[godadone]

I took my 617 Stainless to the range yesterday. Bought a box of aluminum cased Blazer .357 158gr SJHP.

Got through about 2 cylinders full and when I went to extract the cases it was extremely difficult. I tried one more cylinder full and when I went to extract the empties, the extractor wouldn't budge. I got a cleaning rod and pushed all but two of the cases out relatively easily. With a little more force I got one out but broke the bottom off of the second empty case.

Took the gun to a smith and he removed the rest of the spent case from the gun. I clean this gun extensively after EVERY trip to the range. The gunsmith even said it was well maintained.

So I gave up on the rest of the box of ammo. I called Blazer today and told them about my problems. They said they have been hearing reports of a "bad batch" of ammo. So they are sending me 100 rounds of .357 free.

 

[airwrench]

I had the same problem with Blazer ammo 20 years ago. .357 and .44 mag and I have not bought any since...

 

[45 Forever]

I only buy Blazer brass only period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! won't touch aluminum

 

[Qwiks draw]

Blazer ammo is usually a class act as far as practice ammos go.

However there are pistols and revolvers, on a case by case basis, that may refuse to function or just plain don't like Blazer or Blazer Brass.Doesn't mean it's junk. Just that pistols in general and some revolvers can have their problems with it.

All the ammo companies, just like any other manufacturer of anything one cares to name, have road bumps on occasion with various lots of ammo.

If Blazer (CCI and Speer... these are all the same company) ammo is failing then it is their duty to do something about it like any good company will. And this seems to be what's happening.

Haven't had any troubles with Blazer in my PT111/Mil/pro, models 65/66,85CH, or out of the Ruger P95s.
Then that's just how things have worked out and well at that.

Oldie, but goodies form the past on CCI Blazer.
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=5034.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2498.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=5344.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2188.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=4498.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2295.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=3888.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=4792.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=3066.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=4044.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=4364.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=2594.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=960.0
http://www.taurusarmed.net/forums/index.php?topic=677.0

The good,bad, and the ugly.

 

[godadone]

I dunno what the problem was with this box of ammo, first time I tried it and it failed miserably.

Out of my cheap marlin .22LR plinker, I can put 5 on a dime at 50 yards with CCI/Speer ammo.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

I took my 617 Stainless to the range yesterday. Bought a box of aluminum cased Blazer .357 158gr SJHP.

Got through about 2 cylinders full and when I went to extract the cases it was extremely difficult. I tried one more cylinder full and when I went to extract the empties, the extractor wouldn't budge. I got a cleaning rod and pushed all but two of the cases out relatively easily. With a little more force I got one out but broke the bottom off of the second empty case.

Took the gun to a smith and he removed the rest of the spent case from the gun. I clean this gun extensively after EVERY trip to the range. The gunsmith even said it was well maintained.

So I gave up on the rest of the box of ammo. I called Blazer today and told them about my problems. They said they have been hearing reports of a "bad batch" of ammo. So they are sending me 100 rounds of .357 free.

I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience but was glad to hear that they intend on making it right for you. I've been using Blazer aluminum in .357 Magnum (and 9mm & 45 ACP) for quite some time now with no adverse effects.

 

[Ace]

Any ammo cases other than brass tend to have their hiccups now and again, which is why they haven't replaced that expensive metal with something else for cartridges. Also I will only use the Russian steel cased stuff in soviet design guns since those guns were designed to digest the stuff. I have yet to see a domestic designed firearm that can stand a steady diet of anything other than brass cased ammo, and I have learned the hard way what my guns can take. While I shot blazer before, I will only use it for practice, and never in a hunting or self defense situation.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Hmm, I shot Blazzer aluminum 357 almost exclusively and have never had an issue.

 

[Robby]

FRom 45 colt, 357, 9mm I have used aluminum Blazers. No problem in all three guns. I have used their 22mag stuff for my SA 22. Not aluminum in the 22 though.

Wait I forgot the 9 mm was steel cased, Wolf. But no problems with it either.

 

[Ace]

They will work in some guns, others they are a nightmare. Had a buddy of mine with a nef handi rifle in .223 who shot wolf through it. everything was fine until the barrel got too warm and a case stuck. He didn't know how to proceed so he packed the gun up and took the rifle to me. by the time he got it to me the barrel cooled down and all the laquer had hardened to a point where I had to put the gun in vice and use a brass cleaning rod with a hammer to tap the case out. After that the chamber was full of the crud so bad he was cleaning it for days. He Never shot that stuff again.

 

[joe sixpack]

maybe try adding a bit of oil to the cylinders chambers before shooting to help ease extraction..

i've never shot aluminum cased ammo however i've picked up plenty of the stuff at the range and i noticed it had expanded much more then brass examples..

im thinking the aluminum expands easier and is causing a more snug fit when it's fired causing extraction problems.

this is just my guess.

 

[paulrabe78]

I've never shot any Blazer. A buddy shot it and had a few that barely made it out the barrel and some that seemed to be loaded hot. After his experience he has bought anymore and I stick with WWB and Speer Gold Dot.

 

[godadone]

Update:

Received the new ammo from blazer today. Shot all 100 rounds without a single malfunction or failure to eject.

Blazer = +1 in my book.

 

[Qwiks draw]

Happy to hear the company fessed up and did the right thing. Batches of ammo can be like massed produced gun magazines.
There are those, sometimes in batches, that get our of the factory that aren't quite just right.

 

[Taurus_9mm]

I'm glad to hear that they made it right for you. Most reputable companies will do that and sometimes, go above and beyond if necessary. Anymore I almost exclusively use their ammo.

 

[texastaurusguy]

I've heard a story or two about people who shoot alot of 38 special in their 357 mag that have this problem too. Since it was one particular brand, this most likely wasn't the issue - however, I didn't see it mentioned above, so I thought I'd throw it out there. I believe it has something to do with the inside of the cylinder walls getting used to the shorter brass, then when you put the longer 357 shells in, it expands the brass along the entire wall, not just up to the 'line' where the 38 shells would typically be. Or something like that.

 

[Robby]

I have heard the similar, but the issue was build up in the cylinders from the shorter 38's, causing either non loading, or locking the 357 cases in the cylinder after firing due to the buildup.
I guess the best answer is keep your cylinders clean, especially after a range trip where 38's were used before reloading with 357's.

 

[jboynjazz]

maybe try adding a bit of oil to the cylinders chambers before shooting to help ease extraction

dont do this. if there happens to be a "pool" or puddle of oil in your chamber, when the case expands the liquid wont compress and it may cause damage to your chambers.

 

[Robby]

dont do this. if there happens to be a "pool" or puddle of oil in your chamber, when the case expands the liquid wont compress and it may cause damage to your chambers.

Dang I missed that one, I would not want oil near the cartridges, and the cylinder is where they go. That over pressure situation could cause a problem, from what I have heard.

 

[joe sixpack]

*shrugs* i do it all the time after a cleaning i take a q-tip lightly coated in hoppes and coat my revolvers cylinders.

never had a problem yet.

if you have a pool of oil then you put to much you just what a light coating.