Using Nickle Plated Winchester Brass

I'm glad this thread came up. I have some 308 nickel plated brass from Winchester supreme ammo that I decided on not using after reading a thread on this very same subject last year.

There seemed to be more people voting against using them on that old thread, so I am glad to read everyone's positive comments and be able to use up these shells I have had laying around all these years.
 
I load nothing but nickle in my .280 Remington. Makes it easier to identify if it happens to get mixed in with some of my brass 270 casings.
Never have had a problem.
 
Was given 100 pieces of once-fired Winchester 25-06 brass.

No problems loading, whatsoever ... but don't think I'll ever try to turn the necks !

They've been re-sized and trimmed to length at least 6 times so far and show no adverse signs whatsoever. Careful inspection of the sizer die shows .... "Nothing !"

Tell your "rumour source" he's full of prunes !
 
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I did not have to anneal it yet, after about 8 reloads... Necks were turned after about 6 reloads...
they were too thick for one of my Match rifle.
 
If someone were to offer to trade me nickel plated for brass 1 to 1 I'd take their hands off - nickel plated brass cleans up much easier and quicker. If you're using a roll crimp it will start to crack sooner, but all in all it's much nicer to use and keeps your dies cleaner.
 
I don't think reloadability is a problem with nickel plated brass. I've heard people say it can scratch dies, but not in my experience at least.

I have also read opinions that nickel plated brass does not adhere to the chamber walls as well as brass at the time of firing, subjecting the bolt to higher thrust values. I can't verify that.
 
Check out "Varmint Al's" website. He is a hard core R&D guy when it comes to reloading precision ammo. Claims nickel is rough on the inside of the case mouth...quote...like 180 grit sandpaper. He has nothing good to say about the stuff other than the physical appearance. This is all rifle brass, not hangun.
 
I have about 150 of them in .308 win, reloaded 8 times (means a minimum of 1200 passes), altogether with standard and match cases, and I still have to find a scratched die.... or a worn out expander ball....
 
The nickle pated brass outlasted the factory barrel of my 300 Winshester. Plenty durable as far as I'm concerned though I think the plating is more a gimmick. I wouldn't buy it unless ther was a good reason to (in this case it came from factory ammo that was shot and reloaded 4 or 5 times at least).
 
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