Nick, more like asking for clarification of a previous post that implied that steel was equivalent in hardness to brass, and included several other unusual items. I'd really like to see documentation for things like this before I start spreading it all over the internet for impressionable young minds to read.
Mike provided the accurate figures for the Mohs scale of scratch resistance. That's only one factor, though, but I can't thing of even one other scale that shows brass to be "harder." DPH, malleability, flexibility, stretch, springiness,
I'm not a qualified metallurgist. I've studied these things all my life.
As it applies to modern ammo and weapons, considering cost and effectiveness, brass seems to be the best possible choice, and neither aluminum or steel have the qualities of brass.
Using steel cases, especially for reloading, is like being a starving man next to a termite mound. You won't starve.
It's fine to experiment with it or use it when it's all that's available, imo, and I'm not terribly concerned about people who choose to do it, but it's far too often portrayed as harmless and normal, and a realistic substitute for handloading brass.
