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Posted On: 1/15/2021
By: Shayne
A: Thanks for reaching out Shayne, and kudos to you for becoming a cop! 40 S&W is indeed hard to come by right now. The election, civil unrest and the pandemic have all spiked demand, and the pandemic has also interrupted supply lines.
But let's talk about aluminum cases. Now, brass cases are always going to be best. They are supple so they seal the chamber for cleaner ignition, and they return to their original dimensions following ignition so they are reloadable. Steel was traditionally the only cheaper alternative to brass, but back in the late '70s CCI figured out how to heat-treat aircraft grade aluminum so it would work to make cases as well. (CCI and Federal Premium have since both been bought by Vista Outdoor, so they share technology.) Aluminum is also extremely cheap compared to brass, and it's a lot lighter as well. It is also inelastic and therefore not suitable for handloading, though.
You're not going to see substantial savings from aluminum cases in the current market (hopefully that will change soon), and you're not going to be able to reload them. But for regular target shooting – where a failure to feed or extract will inconvenience you instead of putting your life in jeopardy – aluminum cases are perfectly acceptable. And to be sure, aluminum cased ammo still has normal FMJ bullets: lead core, gilding metal jacket.
Let me know if you ever have any other ammo questions!
Posted On: 10/2/2020
By: Esteban
A: Absolutely Esteban, this is a perfect choice of ammunition for training and target shooting with your Glock 23!
Just take care that FMJ bullets are not optimal for self-defense, because they do not expand after hitting a threat. If you would like ammo specifically for personal protection as well, then I would highly recommend you also order this 40 S&W ammo by Black Hills: luckygunner.com/40-s-w-140-grain-tac-xp-black-hills-20-rounds. The TAC-XP is one of the finest self-defense bullets out there.
