brass or nickle...

[jstory]

How many of you guys reload reload nickel? I seen a bag of 500 38 special cases for less than $30. What kind of life will I get out of a case versus brass. What's the pros, if any, and the cons of reloading nickel cases? Thanks INGO.

 

[EyeCarry]

I don't have much for you here on this one but....I have loaded a few nickel as well as some aluminum just to see. (One reload on both a set of nickel and aluminum.) (.380 and 9's here). I did not have a problem but would not want to count on reloading the aluminum more than twice. I don't know how many times nickel will hold up.
If the two come home with me, I prep 'em and set them back. I've always thought about the aluminum as for those times I might want to shoot somewhere where I don't want to pick up or can't.

 

[SSGSAD]

I have loaded Nickel, till they turn brass.

20-30 loadings..... depending on how HEAVY you load .....

 

[shibumiseeker]

My brass life test of brass versus nickel plated brass showed about 10% fewer loadings to failure for the nickel plated for the one test I ran.

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...ing/87628-new-40s-w-brass-test-10-pieces.html

 

[mac45]

I use Nickel cases to make it easier to sort similar cases.
.357 Mag vs .38 Special and the like.
Some of my brass if probably better than 15 years old with no problems.

All else being equal, the Nickle cases are a bit more brittle than plan brass, and will wear out sooner.
How much sooner depends, (as said above), on how hot you load.

 

[jstory]

My brass life test of brass versus nickel plated brass showed about 10% fewer loadings to failure for the nickel plated for the one test I ran.

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...ing/87628-new-40s-w-brass-test-10-pieces.html

Read your brass life test thread...impressed. At this point i think I will go ahead with the nickel cases for 38 special. Thanks for everyone who posted...

 

[Leo]

For 6 cents each how can you go wrong? Buy them and load them till they split, you'll get your money out by far.

 

[jstory]

For 6 cents each how can you go wrong? Buy them and load them till they split, you'll get your money out by far.

Gonna pick them up this week. Didn't realize they were as good as they were. Never heard much good about them...thanks again.

 

[mssmith44]

I like the nickel cases for competition. I think the harder surface on the case gives a quicker reload.
Probably a placebo effect. If you carry rounds in a bandolier they will resist the corrosion effect.
Less tumbling required. Lee dies don't seem to do well with them.
RCBS seem to work good.

 

[Robert Richardson]

For 6 cents each how can you go wrong? Buy them and load them till they split, you'll get your money out by far.

 

[jstory]

I like the nickel cases for competition. I think the harder surface on the case gives a quicker reload.
Probably a placebo effect. If you carry rounds in a bandolier they will resist the corrosion effect.
Less tumbling required. Lee dies don't seem to do well with them.
RCBS seem to work good.

Why don't the Lee dies care for them...whats the difference???

 

[Tydeeh22]

My lee dies actually do better on nickle. Ita as if the case was lubed. At least for my carbide sets.

 

[ruger1800]

I don't have much for you here on this one but....I have loaded a few nickel as well as some aluminum just to see. (One reload on both a set of nickel and aluminum.) (.380 and 9's here). I did not have a problem but would not want to count on reloading the aluminum more than twice. I don't know how many times nickel will hold up.
If the two come home with me, I prep 'em and set them back. I've always thought about the aluminum as for those times I might want to shoot somewhere where I don't want to pick up or can't.

aluminum? How many times can they be loaded

 

[Sniper 79]

Buy and shoot if price is good. They seem to split sooner for me in the 357 mag. Loaded some 45 and they are still in circulation. Probably roll vs taper crimp.

 

[Cynical]

Love nickle brass. Cleans easy and pretty much the same price from my supplier. I think I read somewhere that nickle starts to split sooner than brass but I've reloaded my .38s so many times I've got my money's worth out of them. The price is right so have a blast, no pun intended.

 

[ScouT6a]

I like to load personal protection rounds in nickle brass. Easy, quick reference.
I used to load lots of mixed .45 acp brass and the life expectancy on the nickle was slightly less. Maybe 10%. Loaded them so many times that the nickle would wear off, as mentioned.
Buy that bag of .38 Special and enjoy.

 

[mssmith44]

Why don't the Lee dies care for them...whats the difference???

The lee die that I used was a carbide die and it picked up some of the nickel or some particles and scratched the nickel cases.
No problem with RCBS dies.

 

[jstory]

The lee die that I used was a carbide die and it picked up some of the nickel or some particles and scratched the nickel cases.
No problem with RCBS dies.

Sized all the 38 and 357 cases I have last night. No problems with any of the nickel cases. I will be getting that 38 special cases soon, will keep me in cases for a bit. Thanks again for everything INGO.