Reloading nickle plated brass

okie24 · April 9, 2012, 04:12 PM

I have some nickle plated brass for a 270 wsm. It seems to be a little sticky running it through the RCBS full length sizer die. I was wondering if anyone has the same problem. Or if I should even be reloading that kind of brass. Any tips?

Inspector3711 · April 9, 2012, 04:15 PM

The nickle plate won't cause any binding... It has to be something else causing it.

mrawesome22 · April 9, 2012, 04:30 PM

The nickel I have sized goes in easier than un-plated.

oneoldsap · April 9, 2012, 05:13 PM

Nothing wrong with nickle brass , Have you cleaned your die lately ?

Cascade1911 · April 9, 2012, 05:29 PM

Never reloaded nickel plated rifle rounds but my experience with nickel pistol cases matches Inspector3711 and mrawesome22. Nickel goes through my dies easier than brass.

PA-Joe · April 9, 2012, 05:37 PM

Did you lube the cases before sizing them?

praetorian97 · April 9, 2012, 05:37 PM

Disregard. Read that as sticking in gun not die.

okie24 · April 9, 2012, 05:59 PM

Yes I lubed them. Ole sap is probably right I need to clean it. What do I clean the dies with?

howlnmad · April 9, 2012, 06:22 PM

I use brake cleaner or mineral spirits. I pull them apart and use the small (nipple) brush from a baby bottle cleaning set. Scrub them out good and spray to rinse.

wncchester · April 9, 2012, 06:43 PM

"nickle plated brass... seems to be a little sticky running it through ...full length sizer die."

The coefficent of surface friction for nickle is higher than that of brass so it puts a greater demand on the case lube.

aushunter · April 10, 2012, 02:20 AM

I have never reloaded it myself but did extensive searches through this & other forums & the internet & most people say NOT to put it through your dies!
It can supposedly cause damage to your equipment.
This is a varied opinion but is it worth the risk??

William T. Watts · April 10, 2012, 08:15 AM

wnnchester & Aushunter are correct, eventually the nickle will flake and could embed in your sizing die. I've damaged RCBS dies trying to use nickle cases in the past, I now just recycle them. William

Wyoredman · April 10, 2012, 09:42 AM

FYI-

I have found that Winchester Nickel WSM brass is harder to resize than regular brass. The nickel coating seems to be a bit more "springy" than standard brass and requires die adjustment.

Be sure to test a resized case or two in your rifle before loading a whole batch as you may need to adjust your die down (closer to the shell holder) to get the shoulder resized enough for your bolt to close.

I know this for a fact, as I have reloaded many factory .270 WSM nickel cases that would not fit my gun (had been fired originally from my gun)! A quick turn down of the die solved the problem.

Salmoneye · April 10, 2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

The nickel I have sized goes in easier than un-plated.

/\/\THIS/\/\

m&p45acp10+1 · April 10, 2012, 06:09 PM

I have around 50 Hornady .223 cases that are nickle plated. I only FL resized them once. They went in and out just like the rest of them did. I neck sized them after that. So far I have fired them 15 times with no splits. I am gonna scrap them due to the primer pockets getting looser. I hate to toss brass, though after a primer blow out two weeks ago I will error on the side of caution now. The shipping on the replacement firing pin, and a spare cost more than the darn parts did.

Kyo · April 10, 2012, 08:51 PM

I agree with the above when they said nickel is way easier to handle than normal brass. clean your dies and re-check the lengths that you have them set at

snuffy · April 12, 2012, 09:46 AM

Well, it only took 10 posts before someone said that nickel is harder than hardened/heat treated STEEL! Will this myth ever die?

It's nickle not CHROME plating.

I actually prefer nickle coated brass, it just looks better longer. It also cleans up faster in a tumbler, and is easier to find in the grass. You should not have any trouble with nickel plated brass.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · April 12, 2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

little sticky running it through the RCBS full length sizer die.

I'd try these hints:

1. strip die down. clean and check for rust seen in your die's bore.

2. make sure your de-capping rod itself isn't bent.

3. Try using a neck lubricant on your brass like Imperial Dry Neck Lube.

Those are my suggestions. SSMcG

TheNatureBoy · April 12, 2012, 06:37 PM

Hate it!

chris in va · April 12, 2012, 07:24 PM

Just to make a spelling point, it's 'nickel'.

April 9, 2012, 04:12 PM	#1
okie24 Member Join Date: March 31, 2012 Location: Southern Oklahoma Posts: 55	Reloading nickle plated brass I have some nickle plated brass for a 270 wsm. It seems to be a little sticky running it through the RCBS full length sizer die. I was wondering if anyone has the same problem. Or if I should even be reloading that kind of brass. Any tips?

April 9, 2012, 04:15 PM	#2
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	The nickle plate won't cause any binding... It has to be something else causing it. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

April 9, 2012, 05:37 PM	#7
praetorian97 Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2011 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 455	Disregard. Read that as sticking in gun not die. Last edited by praetorian97; April 9, 2012 at 07:58 PM.

April 10, 2012, 09:42 AM	#13
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	FYI- I have found that Winchester Nickel WSM brass is harder to resize than regular brass. The nickel coating seems to be a bit more "springy" than standard brass and requires die adjustment. Be sure to test a resized case or two in your rifle before loading a whole batch as you may need to adjust your die down (closer to the shell holder) to get the shoulder resized enough for your bolt to close. I know this for a fact, as I have reloaded many factory .270 WSM nickel cases that would not fit my gun (had been fired originally from my gun)! A quick turn down of the die solved the problem. __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

April 10, 2012, 06:09 PM	#15
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have around 50 Hornady .223 cases that are nickle plated. I only FL resized them once. They went in and out just like the rest of them did. I neck sized them after that. So far I have fired them 15 times with no splits. I am gonna scrap them due to the primer pockets getting looser. I hate to toss brass, though after a primer blow out two weeks ago I will error on the side of caution now. The shipping on the replacement firing pin, and a spare cost more than the darn parts did. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

April 9, 2012, 04:30 PM	#3
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	The nickel I have sized goes in easier than un-plated.

April 9, 2012, 05:13 PM	#4
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,602	Nothing wrong with nickle brass , Have you cleaned your die lately ?

April 9, 2012, 05:29 PM	#5
Cascade1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2011 Location: Dutchess County, NY Posts: 450	Never reloaded nickel plated rifle rounds but my experience with nickel pistol cases matches Inspector3711 and mrawesome22. Nickel goes through my dies easier than brass.

April 9, 2012, 05:37 PM	#6
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	Did you lube the cases before sizing them?

April 9, 2012, 05:59 PM	#8
okie24 Member Join Date: March 31, 2012 Location: Southern Oklahoma Posts: 55	Yes I lubed them. Ole sap is probably right I need to clean it. What do I clean the dies with?

April 9, 2012, 06:22 PM	#9
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	I use brake cleaner or mineral spirits. I pull them apart and use the small (nipple) brush from a baby bottle cleaning set. Scrub them out good and spray to rinse.

April 9, 2012, 06:43 PM	#10
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	"nickle plated brass... seems to be a little sticky running it through ...full length sizer die." The coefficent of surface friction for nickle is higher than that of brass so it puts a greater demand on the case lube.

April 10, 2012, 02:20 AM	#11
aushunter Member Join Date: June 7, 2009 Location: N.S.W AUSTRALIA Posts: 44	I have never reloaded it myself but did extensive searches through this & other forums & the internet & most people say NOT to put it through your dies! It can supposedly cause damage to your equipment. This is a varied opinion but is it worth the risk??

April 10, 2012, 08:15 AM	#12
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	wnnchester & Aushunter are correct, eventually the nickle will flake and could embed in your sizing die. I've damaged RCBS dies trying to use nickle cases in the past, I now just recycle them. William

April 10, 2012, 08:51 PM	#16
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	I agree with the above when they said nickel is way easier to handle than normal brass. clean your dies and re-check the lengths that you have them set at __________________ 1. The gun is *always* loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to shoot. 4. Be be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

April 12, 2012, 09:46 AM	#17
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Well, it only took 10 posts before someone said that nickel is harder than hardened/heat treated STEEL! Will this myth ever die? It's nickle not CHROME plating. I actually prefer nickle coated brass, it just looks better longer. It also cleans up faster in a tumbler, and is easier to find in the grass. You should not have any trouble with nickel plated brass. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

April 12, 2012, 06:37 PM	#19
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,204	Hate it!

April 12, 2012, 07:24 PM	#20
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Just to make a spelling point, it's 'nickel'.