« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: brass vs. nickel cases  (Read 803 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline aldar

  • Trade Count: (16)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 246
brass vs. nickel cases
« on: February 06, 2007, 12:46:08 AM »
I'm just going to get started into reloading. I have a .243 and I'm getting a .280 Rem. I was looking for brass for the .280 and found some new nickel brass for the .280. My questions are, whats the difference  between brass and nickel? Is one easier to reload over the other? is case life different? Does using the nickel cases change anything as far as loads? do you use standard dies with nickel? will velositys change between the two?  any other helpful hints would be appreciated too.  thanks
Logged

Offline Castaway

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2007, 02:46:53 AM »
Try the link below:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,109131.0.html

Takes you back a few weeks to the same discussion
Logged

Offline Siskiyou

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3417
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2007, 08:59:03 AM »
In general I use brass cases for centerfire rifle.  BUT I spent a lot of time and effort developing a special load for one of my .270's.  I found the load to be accurate and effective on deer.  Suddenly I could no longer get the powder I was using, WW785.  I then purchased 100 nickle Remington cases, did some testing and loaded up my favorite load.  I know immediately that the nickle case rounds are the ones I want for that rifle. 

Ever accidently drop a round in the woods in brown pine needles, and brown limbs, a nickle case shows up faster then brass case.

I have tested loaded a few nickle cases four times without a problem.

I prefer to load nickle cases in handgun calibers and have done so for over 40 years.
Logged
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline Catfish

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2696
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2007, 03:03:36 PM »
I have never loaded rifle ammo with nickel case, but have alot of of handgun ammo. In handgun ammo at least, the brass cases will out last the nickel by at least twice as many loadings. This is mostly due to haveing to flair the mouths of the cases for cast bullets I think, because they split at the mouth.
Logged

Offline Siskiyou

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3417
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2007, 03:50:34 PM »
Back in the 60’s and 70’s the wife and I would pack up the kids and head to her folk’s rural home for two weeks during Christmas and New Years.  I would also take along a Lee handloader, a thousand primers, one thousand cast bullets, two hundred loaded rounds in nickel cases, and box of Alcan #5 or #7 powder.  I had made up a powder scoop from a 9MM case and soldered a wire handle on it.  I would shoot up my loads that I brought with me, and then spend sometime manufacturing new loads.  During the two weeks the nickel case were reload at least ten times.  I did not lose any cases.

When I started reloading I had a few case failure, the fault was mine.  One need not go to extremes expanding the mouth of a case.  Use a soft touch and expand the mouth just enough to allow the bullet to get started.  I want a good friction fit, and in the case of the .357 loads to be able to finish off the process with a crimp.
Logged
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline mikedb

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 320
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2007, 03:26:55 AM »
If you keep ammo in a leather holder or cartridge belt nickel is the way to go.  Brass will react with the stuff used to tan the leather.  The leather will turn black I believe.  I never had it happen because I never store brass in leather.  The nickel also helps me know the components I use for defense/hunting and what ones I use for plinking.  The former gets treated better and shot less.
Logged

Offline Sourdough

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8150
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2007, 01:54:09 PM »
I shoot Handis and a TCR in the same calibers.  I load brass cases for the Handis and nickle cases for the TCR
Logged
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline wink_man

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 309
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2007, 02:36:15 PM »
I have no experince using nickel cases, however, a while back, I purchased 2 boxes of Federal 7MM Weatherby unprimed brass, nickel plated. One trip through the sizer die and I have my .257 Weatherby brass. Used to purchase Remington brass till they stopped making it in 7MM Weatherby. Should be interesting to see if there is any difference in brass life, but at 18.00 a hundred on closeout, I wouldn't have cared if it was plated in purple, and I figure if I get even one reloading out of it, I'm ahead of the game when it comes to Weatherby brass prices.
Logged
Garry
'Life is to short to hang with an ugly woman, or hunt with an ugly gun' - Garry
'It's not that our liberal friends are ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't' Ronald Reagan
Just ask an American Indian what happens when you let immigration get out of hand.

Offline MS Mule

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 84
  • Gender: Male
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2007, 04:52:09 PM »
Nickel cases can scratch your sizing die unless it's carbide.

MS Mule
Logged

Offline Tom W.

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1294
  • Gender: Male
  • Warning... Does not play well with others!
Re: brass vs. nickel cases
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2007, 05:33:32 PM »
I load a lot of nickel plated brass, some for my 7mm Rem mag, some for my '06 pistol, and some for my '06 rifle. So far I haven't had any problems from it, but when my rifle gets back, it will be an A.I.,and I'll see what the Nickle plated brass does when I fire form some.
Logged
Tom
Alabama Hunter and firearms safety instructor

I really like my handguns!
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »