Nickel plated vs brass

[rhodesengr]

I am looking into cleaning options. I am going to set up for wet tumbling. Do you wet-tumble Nickel plated cases the same way as brass?

 

[johnjohn]

I have had shorter case life with nickel plated brass. That being said yesterday I had a piece of .45 Colt brass split after only being fired once. Go figure.

 

[DocCarbon]

Brass : #3 , Nickle : #4 , on Mohs scale of hardness isn't going to matter a great deal .

 

[markm87]

nickle plating can embrittle brass. not a good thing in the reloading world.
not lots of reloading as in case life...splits common early in their life

That's been my experience with revolver ammo. The nickel plated split at the mouth much more often. Not really an issue with stuff like 45acp/9mm though. Those case walls are a little thicker I think.

 

[Hoot]

Great

While at the rifle range doing PM today, I found 60 pieces of 1F, Federal, Nickel, 300 Weatherby that were put back in their boxes. Thought that I had hit pay dirt. Sounds more like plain dirt. Thought I could clean it and sell it given the cost of 300 Weatherby. On the bright side, I also found 20 pieces of 1F, Weatherby brand, 300 Weatherby plain brass and box as well. My hat's off to anyone who can shoot 80 rounds of 300 Weatherby in one sitting.

Hoot

 

[M60A3TTS]

Anyone ever give any thought to the theory that nickel plated causes increased bolt thrust due to the metals slipperiness compared to brass??

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I have a few Ruger single action revolvers but I just shoot factory loads in them. I have noticed the nickel-plated cases seem to be a lot easier to eject.

 

[WSnyder]

Are there any advantages to nickel plated cases?

They clean super easy. Wipe them down with a rag, lube and size. They were once pretty popular with high power shooters (308 rifle brass) and at the time I was told by some local HP shooters that was the main reason they shot them. I was given several hundred pieces of Federal 308 back in the early 80's. They were supposedly hard or bad to neck turn, I had no trouble doing that at all. I shot and reloaded the heck out of them for a long time in one particular rifle.

 

[markm87]

Great

While at the rifle range doing PM today, I found 60 pieces of 1F, Federal, Nickel, 300 Weatherby that were put back in their boxes. Thought that I had hit pay dirt. Sounds more like plain dirt.

Run them! I've never had any issues with nickel plated rifle brass. Annealing them is odd because you don't get the normal oxidation iris on the neck/shoulder. But they're worth running.

 

[DocDoc]

Accurate #5 is not something you want to try for full power loads in the .357. It is a fast burning powder that would work well only for low power loads. Accurate #5,7, and similar burning rate powders are what is needed for full power.

 

[DGP4]

I reload nickel cases and have never seen any difference or had any problems with it. All my reloaded range brass in 9mm is nickel because it is left there by the feds and that is what they use. It used to be Winchester but now it is Speer brass. Maybe if you plan to do some very hot reloads you will shorten the life of the cases but I doubt it.

 

[DocDoc]

Fat fingered. Accurate #7/9 for full power .357 loads.

 

[Bill K]

They load just fine, as well as brass. One thing however with nickle cases. Be sure the insides of your dies are clean and free of small bits of debris, as the nickle cases will show scratches, that brass does not show, so much.

 

[Hoot]

Run them! I've never had any issues with nickel plated rifle brass. Annealing them is odd because you don't get the normal oxidation iris on the neck/shoulder. But they're worth running.

Thanks for the advice. I don't shoot a 300 Weatherby. I took them on the hopes of cleaning them and selling them and the box of brass ones for enough to cover shipping and leave me with a little jingle in my pocket. Not even sure what they're worth to 300 Weatherby reloaders. I don't know anyone who owns a 300 Weatherby. Oh well, they're pleasing to look at.

Hoot

 

[Surgeonwithagun]

Nickel plated do not seem to last as long as plain brass...not as many cycles of loading/shooting before they split usually at the case neck.

John

 

[DocCarbon]

One can always use a swab or Q tip if you prefer ,so as to lube a Die before resizing Nickle pistol cases .
Mold release wax works wonders ,apply wipe out and vigorously buff with a clean Q tip . Brass or nickle will GLIDE in and out of the Die ,requiring less stress on the plating .

 

[gdbleb]

I know this has been written about before but - just watch out for flakes of plating that may get embedded inside your resize die.