Shotshell casing question?

[Dusty Z]

I have seen brass cased shotshells. I think they are russian made?
What is the advantage of these?
Are they available for 12 gauge?
Thanks!

[Four-Eyed Buck]

There are Brazilian made casings currently available. They are in 12ga.   Buck

[Dusty Z]

There are Brazilian made casings currently available. They are in 12ga.   Buck

Have a name or a link?
Thanks!

[Silver Creek Slim]

They are Magtech.
I have bought them from MidwayUSA.
There is no advantage with brass hulls over plastic ones. They just look more authentic. 

Slim

[Forty Rod]

Looks are deceiving.  I don't recall the brass shells before WWI., but you might check before you take my word on it.

[Delmonico]

Brass shot shells date to the late 1870's or early 1880's, the came after paper shells and were mostly used by market hunters who shot a lot of shells because they lasted through many reloads whick paper does not.  They saved money for thouse who shot hundreds a year.  Before the 1890's or so all shot shells were sold either empty, primed or primed with powder, two reasons, one there was no machinery till then that could crimp on a mass scale.  Also that is when the US ammo makers and shot makers adapted the shot sizing system from the Tatam shot tower.  Before that there were several sizing systems and #6 would be different between different makers.

[Major E A Sterner]

The Russian cases are plated steel, not brass

[Steel Horse Bailey]

To add to what Delmonico wrote and about 40 Rod's comment:

The reason (I've heard) that most brass shells weren't common here until WWI is because the US Army was using 12 ga. paper shells in their 'trench guns' until during the War.  Then, thanks to trench warfare and related weather problems, they found that the moisture swelled the paper shells and caused feeding/extraction problems on a major scale.  'Thru VietNam and into the 1980s, these all-brass rounds could still be found in the Military for Ammo guard, etc.  Now, most are plastic but it wouldn't surprise me if I found out that there are still  some being made for SEALs, Rangers, Delta Force, Special Forces, etc. and other "special" uses or specialty ammo.

To add to Silver Creek Slim's post:  Midway USA (and others) sell those Magtech shells in most gauges, not just 12 ga.  There are also American companies who sell machined brass shells, but they are double to quadruple the cost of the Magtesh shells.  As a point of intrest, the Magtechs are 'Balloon-Head' cases, essentially the same as the "Olde Tyme" ( sp.  ) cases were during the late 1800s.  This also means that they are thinner and technically   not as strong as the machined types, but that doesn't seem to be a problem, as some folks load them up with smokeyless powder - not just Black Powder; which, I'm sure, is used in MOST of the brass cases sold.  Like mine.