CCI Blazer ammo
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Jim Watson
New member
The case is aluminum.
It is safe to shoot.
It is safe to shoot.
two things.
It is safe to shoot.
It is not reloadable.
The case is aluminum. It has berdan primers. It is impossible to load by normal means, despite what you will be told by other members who join in the conversation.
If a company tells you "don't" regarding something as critical as whether or not you can do something like that, it may mean that it is dangerous, or impossible. Without specific information to the contrary and the skills to perform the special tasks it is dangerous to disregard these warnings.
You did the right thing to ask. When I collect my brass, I collect the blazer as well and stuff them into cans, then send them out with the recycling. Otherwise the stuff sits on the ground forever.
It is safe to shoot.
It is not reloadable.
The case is aluminum. It has berdan primers. It is impossible to load by normal means, despite what you will be told by other members who join in the conversation.
If a company tells you "don't" regarding something as critical as whether or not you can do something like that, it may mean that it is dangerous, or impossible. Without specific information to the contrary and the skills to perform the special tasks it is dangerous to disregard these warnings.
You did the right thing to ask. When I collect my brass, I collect the blazer as well and stuff them into cans, then send them out with the recycling. Otherwise the stuff sits on the ground forever.
I've used the aluminum Blazer rounds for many years.
There are some semi-autos that don't do well with 9mm, but the revolver stuff has always functioned.
There are no safety concerns.
The caution against trying to reload the cases relates to the nature of the material and the type of primers, as mentioned above.
The aluminum cases are safe to use once, which is all they're intended for.
Trying to re-form & process for a second crimped use may not work as well as with thicker & more malleable brass.
The two materials are quite different in how they handle both combustion and "home" processing.
Berdan primers used in the Blazer centerfire ammunition require TWO primer flash holes in the case's primer pocket, whereas the "American" style primer normally used in a domestic case uses a single flash hole in the pocket.
Normal presses will punch out a standard domestic primer by forcing a centered punch pin through the single pocket hole to push the fired primer out.
With the Berdan's dual holes, if you try to use a regular press de-priming punch, it'll hit solid case material between the two holes, and if you push hard enough you'll either bust the punch pin or deform the pocket, possibly both.
A Berdan-primed case (aside from the Blazer aluminum) CAN be reloaded, but using a different de-priming method and appropriate primers, if you can find 'em.
Dixie Gun Works & RCBS both sell Berdan de-priming tools.
Once you get the old Berdan primer out, the rest of the reloading process is largely the same, in BRASS cases.
Denis
There are some semi-autos that don't do well with 9mm, but the revolver stuff has always functioned.
There are no safety concerns.
The caution against trying to reload the cases relates to the nature of the material and the type of primers, as mentioned above.
The aluminum cases are safe to use once, which is all they're intended for.
Trying to re-form & process for a second crimped use may not work as well as with thicker & more malleable brass.
The two materials are quite different in how they handle both combustion and "home" processing.
Berdan primers used in the Blazer centerfire ammunition require TWO primer flash holes in the case's primer pocket, whereas the "American" style primer normally used in a domestic case uses a single flash hole in the pocket.
Normal presses will punch out a standard domestic primer by forcing a centered punch pin through the single pocket hole to push the fired primer out.
With the Berdan's dual holes, if you try to use a regular press de-priming punch, it'll hit solid case material between the two holes, and if you push hard enough you'll either bust the punch pin or deform the pocket, possibly both.
A Berdan-primed case (aside from the Blazer aluminum) CAN be reloaded, but using a different de-priming method and appropriate primers, if you can find 'em.
Dixie Gun Works & RCBS both sell Berdan de-priming tools.
Once you get the old Berdan primer out, the rest of the reloading process is largely the same, in BRASS cases.
Denis
Primers for reloading Berdan cases have been virtual "unobtainium" in the US for decades, and I'm given to understand that hen's teeth, unicorn horns and pieces of the true Cross are easier to get. 
Common belief is that CCI uses Berdan primers in their aluminum cased Blazer ammo because it makes them about impossible to reload. They don't use Berdan primers in any of their other ammo. (Nor, as far as I know, do they sell their Berdan primers for reloading).
Blazer ammo is intended for one time firing, only.
Common belief is that CCI uses Berdan primers in their aluminum cased Blazer ammo because it makes them about impossible to reload. They don't use Berdan primers in any of their other ammo. (Nor, as far as I know, do they sell their Berdan primers for reloading).
Blazer ammo is intended for one time firing, only.
Blazer Al ammo is perfectly safe. CCI would be sued out of business if it wasn't. It's not particularly good ammo though.
Al cases are not reloadable for the same reason steel is not reloadable. It's not suitably elastic like brass is.
Berdan primed cases are far too much work to be worth the effort. And that's if you can find the correct(no such thing as a Large/Small pistol or rifle Berdan primers) primer.
The RCBS Berdan decapper(actually a pries 'em out) is a $75 tool at Midway too.
Al cases are not reloadable for the same reason steel is not reloadable. It's not suitably elastic like brass is.
Berdan primed cases are far too much work to be worth the effort. And that's if you can find the correct(no such thing as a Large/Small pistol or rifle Berdan primers) primer.
The RCBS Berdan decapper(actually a pries 'em out) is a $75 tool at Midway too.
It really needs to be mentioned again. Quality is sketchy. That brass is soft and easily damaged. Powder used seems to be factory second from south korean production. Dimensions will be perfect but feeding and operation in semiautos seems to be problematic with many individual handguns. Revolvers have no moveable parts that feed the rounds into the chamber and then extract the fired casings, it sits there like a paperweight until fired. Stupid simple, you don't even need a casing for a revolver, think about cap and ball.
The bullets seem to be the very same production as is used in the rest of the production, mainly because if you make a bullet, there really isn't a way to make a discount grade piece of plated lead.
Plink them at a range and throw them away. They aren't meant to be anything but minimal quality.
They are still far better than steel former communist bloc or asian stuff, IMO.
The bullets seem to be the very same production as is used in the rest of the production, mainly because if you make a bullet, there really isn't a way to make a discount grade piece of plated lead.
Plink them at a range and throw them away. They aren't meant to be anything but minimal quality.
They are still far better than steel former communist bloc or asian stuff, IMO.
Last edited:
Jim Watson
New member
I haven't seen any CCI Blazer in some time. Federal Aluminum is the same stuff, though.
I have sorted out the aluminum cases and noticed some Boxer primers.
I suspect that even though Berdan primers are cheaper to make and discourage reloading of unsuitable cases, they just concluded it was easier to load everything with the US standard Boxer primers instead of maintaining separate manufacture of Boxer and Berdan.
I have sorted out the aluminum cases and noticed some Boxer primers.
I suspect that even though Berdan primers are cheaper to make and discourage reloading of unsuitable cases, they just concluded it was easier to load everything with the US standard Boxer primers instead of maintaining separate manufacture of Boxer and Berdan.
Apparently you've never seen a revolver work, used one, or understand how they got the name 'revolver'.
They have moving parts. They're called revolvers because the cylinder revolves. If something revolves, it's considered a moving part. And other parts have to move to make the cylinder revolve. Kinda disproves your statement, eh?
You can search the web for videos of how revolvers work, and see for yourself that they have moving parts.
okay, can you PLEASE try to reinterpret that into the context that it was meant instead of simply treating me as if I'm some sort of idiot?
They do not use moveable parts to feed a round into a chamber and then eject it. I'm really sorry that I offended your sensibilities with my error and made you waste your time correcting me.
Don't worry, I just edited the post that annoyed you.
They do not use moveable parts to feed a round into a chamber and then eject it. I'm really sorry that I offended your sensibilities with my error and made you waste your time correcting me.
Don't worry, I just edited the post that annoyed you.
Cheapshooter
New member
No safety problems shooting Blazer aluminum cased ammo. I acquired a couple cases of CCI Blazer 38 Spcl.+P (FBI Load) that was surplus from a government agency. It was used for training their officers until they went to semi-auto 9MM pistols. The only problem I encountered was with a new shooter limp wristing a Ruger LCR. Seems that the limp wristing caused tbe bullets to jump the crimp, locking the cylinder. The moving part that doesn't lay there like a paperweight!. When I shoot it in a variety of 38 Spcl. and 357 Magnum revolvers I do not experience any problems
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Works in my 9s and 45s just fine.
wild cat mccane
New member
CCI is owned by Speer, which is owned by Vista Outdoors which owns Federal.
So CCI is owned by Speer/Federal...the largest bullet manufacture in the world.
CCI Blazer/Blazer Brass is good stuff.
So CCI is owned by Speer/Federal...the largest bullet manufacture in the world.
CCI Blazer/Blazer Brass is good stuff.
Not many do, but if you own a .357 Desert Eagle or Coonan semi auto I would advise against the use of Blazer ammo in them. I do not know from personal experience about the LAR Grizzly .357 but I would expect Blazer performance to be unsatisfactory in that gun, as well.
Aluminum is enough different in both strength and coefficient of friction that it is not a good choice in the Coonan and the load level is marginal for the Desert Eagle. One use with bent, mangled rims, or rims torn through by the extractor was enough for me to decide that ammo simply wasn't right for those specific guns.
Same stuff works fine in revolvers, and while I haven't run it through my lever gun, I expect it would do ok, but its definitely not up to the firing cycle of the semi autos I have.
Shorter cases, like 9mm and .45ACP work ok in my semis, but Blazer .357 doesn't.
I will admit to very limited use of Blazer ammo, being a dedicated handloader, I won't buy it, the few boxes I have used were gifts or were included in trade deals. I found it to be ok for plinking in most guns, but the magnum calibers I've shot (.357 & 44) were not "full house" loads compared to regular factory ammo, and no where near my heavy handloads.
Without getting reloadable cases from them, I see no point to my buying any, but that's just me.
Aluminum is enough different in both strength and coefficient of friction that it is not a good choice in the Coonan and the load level is marginal for the Desert Eagle. One use with bent, mangled rims, or rims torn through by the extractor was enough for me to decide that ammo simply wasn't right for those specific guns.
Same stuff works fine in revolvers, and while I haven't run it through my lever gun, I expect it would do ok, but its definitely not up to the firing cycle of the semi autos I have.
Shorter cases, like 9mm and .45ACP work ok in my semis, but Blazer .357 doesn't.
I will admit to very limited use of Blazer ammo, being a dedicated handloader, I won't buy it, the few boxes I have used were gifts or were included in trade deals. I found it to be ok for plinking in most guns, but the magnum calibers I've shot (.357 & 44) were not "full house" loads compared to regular factory ammo, and no where near my heavy handloads.
Without getting reloadable cases from them, I see no point to my buying any, but that's just me.
Is the federal 'aluminum' you get at Wally world the same as Blazer do ya suppose?
Jim Watson
New member
Same conglomerate, same design.
Hard to imagine them setting up two production lines.
Hard to imagine them setting up two production lines.
Count the dollars. If it doesn't make a profit they won't do it. If there is a cheaper way to do it, they will change. If you can consolidate and work by mass rather than by multiple plants, you will do it.
It is all going to be the same thing. Same bullets from the same plants. Same 'brass' from the same plant. Same powder and primers.
If a company owns all of the component production, it forms a sort of monopoly that allows the maximum of profitability; all profits and expenses come from and go into a single asset group. If you can own a huge plot of land and run an entire campus full of manufacturing plants right in one area, there's no need to pay taxes and rent, or other extra expenses running buildings in several states or even towns.
If speer makes the bullets and primers, as well as the brass (i dunno, do they?) And they do it right on site, they don't have to depend on what Otis Industries is going to do. Go on strike, demand a price raise, contract with a transportation company that can't get the freight on time, doing it yourself is the best, most dependable way to do the work. Unless your combined efforts include a few morons, that is.
Take a couple of other examples. Walmart doesn't make anything that they sell, the brutal power that they have allows them to beat vendors into extreme cooperation. The holy grail for walmart would be to own the company that manufactures all of, or most of their generic medications with a renewable contract.
Who knows whether either speer or federal actually make the aluminum ammo in a plant that they own? It might even be manufactured under contract, so speer doesn't have to own or operate a line that does nothing but turn out millions of rounds of cheap ammo day after day and decade by decade. That product is the least important product line they own.
So, maybe, they have a contract with Otis Inc, and otis has an assembly line bought at auction from one of the defunct plants, and he has it set up to run blazer ammo 24/7/365. If his net profit is a penny a round, WOO HOO!
The polar opposite exists in some poorly developed countries. Many products are made by family members at home, and sold to dealers. Mostly hand made products, textiles, rugs, scarves, carved knick knacks, for example.
Cigars are a good example. Otis will own a cigar company that sells millions of cigars a year, cheap and junky.
Otis will buy tobacco from brokers at best commodity price. He will deliver this commodity to professional rollers who aren't working in a factory, and pay them a pittance for each one produced. Then, he packages and sells them in mass by the ton.
it's good. It keeps people working. It allows the little companies to prosper. It allows the peasants to have a cigar, one that wasn't made in an expensive factory, hence cheap. If moonshining was legal, you would see this system working all over the US as well.