades in bullets. Years ago they talked about a Styrofoam case that disintegratesupon firing. The liberals about had a melt down.
     

    K-43

    West of Morning Side
    Oct 20, 2010
    1,881
    PG
    Someone has to say it: "It's not plastic it's Polymer!" Okee dokee! I don't own a plastic pistol, but I'm not against them.

    No, it's not a new idea, but it's been waiting for the plastic technology to get there and market acceptance to make it profitable. That didn't take too long with shotgun shells. Well, except for some grumpy old Trapshooters. :innocent0

    I'm wondering if it will require a new method of sizing necks such as heated dies to reform the neck for tension or perhaps a sealant glue instead of resizing.

    Reloading forums will have a new set of repetitive newbie posts i.e. "Can i glue or melt my split neck?" :D
     

    SKIP

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 5, 2009
    3,248
    Glenwood/Glenelg
    K-43 is correct. Below is a polymer case.
    Boxer primed.
    While polishing the brass I noticed the polymer body can be rotated 360 degrees. I would think powder gasses would leak from the cartridge.
     

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