My new AR-15!

[400out]

The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting.  As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up.  Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering.  Guns like Russian AK's, and the H&Ks with fluted chambers are made to work with steel cased ammo.  Guns with smooth chambers are not.  One of the local gun shops has a Glock that blew up in its owner's hand because of steel case ammo.  The slide is locked so hard that efforts to open it with a hammer failed.  The shooter wasn't injured, but an expensive gun was destroyed because the owner was too cheap to buy good ammo.  Also several rifles have been taken in to the gun shop with steel cases stuck in the chambers.  Shoot steel cased ammo at your own risk.  The only gun I own that I'll shoot steel case ammo in is my HK-94, that has a fluted chamber, and even then I only shot 1 box of the stuff because it was given to me to get rid of.

BINGO we have a winner 

[Heredoggydoggy]

The steel case isn't the problem--it's the coating that keeps the case from rusting.  As the chamber heats up, the coating sticks to the surfaces of the chamber and builds up.  Eventually you get a case stuck in the chamber, or prevents a round from chambering. 

I've heard this same old story many times, if you look around you will find a few tests people have done to try and make their rifle fail in this manner and they were unable to do so. I've tried it in mine and was unable to get it to do this and I've never discovered anything other than carbon in any of the guns that I fire steel cased ammo through.

It's carbon that hangs cases in chambers, clean your gun properly and it won't be a problem. Buy a chamber brush and use it after every outing with an AR.

A Glock blew up due to steel case stuff huh? I guess that's good enough proof for me that an XD(m) is a better gun I've fired thousands of steel cased rounds through it although never more than 300-400 in any given day I don't think.

Okey Dokey--if you're happy shooting steel cased ammo, go to it!  Me, I think too much of my guns to shoot that crap in them.

[BlackRidge]

Nice setup!! BRD is spreading!!!

2 questions:

1) Do you notice and side-side play with the Magpul MOE handguard?

2) Do you think the Sims Deresonator is making a difference for you?  Just curious, been eyeing it and you're the first person I've seen who's actually using one

Whenever I throw my Magpul MOE handguard/foregrip on, the play becomes very noticeable, almost sloppy

Regarding steel cased ammo, not recommended at all, though its always nice to have a tin of the comm-block stuff stashed away for the Red Dawn/SHTF scenario's...   

It will function and probably won't cause any catastrophic damage to the gun itself, so long as you clean it religiously after each outting.

For peace of mind and less of a need for cleaning, I lean towards bulk quantities of Lake City and or handloads

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats! It will make you a nice gun.

[FC]

LOL...You guys are silly. Keep drinking the steel-cases are evil kool-aid, it will keep the price down for the rest of us that shoot it a lot.

Todd, enjoy your rifle! Magpul mags are definitely the best, I wouldn't buy anything else if using full size magazines ,smaller capacity makes the rifle easier to shoot from a rest, get yourself a chamber brush straight away if you haven't already and use it after every outing. AR's are very easy to maintain but you do need to do it routinely after use or they will get carbon coking that can not only be a pain to clean out but it will cause malfunctions.

Add carb cleaner to your arsenal of cleaning supplies if you haven't already and don't be afraid to use good old soap and hot water in the sink! Hot soapy water is the BEST when it comes to flushing out your receiver halves, I use a nylon bristle brush for scrubbing with a bit of dish soap and the rifle comes out looking like new. Just be sure to use straight hot water to rinse so it will dry quickly. Once you get used to cleaning your rifle in the sink you will start eyeballing your pistols too! Mine all look like new, inside and out, not to mention that I can scrub out a handgun in about 1-2 minutes.

[millertime89]

That's a coyote smoker if i've ever seen one Like what you did with the mods. It looks like it will be a fun gun to have in your arsenal

[Todd_ID]

2 questions:

1) Do you notice and side-side play with the Magpul MOE handguard?

2) Do you think the Sims Deresonator is making a difference for you?  Just curious, been eyeing it and you're the first person I've seen who's actually using one

In answer to your questions...... 1) Magpul grip.  I have seen what you are talking about on my gun.  When I first install the two halves each time it does seem to wobble around a bit (maybe 1/64" of play).  After I move it around for a while with that rattle/play you're talking about it tightens up and goes away.  I think it's the Delta Ring settling in tighter and tighter on the grips until there is no play left.  That's only my take on it, but mine doesn't wobble after monkeying with it for a few seconds.

2) Sims Deresonator.  Yeah, it helps a bunch.... but only to the extent that somebody noticed it.  Beyond that I haven't tested it but am certainly planning on it.  I haven't shot with the 4-12 scope yet, so I really don't have any data for you.  I plan to shoot a few groups with it off, with it in front, with it near the sight, and with it in the middle to see which groups I like the best.

[Todd_ID]

I just bought 2000 rounds of brass 5.56 ammo for $400 from a friend of a friend that doesn't need it anymore.  It's top shelf Winchester first run ammo in 55 grain PSP that should last a very long time at my current rate of shooting.  Now I can save the steel stuff for the zombies!  Let's hope that it groups well!!!!!!

[machine]

Nothing wrong with steel cased ammo other than being dirty.Nice AR and great deal on the 2000 rounds.

[CAMPMEAT]

Steel cased ammo expands and doesn't contract. Steel swells up in the barrel and gets stuck. Brass expands and contracts so it will eject.

[huntlakewood]

nice I would like to owen one. I bet it is fun to shoot. I am a hater

[CAMPMEAT]

A note: you can't compare steel cased pistol ammo with an AR. Apples and oranges.

[GreyWolf]

Congratulations! That's a good looking varmint rifle! It's good to see people are not scared to turn their EBRs into ECRs 

Once you shoot with your scope, if you are not getting a tight grouping, before you upgrade to more expensive ammo, try sending your trigger out to Bill Springfield & have him turn it into a 3 or 4lbs work of art! Best $50 upgrade I have made to any of my AR's hands down!

[FC]

Steel cased ammo expands and doesn't contract. Steel swells up in the barrel and gets stuck. Brass expands and contracts so it will eject.

False. I have shot thousands of rounds worth of rifle and pistol steel case ammo with no failures of any kind. Steel expands and contracts as it heats and cools just like brass.