Other than not being able to reload, is there anything wrong with the cheaper aluminum cased handgun ammo?

You will get an occasional failure to extract or eject.
Aluminum sticks to the chamber a little more than brass.
You might get a torn case rim.

It's not recommended to reload them. At least with brass you can sell them if you don't reload.

Why not?  I reload them all the time.  But get more experience.

Why not?  I reload them all the time.  But get more experience.

Lower fatigue ratio than brass.

Only use them once.

Only use them once.

Anecdotally, I've heard accounts of/seen photos of cases allegedly cracked after first fire, or when firing first reload; not first hand knowledge though.

Edit, here's an example of a 'first reload' crack
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cV_hN9Pvutk/S2OZRKU0DyI/AAAAAAAAAv4/sSf3-a5gQn0/w600-h800-no/ALCasing.jpg

YMMV, personally it's not worth it.

Why not?  I reload them all the time.  But get more experience.

.
...
If I was really hard up, I would try reloading the boxer primed aluminum.
But only if you are very experienced and only one use.

You can also drive a car with your feet but why do it?

With the uku billion brass cases around and available to reload, why would you want to reload aluminum case and risk it?

 

IMO. I dont see anything wrong with using aluminum case ammo.  IMO, a much much better choice than using steel case ammo.

Yeah you can drive drunk and probably be fine too. Doesn't mean it's statistically a good policy.

If you want to save a couple bucks to reload aluminum go for it. Just don't be surprised if it literally blows up in your face. When that happens you can come back and explain how saving $10 on brass was worth it.

I prefer not to.

I prefer not to.

Interested in knowning why?

Other than not being able to reload, is there anything wrong with the cheaper aluminum cased handgun ammo?

Some private ranges will require factory loaded brass cased ammo, and they must be without steel cores.  If you are allowed to bring in your own ammo vs. buying theirs, they will usually inspect it for reloads, brass cases and steel cores using a magnet.

Some ranges require you to deposit all used brass in their buckets so they can resell it.  It's one way they can keep the cost of range time low.

Not sure if any local gun ranges have these specific rules.  I know some ban any outside ammo at all.

Something to consider if you intend to stock up on aluminum cased ammo and occasionally shoot somewhere not located inside an Oahu crater!

Yeah you can drive drunk and probably be fine too. Doesn't mean it's statistically a good policy.

Based on recent events, driving drunk you're much less likely to "probably be fine" 

 My personal experience with AL cased ammo is that it seems to burn "dirtier'.
 AL is used because it is cheaper and the powder seems to follow suit.

Interested in knowning why?

IMO:

It doesn't burn very clean.

Not very accurate

Any type of aluminum deposit left in the chamber and not cleaned out properly... well you know what will happen between aluminum and steel.

I've shot pretty much exclusively aluminum and steel cased ammo for years.  Not that I discriminate against brass, but I buy the cheapest thing available.  I daresay that I have never fired a single brass round of 7.62x39.  My handgun ammo for centerfire calibers is probably 75% - 80% aluminum.  Sometimes the brass case is cheaper, or the same price, so I'll buy it, but that's the exception, not the rule.  I actually PREFER aluminum cased .45 ACP because it loads into my moon clips more easily than brass.

I'm a pretty heavy shooter.  I don't keep count, because I'd get depressed, but I would not be surprised to learn that I put 10,000 rounds a year downrange.  I keep my guns in excellent condition.  Most of my guns were not purchased new, and many are older than I am.

I have never had any of these problems.  Cases don't get stuck in my chambers.  Heads don't separate.  Accuracy doesn't suffer.  Gravity doesn't reverse itself. 

(Actually, there is one notable exception to the above.  When I shoot Super X 12 gauge shells, which are steel base, in my Izmash single-shot, they tend to stick.  I have to "bump" the action 2-3 times to get them out.  So there's that.)

Now, on the whole "dirtier" front, I do believe that cheap ammo is dirtier than premium ammo.  What I save in $$$, I pay for in more time spent cleaning.  Which is an exchange I am perfectly willing to make!

IMO:

It doesn't burn very clean.

Not very accurate

Any type of aluminum deposit left in the chamber and not cleaned out properly... well you know what will happen between aluminum and steel.

Thank you

While all my guns will run aluminum cased ammo, my friend's Keltec Sub 2000 9mm does not feed it reliably. Along with this it is much less accurate than with higher quality ammo. I think it depends on the particular gun.

To each his own on what type of ammo anyone wants to shoot. Let's face it, if no one bought aluminum cased ammo the ammo manufacturers would not make it. So it fills a niche.