pls remove this thread

Lots of valid points, however nickel itself isn't super hard.

Annealed cartridge brass is 105MPa yield / 325MPa UTS
Nickel is 150MPa yield / 350MPa UTS

Not much difference initially but it could be made worse by working / heating of firing and sizing.
 
Also knew an experience reloader that had the case neck break off [nickle] and go down the bore with the bullet,in this case a .280 Rem 700 ruining the action ,barrel and stock.......Harold
 
I very rarely see nickel cases flake or chip the coating off. I use quite a few nickel cases in pistol and rifle and the nickel does wear through over time and the brass starts to peek through. It's an abrasion though, not a flaking usually. It looks the same as when you gradually sand through paint to reveal the substrate.
The only nickel cases I've seen flake were quite old; decades old.

I try to avoid saying "plated" because there was an official statement from one of the big US ammo manufacturers, I forget which, who said the industry standard is no longer to use nickel plating but a different chemical transfer system (trade secret and every manufacturer varies it slightly). Apparently it avoids all the flaking problems. Whatever process it is it does seem to increase brittleness in the cases so they do tend to split sooner.

I've sized many nickel cases and never damaged a die; carbide or steel. The only dies I've lost to damage were because of sand and grit getting stuck to the lubed cases when I used to use spray lubes. I didn't notice some dirt in the bottom of the box I sprayed in and it stuck to the lubed cases.

Nearly all the nickel cases I use that I don't have a problem with are Federal. Don't know if that makes a difference. I think most of the old cases with flaking/chipping nickel I've seen are Winchester but I've got a good number of recent Winchester nickel cases and they seem to hold up well.
 
LUTNIT said:
I very rarely see nickel cases flake or chip the coating off. I use quite a few nickel cases in pistol and rifle and the nickel does wear through over time and the brass starts to peek through. It's an abrasion though, not a flaking usually. It looks the same as when you gradually sand through paint to reveal the substrate.
The only nickel cases I've seen flake were quite old; decades old.

I try to avoid saying "plated" because there was an official statement from one of the big US ammo manufacturers, I forget which, who said the industry standard is no longer to use nickel plating but a different chemical transfer system (trade secret and every manufacturer varies it slightly). Apparently it avoids all the flaking problems. Whatever process it is it does seem to increase brittleness in the cases so they do tend to split sooner.

I've sized many nickel cases and never damaged a die; carbide or steel. The only dies I've lost to damage were because of sand and grit getting stuck to the lubed cases when I used to use spray lubes. I didn't notice some dirt in the bottom of the box I sprayed in and it stuck to the lubed cases.

Nearly all the nickel cases I use that I don't have a problem with are Federal. Don't know if that makes a difference. I think most of the old cases with flaking/chipping nickel I've seen are Winchester but I've got a good number of recent Winchester nickel cases and they seem to hold up well.
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This .... no probs with both Speer and Federal nickel brass
 
yomomma said:
Use em..just keep an eye on them and if they show signs of flaking discard them(all)
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To test for signs of the two metals losing their bond rub the annealed neck of a few fairly briskly over a small diameter drill bit shank. If the drill shank isn't smooth enough to prevent scratching polish it to a mirror finish first. Or you can do the same polishing on a small diameter screw driver shaft. Rubbing with firm pressure and such a small point of contact will cause the nickel to flake away from the brass. If it doesn't then you're likely OK to load and shoot 'em.
 
madcow said:
I've actually never seen nickel brass for rifles, works fine for pistols
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Most of Winchesters "top of the line" cartridges like their Failsafe and Supreme

winchester_supreme_XP3_box.bmp
 
I have reloaded nickel plated 357 mag, 357 maximum and 44 mag brass with maximum loads for over 35 years. My records on average 10 to 11 loads , before the primer pockets became enlarged. Spit necks were never any issue. As well I'm using te same carbide dies.


357
 
I have been reloading a long time too and just recently got some Nickel plated brass for my 270WSM only because I was having a hard time finding it. I found the pushing the shoulder back took about a extra 3/16th of a turn on the die to get the head spacing. I was not in love with how hard it was to move. Thanks for the warnings on the brass, I think I will leave it as a last resort thing. My bud got lucky and found me a bag of brass in Sudbury I think I will go back to that.
 
I've been loading nickel pistol brass for 30 years with no issues. Rifle brass is a different animal. I'll pass on that thanks.

Auggie D.
 
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