Hey guys, I'm new to the handgun scene and looking for different ammo to try in my new Kimber Custom Target II 1911. I ran upon some .45ACP CCI Blazer ammo with aluminum cases. How does aluminum perform as a case metal? I know it's non-reloadable, but is it effective? If any of you guys have shot it let me know what you think about it. Should I try some out? $21 for 50 rounds. Thanks

My HK P7 loves the 9s. Never tried the .45s.

The only suggestion I'll pass on is keep your chamber clean. I've removed two stuck cases that were fired in dirty chambers and tore the case head off leaving the bulk of the case stuck in the chamber. Other than that they work fine. Both of these were in 40 S&W.

The "targeted market" of aluminum cased ammo was shooters that do not reload I believe. I recall reading that something near 60% of the cost of a loaded round is/was the brass case(that percentage has likely changed +/-?).

If your firearm works well with them, "thumbs-up" from me.

Cheezywan

The only suggestion I'll pass on is keep your chamber clean. I've removed two stuck cases that were fired in dirty chambers and tore the case head off leaving the bulk of the case stuck in the chamber. Other than that they work fine. Both of these were in 40 S&W.

Ok, so they're slightly more brittle/weaker than brass. Cool, thanks for the help.

That is all my department uses for 40 practice ammo. I have shot thousands through a Glock 22 and Glock 27 without a single problem. I would say that you could use them in the lower pressure 45 without any problems.

As a side note my local Walmart has had Winchester 45 white box for $30/100. That would be a little cheaper and it is loaded in brass cases.

This Wyoming cow elk was toppled with aluminum cased factory ammo.The cases are non-re loadable. The animal did not care about reloading and neither did I.
TR


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/rushmoreman/357MAGelk-1.jpg

I haven't shot any but a buddy of mine has. They seemed to work just fine in his Kimber.

In most applications they work just fine. I use them exclusively for practice ammo in my Glock 20. Have fired them thru my Glock19 and several revo's(.44mag).

Watch out for the lower power of Blazer. If you try them in a Desert Eagle,Ruger .44mag carbine,and several others(gas operated) they may not cycle the action properly.

Other than that,completely safe and somewhat cheep. At least they WERE !! -----pruhdlr

I used to clean the stuff up by the bucket full from our local public range and take it for recycling, but its gotten more expensive than the steel cased stuff so I don't see it much anymore.

The cases are not non-reloadable, but the trouble you have to go to isn't worth is, as they are Berdan primed, and the cases don't have near the life of brass. CCI now puts out brass-cased ammo under the Blazer name, and it is quite reloadable. Aluminum or brass, Blazer ammo is pretty good stuff.

I don't use the Aluminum Blazer ammo anymore. Back in 90' I purchased two boxes of 125 JSP Blazer for my .357 Coonan (semi auto) so I won't have to chase brass down in the snow drifts on the range in Germany. First round fired I had the case rupture just above the case head and split the length of the case. It flame cut the chamber at 9 o'clock and blew fragments back in my face (good thing I had my eyes and ears on). CCI paid for the two boxes of ammo and a new complete upper for my Coonan.

The CCI blazer 9mm was the only ammo my P7 PSP didn't like, go figure. As mentioned they can be reloaded if you have the right equipment. I used to see Germans reload the aluminum cases.

CD