Nickle Plated Brass (Winchester)

bwb518

bwb518

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Any feedback on the pros or cons to using nickle plated brass would be appreciated. I've heard it can be hard on your dyes and is not worth the bother??
 
I can't stand nickel plated brass. It's harder on cutters (trimmer & deburring tools) and the case doesn't expand and contract (or form) like nice bare brass does because the nickel is harder than brass. I've had primer pockets loosen much earlier than expected, the plated cases seem to take more firings to reach full form in a chamber, and have had more difficulty resizing, once I need to push shoulders back again. Add to this, the fact that some cases will peel or flake and if you're not aware, could leave nickel flakes in your chamber and/or dies. Not a good thing.

Rooster
 
Brass cases are coated in nickel through some proprietary process and are not electro plated. Electro plating isn't durable enough due to the expansion and contraction inside the chamber. That said it still isn't a perfect coating and often wears through on and around the bases first in my experience for whatever reason. I've read from several people online that nickel cases can scratch dies but the hardness isn't there chemically (though perhaps it's another effect and not the nickel directly that could damage dies). There are many reports of nickel-brass being harder and more brittle (easier to crack) than regular brass but also reports of it being softer and more liable to stretch too much. Nickel cases cannot be annealed as easily by watching for the colour shift to blue as the brass isn't directly visible.

There are so many conflicting negative comments and anecdotes about nickel-brass that I just avoid it. I have very little of it anyway so it's not a huge loss for me. I'll keep it stockpiled until I find out one way or another about it. The one time I know it's safe to use is with carbide sizing dies for pistol calibres; there doesn't seem to be any conflict about that.
 
Doesnt turn green if it gets wet.

Other then that the nickle eventually wears off as you reload em time and time again, ive had no problem with the cases but you might as well start with brass because thats what youl end up with eventually.
 
no problem with nickel plated brass,, shot over 10000 rds of reloads with nickel, some of them reloaded 8-10 times...didnt trim any, didnt harm anything.. cant remember if ther were any zombies left .......eheheh :):50cal:
 
Isn't it interesting that some have problems and some don't ? I have some once fired but have been hesitant to reload it due to the negatives that I hear and I really don't know what to do either.
 
HIGHRPM said:
Isn't it interesting that some have problems and some don't ? I have some once fired but have been hesitant to reload it due to the negatives that I hear and I really don't know what to do either.
Click to expand...
asking the question "how much powder does it take to break a paper target" might have something to add to the use of nickel plated brass .. years back the favorite 38 was readily available in nickle, hence 3.7 grs of c-300(700x) 158swc.. breaks paper all day, no stress, no worries, no fuss, lots of fun... happy shooting
 
I have never had any issues with nickle plated 357 Magnum pistol brass, but I LOATHE any nickle plated rifle brass.
The stuff is hard on cutters, and is tougher to resize.
If a flake comes off in your resizing die, it will scratch it.
Nope, I just throw it in the brass metal box, or give it to some who like it.
Regards, Eagleye
 
I'm right there with Eagleye. I tried nickel plated rifle brass about 14 years ago IIRC and have since refused to buy any more. However, I bought a .280 from a friend of mine a few years ago who had thrown in a bag of new Remington plated cases and am on my third loading of these. I figured I had them, they cost me nothing, so I guess I might as well use them. I've already culled several due to flaking and resizing difficulties. These come under super rigid scrutiny every time I fire, clean, resize, clean, reload, and final inspect each one of them because they make me a bit nervous, as I'm not willing to compromise my dies or any part of my rifle's bore for the sake of a few pieces of brass. I just keep a very close eye on mine, chuck 'em at the first sign of any type of failure, and when they're gone, they're gone. I'm sure you can do the same.

HIGHRPM said:
Isn't it interesting that some have problems and some don't ? I have some once fired but have been hesitant to reload it due to the negatives that I hear and I really don't know what to do either.
Click to expand...
 
I reload nickle plated brass for my hunting rounds only (I've never bought it.. usually given to me or range pick-ups). Easier to distinquish and don't get the use my *plinking* rounds get.
Personally I found nickle to get brittle sooner and easier than regular brass so my hunting rounds are pretty much fire & forget after a load gets worked up for my rifle and logged in the journal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom