Need to clean Nicole plated brass?

[BearPeak]

I am just getting into reloading and trying to to buy everything right out of the gate. I have a fair bit of factory nickel plated 300WSM brass I am reloading. It’s quite clean looking on the outside obviously, I wiped it down, cleaned the primer pocket and used a neck brush on the inside of the neck. Is further cleaning needed to clean the inside of the case or am I good to go?

Thanks!

 

[snert]

I'd say just load it.

Do watch to see if the nickel begins to flake off. It can begin to build up in a die. For this reason nickel brass in tapered cases is not real popular. If it does build up, a hosing out of the die with a bore cleaner followed by a bristle brush wrapped with fine steel wool will remove it. Then use brake cleaner, followed by "seasoning" the die again. Basically you lightly lube the case, start it in, pull it out, lube again, put it in further, etc, till the case goes in and out without hanging up.

Depending on the lube, usually a paper towel wipe off is all that is needed afterward, but many guys clean and polich brass (and nickel) using vibratory cleaners, Iosso wash, tumblers etc. You can get 4-5 loadings out of a case (in my opinion) before really needing a hard clean. Just scrub the inside and outside of the neck (brush in, 3m pad on outside) to remove carbon, then good to go.

 

[ebb]

Ive tumbled some of my very old nickel plated 38spc brass and it cleaned up the outside a bunch, but what sold me on the idea was how smooth and slick it was after tumbling

 

[BearPeak]

Okay cool thanks for the help. That’s what I thought. I am sure I will get a tumbler or other cleaning system a bit down the road but wanted to start without.

 

[Bill K]

I tumble clean my nickel brass just like I do the others. Then all the normal prepping, loading and shooting, is the same procedure. Works for me anyway.