Nickel plated brass question

[Captain*kirk]

I got notified today that some nickel plated brass (.44RM) is back in stock. I was getting ready to order when I read THIS in the description:

"If you are using Nickel plated brass, special care must be taken to lubricate the cases prior to sizing them. Nickel plating is harder than brass and the cases require more effort in sizing. In the event a case becomes stuck, purchase a stuck case remover; don’t use pliers, screwdrivers or other common household tools which could damage your sizing die."

Now, I've never heard this before. I have loaded plenty of nickel plated 7mm mag before, but you gotta lube rifle cases anyway, especially bottleneck cases. So no biggie. But the thought of having to lube 100s of dinky .44 mag cases prior to sizing makes me want to throw up my hands and scream. No thanks...I'll stick to brass if those are my choices!
Point is, this is the first I've heard of this. Anyone else know anything about this or experience stuck nickel cases with carbide dies?

 

[nettlle]

It's been 55 years since I stuck a case. Once was enough. I lube everything. The only difference I have seen nickle and plain is the nickle cases will crack sooner than brass and if the cases lasts long enough the finish will start wearing away in the tumbler. I'm just as happy to find nickle range brass as plain brass.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I suppose if a person is truly dedicated, they could silver plate their brass and avoid both the cracking issues as well as the lubrication question.

 

[Captain*kirk]

I suppose if a person is truly dedicated, they could silver plate their brass and avoid both the cracking issues as well as the lubrication question.

I ain't THAT dedicated!

 

[Walkalong]

True, it takes a smidgeon more force to size nickel plated cases. Enough to be concerned about? No.

True, nickel cases can sometimes crack sooner than brass. Enough to worry about?

I mostly don't shoot nickel cases, but wouldn't hesitate to buy it if I needed it.

I have some nickel .38 cases that almost have the nickel worn off and are still going. I have some nickel .32 Mag cases that faired poorly.

 

[WestKentucky]

I get excited for finding nickle brass in any caliber. I use nickel for hotter loads or special loads. It’s an easy and quick distinction that allows for more positive identification of loads if something crazy happens like the bottom blow out of a box while moving and your containers get mixed in the process… but that would never happen…

 

[nettlle]

To me it makes a nicer looking finished round but not nice enough to pay extra for it.

 

[dartor]

I've never had new nickle plated cases. I've found that dry tumbling (used cases) in walnut media with nufinish nickle plated handgun cases slide through a carbide die easier than brass cases.

 

[cfullgraf]

I’ve found nickel plated handgun cases have a bit shorter life than brass cases. It is not enough shorter to worry about.

I’ve started lubing all my cases even when using a carbide die. Things go much smoother and I clean/polish the cases after sizing anyway so no loss in time for my process.

I don’t avoid nuckel plated cases, I tend to not actively look for them. They are good for special loads as the nickel case makes it easy to identify the load is “special”.

 

[Steve51]

I once bought 100 Starline nickel cases for .38 spl. Thought I would really like them. Wrong! I prefer brass cases much better - handgun or rifle. I do use the nickel cased handloads for my conceal carry revolver and a couple speed strips but when they are no longer usable, I don't have any plans to buy more.

 

[goon]

All else being equal I’d prefer regular brass, but nickel is OK. I tumble all brass for fifteen to thirty minutes before sizing to get any dirt off. Dirt can scratch a die easier than anything else. Never had a problem with any nickel handgun brass getting stuck. The only cases I’ve stuck were a couple centerfire rifle and a couple 45 Colt (which has a very small rim).

 

[tmd16556]

I was resizing mixed nickel and plain brass 38 special last weekend. I always put a little unique lube on every 5 or so cases and you can’t tell much difference in sizing pressures.
I also just bought 100 41 magnum starline cases in nickel because they were in stock during a Midway free shipping promo and the plain ones weren’t.
They work fine to me except I don’t like mixed boxes of both types. It sets off my ORD (obsessive reloader disorder) almost as much as a box of 99 matching headstamps.

 

[Captain*kirk]

...It sets off my ORD (obsessive reloader disorder) almost as much as a box of 99 matching headstamps.

 

[.38 Special]

I use nickel brass as much as possible. I could list all the pretend advantages, but the truth is that I just think they're pretty.

Nickel does require slightly more effort during sizing - but it's  very slight. In .38 Special and smaller, I'm not sure it is actually detectable. In larger cartridges, it takes a little more effort on the handle, but who cares? And on the really big cartridges, I'm going to use a bit of sizing wax regardless, so...

As far as stuck cases go, yeah, you should get a stuck case remover. Plated or no, pliers are a really crummy way to address that issue.

Tl;dr: I'm not sure I even own an unplated .44 Magnum case. All of mine get run through carbide dies, without lube, and I have no troubles.

 

[bullseye308]

Most of my nickel cases are so old the plating is wearing off and the head stamps are hard to read, but I lube pistol cases and have for 15 years when I first noticed shoulder problems starting. I have a batch of 1000 9mm nickel that is about to be in the rotation and it will definitely get lubed when I tumble it in walnut with nu-finish after wet tumbling. It makes it load smoother and they look nice.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I have quite a bit of nickel plated brass for .357 mag and .38 Special. I've never lubed a single handgun round and I've loaded many thousands. I have no plans to start now.
I also have a lot of .30-06 in nickel, but they all have to be lubed anyway.

I don't really have a preference. The only real difference I've seen is that nickel plated brass wears a little more on a trimmer.
I really only buy nickel if that's what's available.

I do agree with @.38 Special that they're prettier.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nickel plated brass was introduced to the public more than a century ago as a means to prevent corrosion of the cases when carried in leather belt loops. There is enough tanning chemicals left in the leather that would corrode brass over time.

At least with rimmed handgun cases, the full power ammunition is loaded in nickel plated cases as the manufacturer probably feels the user will be carrying extra ammunition in leather belt loops. Brass cases are used for "run of the mill" ammunition that might be used for practice.

Of course, some of this thought spills over to the semi-auto pistol camp. Full power defense loads are loaded in nickel plated cases even though the spare rounds are not carried in leather belt loops.

Anyway, there is no issue reloading nickel plated cases. Case life may be a bit shorter, particularly when loading full power magnum rounds but I'll bet the reduction in case life will hardly be noticed.

As a reloader, new, plated cases cost more than un-plated cases. So, unless you have the "need", why spend the extra money on plated cases.

If your scrounging cases from the range, what difference does it make. Collect all the nickel cases that you find, they will serve you well.

Nickel plated bottle neck rifle cases are another kettle of fish.

 

[lordpaxman]

But the thought of having to lube 100s of dinky .44 mag cases prior to sizing makes me want to throw up my hands and scream.

You don’t need lube with pistol, at least straight wall, carbide dies even with nickel plated brass.
Having said that, a spritz of Hornady one shot won’t hurt and is painless. No screams needed. I’ve found that brass spritzed with one shot is very easy to resized, but nickel is even easier!

 

[luzyfuerza]

a spritz of Hornady one shot won’t hurt and is painless. No screams needed. I’ve found that brass spritzed with one shot is very easy to resized, but nickel is even easier!

This^^^^^^.

A quick blast of One Shot onto clean, polished cases smooths out press operation noticeably.

Whether Ni-plated or not.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I suppose if a person is truly dedicated, they could silver plate their brass and avoid both the cracking issues as well as the lubrication question.

Dedicated and nuts.

 

[bullseye308]

It’s worse than you think. I nickel plated a batch of LC 556 brass to make sorting brass for 2 rifles easier.

 

[FROGO207]

Personally I find plated cases tend to have a slightly shorter life. Also when sizing them it is more common to experience gaulling than with regular brass in carbide dies so to that end I also spritz a little case lube on them even when using those carbide dies.
I don't go out of my way to obtain plated brass but will not turn down any I get for free. YMMV

 

[bullseye308]

All My brass is range pickup, whatever it may be. All my brass gets lubed in some fashion before loading, it just makes it easier on my shoulders. Nothing I load is max and brass life is what it is, I have enough brass for my kids to wear out, long after I’m gone.

 

[ballman6711]

It’s worse than you think. I nickel plated a batch of LC 556 brass to make sorting brass for 2 rifles easier.

That's too funny! Until a week or so ago I'd never seen any nickel plated .223/556 brass, and then while at the range I found two nickel plated LC 556 brass. My buddy was there so I gave him one and I kept the other. I wonder if they had been yours and somehow migrated to southern West Virginia. Ya' never know, lol!

chris

 

[bullseye308]

That's too funny! Until a week or so ago I'd never seen any nickel plated .223/556 brass, and then while at the range I found two nickel plated LC 556 brass. My buddy was there so I gave him one and I kept the other. I wonder if they had been yours and somehow migrated to southern West Virginia. Ya' never know, lol!

chris

That’s possible. I’m missing 7. Far as I know LC doesn’t come nickel plated.