Federal .45 cases--safe to reload?

Don Gwinn · August 14, 2000, 03:00 PM

I'm getting closer to actually loading some ammo. Scrounged a lot of brass this weekend. Among the .45 casings are two or three Federals which are in good condition but have a silvery appearance rather than brass. I checked and they're not magnetic, so they can't be steel--but what are they? Nickel alloy, maybe? More importantly, are they safe to reload or should I chuck 'em out? Thanks.

Matt VDW · August 14, 2000, 03:12 PM

Those are nickel-plated brass cases from Federal Hydra-Shok rounds. They can be reloaded just like any other brass case.

tstr · August 14, 2000, 03:14 PM

Those are brass casings with a nickel plating on them. The nickel plating makes them slicker and more immune to corrosion.

Yes, they are safe to reload. They wear out a little faster than regular brass rounds though.

tstr

Monkeyleg · August 14, 2000, 04:12 PM

I have some nickle cases from HydraShocks, but don't reload them because I heard they would scratch the dies. Old wives tale?

Dick
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Bottom Gun · August 14, 2000, 05:33 PM

Nickel cases won't hurt your dies. You should clean all brass before sizing though to get rid of the grit and soot, which WILL scratch and prematurely wear your dies over time.

**Art Eatman** · August 14, 2000, 06:03 PM

Bottom Gun is correct; better wear characteristics is one of the reason for carbide dies.

FWIW, I've shot reloads where the case had a split which I hadn't noticed during the pre-reloading inspection. As long as it will hold the bullet in place, go on and shoot it and then throw the split case away...

Regards, Art

Clark · August 15, 2000, 10:32 PM

When I developed 460 Rowland loads [38,000 cup] I sorted through my used brass for Federal.

The used 45 Federal brass worked just fine. The recoil, however, gave me a flinch. Don't try this at home.

Jay Baker · August 16, 2000, 10:37 PM

I'm with Art. I haven't the faintest idea how many .45ACP rounds I've loaded and shot over these many years, but have inadvertently loaded a few split cases and fired them. No trouble.

Many years ago it became too much of a chore to bother to separate the .45 cases, so I just load 'em and shoot 'em until they split, then toss them.

FWIW. J.B.

Don Gwinn · August 17, 2000, 07:32 PM

That's cool. I'm not worried about velocity right now, only accuracy and cheapness.

pack_rat · August 17, 2000, 09:09 PM

Don,
If you found those at Bois D'Arc you are one lucky rascal. I took four double-hand scoops from that brass bin and .38 Specials were the only nickled cases after sorting.
Go by the book.

ArmySon · August 19, 2000, 11:33 PM

pack_rat,
Did I mention to you that I ended up with over 400 .45 ACP brass from the range?

Don,
Nickel casings will wear out faster then brass but still reloadable a hell of long time. The casings you picked up were from somebody shooting hydroshoks.

August 14, 2000, 03:00 PM	#1
Don Gwinn Staff Emeritus Join Date: March 9, 2000 Location: Virden, IL Posts: 5,919	I'm getting closer to actually loading some ammo. Scrounged a lot of brass this weekend. Among the .45 casings are two or three Federals which are in good condition but have a silvery appearance rather than brass. I checked and they're not magnetic, so they can't be steel--but what are they? Nickel alloy, maybe? More importantly, are they safe to reload or should I chuck 'em out? Thanks.

August 14, 2000, 03:12 PM	#2
Matt VDW Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 1999 Posts: 1,315	Those are nickel-plated brass cases from Federal Hydra-Shok rounds. They can be reloaded just like any other brass case.

August 14, 2000, 03:14 PM	#3
tstr Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2000 Location: Oregon Posts: 233	Those are brass casings with a nickel plating on them. The nickel plating makes them slicker and more immune to corrosion. Yes, they are safe to reload. They wear out a little faster than regular brass rounds though. tstr

August 14, 2000, 04:12 PM	#4
Monkeyleg Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2000 Posts: 4,625	I have some nickle cases from HydraShocks, but don't reload them because I heard they would scratch the dies. Old wives tale? Dick Want to send a message to Bush? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and forward the link to every gun owner you know.

August 14, 2000, 05:33 PM	#5
Bottom Gun Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: Elgin, Arizona Posts: 872	Nickel cases won't hurt your dies. You should clean all brass before sizing though to get rid of the grit and soot, which WILL scratch and prematurely wear your dies over time.

August 14, 2000, 06:03 PM	#6
Art Eatman Staff Lead Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX, USA Posts: 20,929	Bottom Gun is correct; better wear characteristics is one of the reason for carbide dies. FWIW, I've shot reloads where the case had a split which I hadn't noticed during the pre-reloading inspection. As long as it will hold the bullet in place, go on and shoot it and then throw the split case away... Regards, Art

August 15, 2000, 10:32 PM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 1,973	When I developed 460 Rowland loads [38,000 cup] I sorted through my used brass for Federal. The used 45 Federal brass worked just fine. The recoil, however, gave me a flinch. Don't try this at home.

August 16, 2000, 10:37 PM	#8
Jay Baker Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2000 Location: S.W. Idaho Posts: 1,295	I'm with Art. I haven't the faintest idea how many .45ACP rounds I've loaded and shot over these many years, but have inadvertently loaded a few split cases and fired them. No trouble. Many years ago it became too much of a chore to bother to separate the .45 cases, so I just load 'em and shoot 'em until they split, then toss them. FWIW. J.B.

August 17, 2000, 07:32 PM	#9
Don Gwinn Staff Emeritus Join Date: March 9, 2000 Location: Virden, IL Posts: 5,919	That's cool. I'm not worried about velocity right now, only accuracy and cheapness.

August 17, 2000, 09:09 PM	#10
pack_rat Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2000 Location: AL50 Posts: 146	Don, If you found those at Bois D'Arc you are one lucky rascal. I took four double-hand scoops from that brass bin and .38 Specials were the only nickled cases after sorting. Go by the book.

August 19, 2000, 11:33 PM	#11
ArmySon Staff Alumnus Join Date: April 14, 2000 Posts: 2,926	pack_rat, Did I mention to you that I ended up with over 400 .45 ACP brass from the range? Don, Nickel casings will wear out faster then brass but still reloadable a hell of long time. The casings you picked up were from somebody shooting hydroshoks.