Nickel plated brass

tstr · April 28, 2000, 08:02 PM

Anyone have any experience with nickel plated brass? Is it worth the extra money? Does it last longer, especially for hotter loads?

Don

killer45auto · April 28, 2000, 08:37 PM

From my exp. they seem to not last as long as the regular cases.I do use them in my hotter loads though,as the general consensus is that they can take a little higher pressure.

killer45auto

Patrick Graham · April 28, 2000, 09:21 PM

My experience with 38 and 367 nickel brass is that splits just as fast if not faster under hot loads. My experience with nickel brass in 45 acp and 9mm which is never loaded hot, the nickel starts to tumble off after 4 or 5 reloadings. Having said that.. I love nickeled brass.. The only kind of 9mm brass I will pick up out at the range anymore is nickel plated. It feeds slicker in semi autos. It slides into dirty revolver cylinders much easier than plain brass.

Yes.. buy the nickel but only if the price is right.

**Mike Irwin** · April 29, 2000, 12:00 AM

Nickled brass tends to fail more rapidly than straight brass brass.

That's because nickle and brass behave very differently when they are stressed during firing and resizing.

They "work" at different rates, which means that a lot of stress can build up, leading to more rapid splitting.

**Bud Helms** · April 29, 2000, 06:10 AM

I use nickel plated brass for .30-30 AI and .303 Brit. It ssems to be "stiffer" than unplated brass. That is probably a disadvantage, since, as reloaders, we all benefit from the malleability of brass. However, since I do not shoot anything I own at max loads, I have not experienced any premature case mouth splits or any other case-related failures of the plated brass. I like it. The soot and smoke deposits from firing don't seem to embed as bad, so they need less cleaning. IMHO.

johnwill · April 29, 2000, 01:13 PM

I second the opinions expressed, I think nickel looks great, but offers no real benefits to the reloader.

SKR · April 29, 2000, 02:31 PM

tstr...yes I have been using nickel plated brass since around 1968. works just fine, and it is cheaper than non-plated brass.

April 28, 2000, 08:02 PM	#1
tstr Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 233	Anyone have any experience with nickel plated brass? Is it worth the extra money? Does it last longer, especially for hotter loads? Don

April 28, 2000, 08:37 PM	#2
killer45auto Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2000 Posts: 173	From my exp. they seem to not last as long as the regular cases.I do use them in my hotter loads though,as the general consensus is that they can take a little higher pressure. killer45auto

April 28, 2000, 09:21 PM	#3
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 676	My experience with 38 and 367 nickel brass is that splits just as fast if not faster under hot loads. My experience with nickel brass in 45 acp and 9mm which is never loaded hot, the nickel starts to tumble off after 4 or 5 reloadings. Having said that.. I love nickeled brass.. The only kind of 9mm brass I will pick up out at the range anymore is nickel plated. It feeds slicker in semi autos. It slides into dirty revolver cylinders much easier than plain brass. Yes.. buy the nickel but only if the price is right.

April 29, 2000, 12:00 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,141	Nickled brass tends to fail more rapidly than straight brass brass. That's because nickle and brass behave very differently when they are stressed during firing and resizing. They "work" at different rates, which means that a lot of stress can build up, leading to more rapid splitting.

April 29, 2000, 06:10 AM	#5
Bud Helms Staff Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 12,907	I use nickel plated brass for .30-30 AI and .303 Brit. It ssems to be "stiffer" than unplated brass. That is probably a disadvantage, since, as reloaders, we all benefit from the malleability of brass. However, since I do not shoot anything I own at max loads, I have not experienced any premature case mouth splits or any other case-related failures of the plated brass. I like it. The soot and smoke deposits from firing don't seem to embed as bad, so they need less cleaning. IMHO.

April 29, 2000, 01:13 PM	#6
johnwill Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,451	I second the opinions expressed, I think nickel looks great, but offers no real benefits to the reloader.

April 29, 2000, 02:31 PM	#7
SKR Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Posts: 68	tstr...yes I have been using nickel plated brass since around 1968. works just fine, and it is cheaper than non-plated brass.