Shell Shock 9mm Casings +P+ Torture Test 

A video with a disclaimer at the beginning? You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.

Back in the "good ol' days" IMI made very hot 9mm 124 grain loads for the Israeli military, meant to be fired only in the Uzi submachine guns. They were colored with some kind of black coating to differentiate them from normal ammo, so they didn't get used in handguns. They were chronographed at about the same velocities you were getting today, but out of the slightly longer Uzi barrel (5"?) It would be interesting to see what kind of velocities your +P+ load would create in a longer carbine barrel.

Sold. I ordered 2,500+dies. I'll be shooting these for the next 10 years. Selling my brass at the next range trip.

They need to make this stuff in 38 Super Comp!! Being able to pick up our fired "specialty" cases with a magnet would be an attractive feature in the competitive shooting arena and they can clearly manage high pressure situations quite well given the characteristics of the materials and your results here. Good show brother!

It's the really great things that never catch on in firearms.

I have about 1000+ once fired brass of these. I bought a case on sale and had no idea what they were but I'm glad I kept them.

That's about 160 Power Factor, where you need to be above 165 to make Major in USPSA. Hard to find load data for 9mm Major, but here are some I've compiled: ​ All loads had No Pressure signs. OAL 1.160; Mixed brass; X-Treme 124gr RN; WSP primers 5" KKM barrel with comp and 12lb spring. Results for 10 shot string 7.1gr Power Pistol avg 1348, Hi 1377 Low 1328 AutoComp 7.0 avg 1352 Hi 1384 Low 1321 (below baseline reference) AutoComp 7.2 avg 1410 Hi 1450 Low 1380 TiteGroup 5.0 avg 1203 Hi 1218 Low 1183 TiteGroup 5.2gr avg 1244 Hi 1266 Low 1228 G34: "My go-to major load is 8.5grns. HS-6 w/124grn. jacketed bullet" Glock: Bullet:124gr MG JHP, OAL:1.145, 7.7gr HS-6, CCI sp = PF 168 ///124gr PD FMJ, 1.145, 7.2gr Autocomp, WSPM = PF 172///125gr Zero, 1.15 , 8.1gr HS-6, WSPM = PF 175" Gun is STI with 4.30" no poppel holes with Brazos ThunderCompSX aka a shorty with full length recoil system. 125gr Zero JHP set at 1.140 temp 70 (all 10 shot runs) MagTech small pistol primers. N350 6.8gr avg 1241 fps 155pf ES 47 SD 15///AutoComp 7.0gr Avg 1361 ES 32 SD 10 pf 172.12 Ran my first side-by-side comparison of Silhouette (7.7gr), Autocomp (7.2gr), and AA7 (10.2gr). All loads used 124gr MGD CMJ, Wolf SPM primers, 1.185 OAL, and RP once-fired brass. Ran all loads through a CED chrono with IR source. All load come in at 169-171PF through my full lenght Gan's gun. First impression puts AA7 as best for dot movement and feel (softness). Autocomp has stronger recoil feel, but dot movement is very nice (almost equal to AA7)

This needs to become more popular and in different calibers.

I really liked how you did the velocity comparison!!! Every shot showed velocity at the side.

Johnny. I like the disclaimer. "What you are about the witness is real, This is an experiment done by someone that has assumed all liability to Himself and NO one else, Do NOT duplicate and attempt this at Home". I also like how you put it. "If I were a steel match shooter competing, I would use these cases" because as you know once fired 9mm brass is really super cheap. Thing is some people take home range brass that has the Glock smile in it and the case is weakened at the base and blows out because of the repeated firings. I hope they come out with other casing for other chamberings too. Good video test. Dave.

Another high quality, informational video. Thanks man.

Interesting video, and thanks for sharing. If i ever work through my 4000+ 9mm cases and cannot find them everywhere for free this looks to be a good option.

In order to take that sort of deformation the case must be an austenitic stainless like 304/316. While it begins austenitic the cold forming causes the material around the folds to become work-hardened that cause the material in that area to become magnetic while losing a lot of ductility. Each cycle (shot) causes further work hardening and subsequent loss of ductility until it bursts. The reason I am saying this is because if you want to reload these shells beyond 10 loadings it might be possible by annealing the material a smidge keeping in mind the aluminum. You might be able to get 20-30 loadings out of them if done right. THAT would be a really cool series.

I'm glad that you tested this stuff on one of, if not the most popular pistols on the market. Especially considering the way the Glock barrel is designed, it allows this casing to really strut its stuff. The "lack of support" in the barrel is a safety feature (they explained it in my Glock armorer's course), it's designed to blow the case open and vent pressure out of the magazine well in case of an overpressure situation. In this case it did exactly as it was supposed to. You MIGHT get one or two brass loads through the pressures you were running before it split there. But for this casing to survive eleven reloads! Wow! I'm sold.

I finally got some time to listen to this video while working. Thanks for doing this video.

The split looks reminiscent of the inf-emus Glock Smile. Do you have a different gun, Sig Sauer or S&W you can use for the same testing with a fully supported chamber? Great video. totally interested in this product line.

Those loads attest to the quality and durability of Glock firearms. It would be wise if they expanded their case lineup into other calibers like 45ACP, 10 mm, 40S&W. Thanks for the interesting video.

After your video I think I'd be willing to try some, IF THEY MADE .45ACP CASES! At normal pressure, shit they would practically never wear out. OR you could load them as .45 Super?

I loved the video I was very curious about these cases so thanks again for the great reloading content

These are pretty cool... Ever since I had a case head separation with one of my 9mm 1911's after only 4 firings I won't load handgun brass again after 3 firings. Granted this was brass I bought over the Internet that was being advertised as once fired range pickups when in all actuality it very well could've been picked up once by the retailer but fired half a dozen times by someone else before it made it to the range it was picked up on. In all honesty I have no clue how long regular brass normally last for and it's cheap enough to replace after a couple few firings but this is a pretty cool option as well especially if you're pushing it's limits...

I have used / reused these cases for USPSA Open Division shooting Major Power Factor out of my CZ Czechmate. I've loaded these to 1385 -1400 feet per second which is very hot but well within specs for pressure with these cases. It needs to run this hot to operate the compensator effectively. It is great to be able to pick up the cases using a powerful magnet at the end of a stick. I can also use the magnet to pick up my magazines.

Hi Johnny!; I wonder if the Glock's slightly 'generous' / partly un.supported chamber had to do something with your case separation issue... 🤔

Hey Johnny, nice video. Thanks. I have been interested in the Shell Shock cases since I first heard about them a year ago. At that time, only loaded ammo was available. I know that the Glock is supposed to be more pressure tolerant than other brands, but with those large chambers and unsupported ramp cutouts I have to ask "are you crazy???" Having asked that all important question, I'll repeat good video with good information. I don't have a Glock, and probably won't, because of reloading issues. Every time I try once fired from a Glock, I have deal with case bulge at the base. Irritating. The fact that those cases survived 11 firings of +P+ from a Glock tells me more than what twice that from a tighter chamber would. I also have to ask "did they really not lengthen any?"....... On a final note, Ken seems to feel that the cases "are a solution in search of a problem". I disagree. Brass has been getting higher and higher in cost. Its now a significant factor in ammo cost. The problem is ammo expenses, and while addressing this issue, why not try to address any other issues at the same time, such as strength, weight, and durability????? That's what I think. Again, good video, but I'm glad I wasn't standing beside you....😂

Got some back in 2016. Still waiting for them to come out with other calibers. .45 & 10mm to be exact.

Punch press tooling (sheet metal stamping) uses this stuff as spring and buffer material.

Hi. I was forwarded a link to this video. Apparently this video is a pretty big deal out there. I have been pushing for 356tsw or a new 9mm with the same specs. Then I saw shell shock and it looks like a ready made solution. The 356 tsw from Cor-Bon its 1450fps with a 124 gr, and 1600fps from a 115 gr. It is doing this with a 50000 psi ceiling. Supposedly shell shock has a 65,000-70,000psi ceiling. I was wondering if you could do a video of testing with hopefully a Glock 17 or Glock 22 converted to 9mm with 115 or 124 gr loaded in 9mm shell shock cases but loaded to 356 tsw specs. That would be an impressive video and would give a boost to reloaders and ammo makers by showing that the shell shock cases can be hot-rodded to 357magnum/357sig specs to deliver the same stopping power but in a 9mm capacity pistols. Thanks

That stuff is crazy. Under regular reloads like I use 4.3-4.5 unique they should last me for years.

They say they are making more calibers....would be nice to get these in 5.56 and .300 blk. Arent these magnetic as well? Easy cleanup after shooting, just take an old speaker magnet on a stick and swing it around and pick up your casings. Also, for quicker ID, you can have the bases different colors, like red, black, green, etc. Very amazing concept. I think they were introduced at shot show last year? I may get some with a press in the future. Here is a link to video on the anodized aluminum case heads in diff colors. Not trying to get plugs for other channels, but share the info they put out on similar tech. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GMWdLHAjxdo.html

It's a polyurathane spring used in a lot of manufacturing like stamping dies.

I just read Sig’s new 6.8x51mm round. The Army chose a two-piece design similar to these cases. However, they use brass with a steel base vs. steel with an aluminum base. The new Sig round runs 80,000 psi, but the specs allow for over 100,000 psi without failure! I carry the Liberty ammo ultralights that use these cases. That round has hit 2600ft/s from a 16” barrel. Is it possible to estimate how fast they would go if it pushed 100,000 psi? I'm sure it's just math, but I don't know the formula.

Interesting. I wonder if Sig collaborated with this company for the Sig Fury? Or if they just used this technology. Seems to be the same kind of idea.

AWESOME!!! great video and I am definitely going to use these rounds. Lighter than brass, stronger than brass, shot more times with the same case than brass. Thank you for showing us. I have been doing lots of research and I have had my eye on this cases. Thank you again.

I've never seen on in this last six years sense you made the video. They still make them?

Thoughts on loading some polycase inceptors in these? That would seem like a oretty significant weight drop over normal cartridges.

I've been waiting for this video for a long time. Thank you.

Very cool, is SST still in biusness? I thought they were gonna start making rifle cartridges and I really wanted to load some 308...

Glock barrels are machined with more tolerance in the chamber than other barrels. That could be a problem with the harder casing splitting, since they are less malleable than brass. I can look at a fired glock brass and see the larger bulge than with a new wolf replacement barrel.

Have you put the case capacity and load data into QuickLoad to estimate what the pressures actually were?

shooting the new CZ Czechmate, I just ordered 1k with the dies. Then I decided to check to see if you did a review and, here we are. Great info man, I really appreciate your content. Thanks Johnny.

You can go 1400fps easy with these in a tighter barrel. I’ve loaded regular brass to 1400fps in a 5in barrel for major loads with AutoComp. I might pickup some cases just to see how fast I can send them tru a 16in Scorpion barrel 😬. It would be awesome if they start making 308 and 6.5 CM cases so I dont worry about case separation after multiple uses. Great video. Funny how I have not come across your channel and I have been reloading for 15yrs now. 👍🏻

Very well made video and I was instantly hooked on these and you took any worries I had about these away

It looks like the case give away from the commonly known issue from the glocks that is called bulging. It has that curved area, see if you can match it to the chamber of the barrel.

Awesome review I had never heard of these before but they are exactly what I was looking for to start loading 9mm major.

Rubber is a progressive durometer which means the more you squeeze the harder it pushes back.

What your are speaking of with those loaded is called 9mm Major. This could be awesome cases for comp loadings if its cheaper than brass as now many are using 9mm major loads to get the advantage of the higher PF. Get your self a Bar Sto barrel with a match chamber and I bet you would get another 5 loadings or could bet on 15 loadings of that pressure which is likely in the 50K PSI level.5t Get to borrow someones bolt action 9mm rifle and a pressure trace strain gauge tester and you can et a very good idea of the pressure. Quickload will also give you a good idea. Next tie make sure to use a higher power spring in your glock to save it the beating on the frame and its inserts. With the nickle coating there should also not be an issue with chamber wear like you might see with steel casing with the laquer wore off.

You can reload them with standard dies. I picked up a half dozen at the range, first time I saw them in the wild the other day. First one I ruined, pulled the body off the rim. Ok I see how this works. Lubed up the next five but punched out the primers by hand no Die. Then into the Lee Carbide sizer WITHOUT the decapping pin, in its place I put a Steel punch that fit the 9 MM case. When I removed them after sizing, I pushed down on the steel rod, No separation, belled and loaded with a mild charge of WW 231 and a 125 Gr RCBS Cast bullet. Will see how they work next time out. You could probably use a .40 S&W Sizer Depriming die and deprime on the press. Will try that next.

Was all this done with a factory glock barrel? What happened to having to resize the full case for the infamous bulge? Judging by the failure point it looks like it was the typical 6 o’clock unsupported portion of the factory barrels. So did these go through 11 firings wo reworking the bulge? That would be incredible and interesting to see how many you’d get if you used a bulge buster and fully resized it.

I just purchased a Mark 7 Revolution and looking to start loading Lead free. These are on the top of the list, any downsides to these cases?? Awesome videos man! Bradly

Dang! That hot of a load and the primers still look great! I was using a super light loading with remington 1 1/2 primers in my glock 19 and i had problems. Looks like i need to try other primers.

So, no need for a bulge buster then, right? I really like the idea of being able to pick up shells with a magnet. Being able to bring the cost of EDC ammo down to practice ammo prices justifies the hobby of reloading. Kudos!

Update to this 4 y/o video: The company look like they are still going strong. The cases are still selling and so are the dies. Prices look to be the same. $65 for 500 9mm cases (.13cents each) and $79 for the die set.

The rubber spring is called an elastomeric spring.

Thanks for doing a more in-depth video. I've wanted to try these, mostly to be able to pick up shells with a magnet!

Just thinking... but the junction between could be getting stressed on the upstroke stroke (removal of case from die). Perhaps engaging the spring with more force will alleviate much of that potential stress. looking forward to more from your channel...

Really neat new case technology.Thanks Johnny!

They should start making them in other popular calibers that are harder to find than 9mm. Like 38 super, 10mm, 45 colt, 7.62x39, 7.62x54r, 30 carbine, 303 British, 35 Remington, etc.

Interesting. I push 124gr at 1370fps using once fired brass for 9 major. Like another commenter said, if they made these cases in 38 super all the folks who have 38 super open guns would love these cases because they would have an easier time retrieving them, using one of those shotgun hull pickup wands

I've seen the rubber spring used in one other place, in a doughnut shape on the Mini's suspension.

In terms of durability and cost amortization, would this be a "smart" acquisition for the "average" reloader who is (obviously) looking to shoot a LOT and be able to save money? The last thing I want to do at my age is to buy the latest and greatest only to learn it ain't what it was hyped up to be. Thanks for any light you can shed on the topic.

I'm sure someone has let you know but if not. They have 300AAC brass now.

I like it. I'm thinking of getting my wife a 9mm. She can handle my 1911 all day long but it's to heavy for her. Thanks something to look into.

If you keep the spring in the dies under pressure you will degrade their elastic effect faster over time. I think that's it.

One day shooting steel, a piece of jacket came straight back. It hit my buddy just below his glasses hard enough to cut him open. Always wear glasses.

I sure wish they offered 10mm and 45acp, I don't have a use for 9mm.

he is not crazy, he is from Kentucky, whether he likes it or not, hahaha... great video! like I said before this is by far the best reloading channel

Crazy test but very informitive. Use a feelers gauge to check case to base gap. That will yell you even more. I will look at purchasing cases and does also. They need to expand there market and offerings and will do my part as much as I can.

Very good test! Those are some tough cases!👍👍

If you can’t pull the case out of the sizing die with a shell holder without harming the case how does the extractor on the handgun not harm the case?

Seems a 'Budget Measure' to me...Interesting yes! - But if your 11th firing blows your fillings out ..you have to keep pretty meticulous records! Besides metallic brass obfuscates in the chamber to forgive chamber intolerances even in high end pistols.

What is the difference between +P+, +P, and regular P? Which one of those is the standard green or white box? I load and shoot an artillery luger, Beretta 92 and Taurus 92 (this one likes to blow hotter loads)

What primers were you using? Any pressure signs on the primers?

Curious about trying them but honestly I don’t pick up my 9mm. My Staccato C and P run the 9 major loads that I use in my SVI infinity flawlessly, without anything other than semi flattened primers. 124gr going 1450 out of my full size, 1410 average out of the Staccato P. Compressed load, CCI br4 primers (much more consistent SD with them or magnum pistol primers, as low as 3fps in my SVI) Now if they do a 38 supercomp... that would be a whole bother story

I mark the cases with a dot from an industrial sharpie after every firing so that I know when to retire them. If I am loading hot 9mm I will only reload them 8 times just to be safe. (Had a similar blowout). The pressure they can handle is ridiculous. To test their claims I loaded a few rounds to an estimated 42,000 psi and fired them with a pistol rest and a string. The primers showed pressure signs but the case and firearm held up just fine. I definitely do not recommend ammo at that pressure for 9mm. Great velocity though lol

Having an issue with Misfires and the Shell Shock cases when compared to standard Brass, the Primer in both cases (CCI Small Pistol) are the same depth, the bullet is the same and the powder load is identical yet when the Shell Shock case is struck by the firing pin the Primer has a light strike with a witness mark different than when the Brass Case (Primer) is struck. Almost as if the Shell Shock Case "Base" or second piece moves forward when the firing pin hits it leaving a perfectly round impression while the Brass shows the Guns characteristic rectangle impression, any advice is appreciated.

The problem is that there is no guide for a 16" inch barrel .. the data that they are providing most of the time is out of a 4" barrel . Vihtavuori N350 in his famous shooting accuracy! my load is 115 FMJ with N350 5.7 grains .. that fall in the middle between the low and hi recommended power load . Vihtavuori N350 is the slowest in the N300 series of handgun powders. It is ideal for very heavy loadings and top velocities and energies for a broad range of pistol and revolver cartridges. The grain size (1,0 mm length and 0,8 mm diameter) is exactly the same than N320, N330 and N340; it is the porosity of the powder that makes all the difference in burning characteristics. N350

I'm going to ask this question, just in case somebody is still looking at these comments. I've been looking at the .22 TCM speed demon round (39-40 grains at just under 2,000 fps), and wondering if it would be possible to do something similar, using these Shell Shock cases, but loading them with a 90 grain bullet that would typically be put in a .380 auto cartridge. It would be the same concept (light bullet, moving fast). Is that a good idea? (The weird thing is, on the box of bullets, it often says something like "don't send it faster than 1500 fps." I don't know if that is just to cover themselves, or if bullets really do something bad when pushed to around 2,000 fps. Thanks for your advice!

Imagine some of this hot stuff in a carbine lol

A good solution if you can't buy a full line of machines for producing ammunition.

i wish they had rifle cases on offering. 300BLK, 7.62x39 other popular cartridges

It seems like 9mm is capable of so much more than companies are loading it to be

I tried pulling a Liberty Defense 9mm 50gr round using a kinetic puller and the projectile would not release and the 2 part case separated. I was going to buy a bunch of these cases until I found this out.This is a huge issue with me

Do you think it failed in part due to Glock’s unsupported chamber?

Lighter brass means less momentum is transferred into the brass and more momentum is transferred into the recoil spring. You may see slower velocities with this brass vs standard brass with the same recoil spring.

Cool video brother. I'd like to see a ballistic gel test using these cases vs a hst or just a plain ole self defense load vs watermelon test.

Why? Why 9mm? Why not an offering in .45ACP, 10mm, 357SIG or even .40S&W? I gather that the intent is to reload them so why not offer them in a caliber that is of more concern? When I collect my empties, the ones I worry about are 357SIG, .45ACP and 10mm. In the course of recovering them, I will unintentionally pick up more 9mm than I can possibly use. Unintentionally. On the occasions when I shoot nothing but 9mm, I usually do not bother trying to recover the brass. Fired 9mm brass isn't hard for me to gather but other calibers are. So why did they elect to offer only in 9mm Luger?

Could one imagine this case design in a 10mm….. that would be so fricking awesome!!

I know this is an older video but I'm curious if the design of the brass would eliminate the "Glock bulge". ?🤔

Did you tumble the cases between shooting..?

Update on this would be awesome!!

We're u using a factory barrel or was it after matket

Man and I thought my 124gr going 1230 was hot jeez! What powder just let me know what powder you used?

Based on the price of real brass, and not +P or +P+, the Shell Shock brass is well priced. Current rate is $60/500. MidSouth is getting $77/500 for regular Starline brass. The only difference is the dies are $100.

The elastomer springs are very similar to the springs used in some of the early mountain bike suspension forks.

I wonder what sort of velocities you would get from a kel tec sub 2000 or a high point 995TS ?

Anyway to have a powder through expander so I can load and charge on my 550?

Can this case be wet tumbled with the ho-hum receipe (lemishine & dish det)? Whenever a steel case sneaks into my brass tumbling it always comes out black.

for as much as we have talked about these being **really hot loads** - the primers don't look that bad. Who ever said .45 Super was right on. These things potentially solve the support issue in the chamber.

Nifty option to reliably get near .357 Sig (and 3"- to 4"-bbl. .357 Mag. revolver) performance from 9×19mm.

12 cents each? Why reload? After the bullet, powder and primer alone you're up above the price per round of Blazer 9mm or anything equivalent. I used to buy 9mm federal from walmart for 20-30 cents a round

That high speed is relaxing