[ChildOfThe60s]

Cheap Russian ammo typically has a lacquer coating that gums things up after awhile - if you’re shooting a large volume of rounds and not meticulously cleaning your rifle.

I found this VERY scientific, detailed and comprehensive field study on steel vs brass and various brands at lucky Gunner. Quite definitive. A must read for all.

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

[smokingfrog]

Very interesting. 10,000 rounds Is a lot of shooting!
Seems like the fast burning powder and high chamber pressure is more of a problem than the polymer or lacquer coatings. One of the reasons you might choose a mid-length barrel is better reliability.