Nickel brass

[dwarmbrodt]

Is there a life expectancy difference between nickel and brass cases in regards to number of times they can be reloaded?

[SteveW]

It's my observation that nickel pistol cases seem to split at the neck earlier than regular brass. Nothing scientific, just my observation based on loading a lot of 357. Your mileage, etc..etc..

Steve.

[Survey Punk]

I had some 45-70 that didn't last one loading. Sized fine but when I belled the case mouth and tried to seat a bullet the "neck" would collapse on every single one. No ammount of belling would solve the problem. Had to deep 6 the whole bunch.
Never had this problem with .38, .357, or .45 handgun stuff

JB

[grunteled]

Pistol or rifle?

I've used .223 nickle brass for 4 loads before the plating started to flake off.

[shootist87122]

You don't want to polish the nickle stuff to death, otherwise not much diffenrece at least on .45 ACP.

[pumpkinheaver]

I have never loaded it for rifle rounds before but in handgun cartridges it splits alot sooner that plain brass.

[FAL4EVER]

Originally posted by SteveW
It's my observation that nickel pistol cases seem to split at the neck earlier than regular brass. Nothing scientific, just my observation based on loading a lot of 357. Your mileage, etc..etc..

Steve.

Same experience here. Also, I've read alot of stories about nickel cases ruining dies, chambers and barrels.

[kennaquhair]

I like Varmint Al's published approach to problems in general. Here is what he has to say about nickel brass.

http://www.varmintal.com/arelo.htm#Nickel_Brass

[lmoody]

Is nickel plated brass really nickel plated? Seems I read somewhere, many moons ago, that the plating was some other metal, not nickel. Cadmium comes to mind, but my memory could be failing me. If the "nickel" plating is not nickel, them it seems Varmint Al is somewhat off base on his discussion.

[mj2evans]

In 38/357 it seems to split at the mouth sooner/quicker then plain brass. I have heard nickle brass is tougher on dies but that could be a myth. I don't use any nickle brass now that I can at least afford 500 cases of Starline brass. Never used any in rifle and don't plan to.

[partisan50]

Nickle plated cases have a shorter life due to the nickl-ing process.