« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: nickel vs brass cases.  (Read 751 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline mstake

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 96
nickel vs brass cases.
« on: January 17, 2007, 02:44:24 AM »
How many loads can one get from nickel casings. What is there down fall. i have never played with nickel cases to find out so i thought i would ask you guys for info. I reloaded 50 rounds of 357 last night and i havn't seen a problem yet with sizing, seating or crimping. Is case life shorter on nickel?
Logged
life member of North American Hunting Club >1994 to present

Offline Castaway

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
  • Gender: Male
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2007, 03:14:54 AM »
Personally I don't like nickeled brass.  I find it harder to size in terms of pressure on the ram.  Also, the nickel tends to peel away from the neck easily after a few loadings.  The only advantage for nickeled brass is if you are going to a wet environment near the coast.  Brass will develope verdigris if kept in a leather bandolier whilst the nickel won't.
Logged

Offline Don Fischer

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1526
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2007, 04:16:02 AM »
The only nickle cases I use are 38 spec's. I've got some that case life is measured in years. I use only cast bullet's with fairly light loads.
Logged
:wink: Even a blind squrrel find's an acorn sometime's![/quote]

Offline Badnews Bob

  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2963
  • Gender: Male
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2007, 05:28:34 AM »
I have found the nickle cases split sooner than the brass ones so I don't buy them anymore, That being said I use free nickle cases alot, out of range brass or gimmes I have gottin 20 loads or more on nickle cases, I just don't load magnum loads in them. I use new or once fired brass for my hot .357 loads.
Logged
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline Lloyd Smale

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18266
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2007, 12:41:38 PM »
I will usually get twice the life out of brass cases as i do nickle
Logged
blue lives matter

Offline Sir Charles deMoutonBlack

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 323
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2007, 05:16:56 PM »
I only have nickel in .38s I use them to differentiate loads.  Nickel for smokeless practice, and brass for Black.
Logged

Offline Catfish

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2696
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2007, 10:05:12 AM »
One factor that no one has mentioned is how much you flar your case mouths. If you over flar with brass you can shorten case life by more than 1/2. If you over flar nickle you`ll only reload them once or twice.
Logged

Offline Wingman26

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 248
  • Gender: Male
    • Wingman 26 Home Page
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2007, 06:42:07 PM »
The process of nickel plating the brass makes it brittle, it's not very good for reloading.  Nickel brass is for corrosion resistance, if you carry a gun for a living it will usually be in a leather duty belt, with the extra ammo in a leather carrier of some kind, and leather corrodes brass, the nickel is to stop that corrosion.
Logged
John
Site Staff  http://mp-pistol.com/
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt

Offline S.S.

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2840
Re: nickel vs brass cases.
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2007, 10:26:21 AM »
I have never really noticed any difference in the life of the case?
I normally do not load really hot though, Never really found a need to.
Stick to moderate loads and both seem to last pretty well. I have some
plated .357 Mag that I have loaded a dozen or more times with no problems.
Logged
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
"A wise man does not pee against the wind".
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »