Does anyone prefer to reload nickeled brass?

spacecoast · March 14, 2010, 02:48 PM

Just curious if there any good reasons to seek nickeled brass. It must be more expensive to produce, and it seems to sell for a premium from the brass dealers, yet I see where most here prefer to use unplated brass due to it being somewhat more durable.

glicerin · March 14, 2010, 02:59 PM

I have (free) about 2000 nickel .38 spcl which is very durable with light target loads. Win nickel same cal. had too thick neck wall to fit in my old tight s&w cylinder. I have heard that nickel plated rifle brass would shave jacketed bullets.

Shoney · March 14, 2010, 05:00 PM

I have found nickle brass does not last as long as regular brass. There is an advantage to using it in some cases.

It was originally developed for use in leather cartridge belts, because the regular brass gets tarnished very quickly because of the tanic acids in the leather. I also load all my handgun PD ammo in nickle brass for two reasons: it is easily distinguished and can be kept without fear of tarnishing.

I use nickle brass for all my rifle hunting loads. If you have hunted in the Northwest under rainforest conditiions, the moisture dripping from trees contains lignins and tannins which will tarnish brass quickly and make it "sticky" to work in actions. Nickled brass is again easier to distinguish from non-hunting loads.

l98ster · March 14, 2010, 05:24 PM

I use an equal amount of nickel to brass for 38 special target loads and can definitively tell you that the nickel does not hold up as well as the brass. However, they are not bad.

One thing you want to make sure of is when you set the "bell", meaning flaring the case mouth to accept the bullet easier, go very light on that flare. Nickel cases will split if your bell is to wide.

With brass cases, the bell doesnt seem to be an issue.

Good Luck!!
-George

johnjohn · March 14, 2010, 09:36 PM

I use some nickel plated brass (freebies). I have never bought any nor will I. In my experience it never lasts as well as regular brass.

mrawesome22 · March 14, 2010, 11:18 PM

It doesn't tarnish and it looks great.

jeffreybehr · March 15, 2010, 12:08 AM

I use nickled brass for PD ammo to distinguish it from target loads. Of course, the Speer GoldDot already does.

Uncle Buck · March 15, 2010, 06:12 AM

I only use the nickle brass for home/self-defense rounds. I have never had a problem reloading it, it just helps me keep the rounds seperate.

I do have problems with it lasting as long as the unplated stuff. So I just do not shoot it as much.

Sevens · March 15, 2010, 07:21 AM

Vote #4,462 that nickel plated brass doesn't last as long as regular brass. So if I were buying new brass and wanted the longest life I could get, I'd steer away from nickel plated.

But... it's just more enjoyable to use. It cleans up easier and it stays cleaner when you shoot it. It's also slick, and that doesn't hurt you at all when loading -- whether it's you thumbing rounds in to a cylinder or your autochucker feeding it in your pistol. Also seems to smooth out ejecting when dumping a load from a cylinder.

It looks better, too, IMO. In .38 Special, where the brass lasts forEVER anyway, I prefer using nickel plated brass.

reloader28 · March 15, 2010, 07:59 AM

When I first started reloading ,I heard you wanted nickel cause of the strentgh.
I started buying some empty rifle nickle cases and started reloading them. They were definatly harder than brass and I stuck 2 in the dies.

I didnt buy anymore nickle plated. I even tried annealing them to soften them up. I think it worked but havent loaded them enough to know. I've heard the competition guys wont use them cause it gets imbedded in your barrel with each shot.

DiscoRacing · March 15, 2010, 08:01 AM

I have alot of nickel for pistol loads... use them alot for my +p loads....easier to keep them separate then

sc928porsche · March 15, 2010, 08:20 AM

Since I reload, I like to use nickel brass for separating bullet weights ie...
150gr 300WM brass, 180gr 300WM nickel. Same Idea for 30-30, 25-06, 30-06. 6.5-06, 8mm-06 and a few others.

salvadore · March 15, 2010, 09:29 AM

Like glicerin, I have a bunch of once fired free nickel +P .38 brass and found that as cast bullets were too big to chamber in a couple of old Colt DAs, but sized to .358 worked fine. As far as case life, the non plated ones may last longer, but, you know, they were free.

BigJimP · March 15, 2010, 11:40 AM

I don't prefer it / but having some in the mix of cases I run thru a press doesn't bother me either ...

zippy13 · March 15, 2010, 12:14 PM

HI-YO! With the plated brass, you can tell folks it's silver and pass yourself off as the Lone Ranger.

Actually, I got a large (by my standards) quantity of once-fired plated Fed .38s some time ago and they've served me since.

mrawesome22 · March 15, 2010, 12:36 PM

Off subject but, I was looking through the latest Natchez catalog and found a ad for a factory shell that they claim has a nickel plated bullet. I'll have to find it again. Wouldn't that be extremely hard on the barrel?

mrawesome22 · March 15, 2010, 12:43 PM

Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. Bear Claws aren't even on Speer's site?

March 14, 2010, 02:48 PM	#1
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Does anyone prefer to reload nickeled brass? Just curious if there any good reasons to seek nickeled brass. It must be more expensive to produce, and it seems to sell for a premium from the brass dealers, yet I see where most here prefer to use unplated brass due to it being somewhat more durable.

March 14, 2010, 02:59 PM	#2
glicerin Member Join Date: October 9, 2006 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 36	ni brass I have (free) about 2000 nickel .38 spcl which is very durable with light target loads. Win nickel same cal. had too thick neck wall to fit in my old tight s&w cylinder. I have heard that nickel plated rifle brass would shave jacketed bullets.

March 14, 2010, 05:00 PM	#3
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	I have found nickle brass does not last as long as regular brass. There is an advantage to using it in some cases. It was originally developed for use in leather cartridge belts, because the regular brass gets tarnished very quickly because of the tanic acids in the leather. I also load all my handgun PD ammo in nickle brass for two reasons: it is easily distinguished and can be kept without fear of tarnishing. I use nickle brass for all my rifle hunting loads. If you have hunted in the Northwest under rainforest conditiions, the moisture dripping from trees contains lignins and tannins which will tarnish brass quickly and make it "sticky" to work in actions. Nickled brass is again easier to distinguish from non-hunting loads. __________________ I pledge allegiance to the Flag - - -, and to the Republic for which it stands….Our Forefathers were brilliant for giving us a Republic, not a democracy! Do you know the difference??? and WHY?http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissue...les.asp?id=111

March 15, 2010, 06:12 AM	#8
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	I only use the nickle brass for home/self-defense rounds. I have never had a problem reloading it, it just helps me keep the rounds seperate. I do have problems with it lasting as long as the unplated stuff. So I just do not shoot it as much. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

March 15, 2010, 07:21 AM	#9
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Vote #4,462 that nickel plated brass doesn't last as long as regular brass. So if I were buying new brass and wanted the longest life I could get, I'd steer away from nickel plated. But... it's just more enjoyable to use. It cleans up easier and it stays cleaner when you shoot it. It's also slick, and that doesn't hurt you at all when loading -- whether it's you thumbing rounds in to a cylinder or your autochucker feeding it in your pistol. Also seems to smooth out ejecting when dumping a load from a cylinder. It looks better, too, IMO. In .38 Special, where the brass lasts forEVER anyway, I prefer using nickel plated brass. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 14, 2010, 05:24 PM	#4
l98ster Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2010 Location: Hopewell Junction, NY Posts: 454	I use an equal amount of nickel to brass for 38 special target loads and can definitively tell you that the nickel does not hold up as well as the brass. However, they are not bad. One thing you want to make sure of is when you set the "bell", meaning flaring the case mouth to accept the bullet easier, go very light on that flare. Nickel cases will split if your bell is to wide. With brass cases, the bell doesnt seem to be an issue. Good Luck!! -George

March 14, 2010, 09:36 PM	#5
johnjohn Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2009 Location: Baton Rouge La. Posts: 122	I use some nickel plated brass (freebies). I have never bought any nor will I. In my experience it never lasts as well as regular brass.

March 14, 2010, 11:18 PM	#6
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	It doesn't tarnish and it looks great.

March 15, 2010, 12:08 AM	#7
jeffreybehr Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Posts: 83	I use nickled brass for PD ammo to distinguish it from target loads. Of course, the Speer GoldDot already does.

March 15, 2010, 07:59 AM	#10
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	When I first started reloading ,I heard you wanted nickel cause of the strentgh. I started buying some empty rifle nickle cases and started reloading them. They were definatly harder than brass and I stuck 2 in the dies. I didnt buy anymore nickle plated. I even tried annealing them to soften them up. I think it worked but havent loaded them enough to know. I've heard the competition guys wont use them cause it gets imbedded in your barrel with each shot.

March 15, 2010, 08:01 AM	#11
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	I have alot of nickel for pistol loads... use them alot for my +p loads....easier to keep them separate then __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

March 15, 2010, 08:20 AM	#12
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,433	Since I reload, I like to use nickel brass for separating bullet weights ie... 150gr 300WM brass, 180gr 300WM nickel. Same Idea for 30-30, 25-06, 30-06. 6.5-06, 8mm-06 and a few others. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

March 15, 2010, 09:29 AM	#13
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Like glicerin, I have a bunch of once fired free nickel +P .38 brass and found that as cast bullets were too big to chamber in a couple of old Colt DAs, but sized to .358 worked fine. As far as case life, the non plated ones may last longer, but, you know, they were free.

March 15, 2010, 11:40 AM	#14
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I don't prefer it / but having some in the mix of cases I run thru a press doesn't bother me either ...

March 15, 2010, 12:14 PM	#15
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	HI-YO! With the plated brass, you can tell folks it's silver and pass yourself off as the Lone Ranger. Actually, I got a large (by my standards) quantity of once-fired plated Fed .38s some time ago and they've served me since.

March 15, 2010, 12:36 PM	#16
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Off subject but, I was looking through the latest Natchez catalog and found a ad for a factory shell that they claim has a nickel plated bullet. I'll have to find it again. Wouldn't that be extremely hard on the barrel?

March 15, 2010, 12:43 PM	#17
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Federal Trophy Bonded Tip. Bear Claws aren't even on Speer's site?