7.62 x 39 ammo, brass or steel

[ThomMedic]

I recently went into a new Gun Shop, curious to see if they had any ammo for my 7.62/AR-15 platform. The owner had some brass and plenty of steel. Brass was well over a dollar per round while steel was pretty much the same. The owner argued that yes steel wears out the barrel quicker than brass, but over time it would be cheaper buying a new barrel than the costs of buying only brass. I didn't ask him about the life expectancy of a bolt. He was supposedly the expert, still not comfortable with this issue from his side.

What do the experienced experts on this site feel? 

[BULLBLASTER]

I dont own anything in 7.62x39 but i have no issue shooting steel case or bimetal jacketed bullets from my 556.

[birdshooter1189]

I purchased a 20" AR upper in 7.62x39 from Model1sales a few years ago.

I ran about 500 rnds of Wolf steel cased ammo through it.  The casings had some sort of lacquer coating.  If I shot more than about 50-100 rounds through it, it would start to jam (shells getting stuck in the chamber and having to be forcefully removed). I think it was just the lacquer coating that would rub off and start causing things to bind up.  After cleaning it would cycle fine again.

I reload and have since transitioned to mostly brass cased reloads for it.  I'm not against shooting steel cased through mine again if I need to.

With wolf ammo I'd regularly put 10 rounds into a 1" hole at about 75 yds.  With reloads I seem to get the same.

I think i have about 700 rounds total through the gun now. I haven't noticed any problems with the bolt, chamber, or barrel.  I haven't done any close inspections of them, but the gun still shoots fine and I haven't had reason to suspect any damage to it due to steel cased ammo.

It's not very scientific, but that's my experience.

[BULLBLASTER]

It wouldnt be the steel cartridge case causing any damage, it would be the bimetal jacket causing extra barrel wear.