There's no point in paying for brass cases unless you or a friend are
into reloading. I agree that they are aesthetically a lot more
pleasing but there is a price for that. Also, do you really need a
thousand rounds? For plinking you really can't beat a 22.
At the range I use, any ammo must be non-magnetic. No, I don't need a thousand rounds. I haven't
even got the gun yet, and haven't checked the prices at WalMart. It's hard to find online prices
that beat WalMart if WM has the stuff in stock.
The bullets or the casings? One range I use allows steel casings but no
steel in the bullet. AK's and AR's don't care what casings you use.
The Mini-14 might be different.
I do use aluminum cased pistol ammo almost exclusively. Hell, it's about 2/3rds the price of the
brass cased at WalMart.