Reloading Nickel Plated Brass

[Madjack181]

Cleaning out my garage I came across a box of nickel plated range brass. Most of it in .40 S&W. Is it reloadable? Haven't had much experience with it.

 

[hammer24]

Yep. Reload away!

 

[Cameramonkey]

And since the OPs question has been answered, I dont feel bad hijacking the thread.

So why plate it? Any benefits or strictly aesthetics?

 

[U.S. Patriot]

And since the OPs question has been answered, I dont feel bad hijacking the thread.

So why plate it? Any benefits or strictly aesthetics?

It resists tarnishing. That's why SD ammo typically is loaded using it.

 

[Sling10mm]

Yep, totally reloadable, just be cautious as I scratched up my carbide sizing die processing a bunch (>1000) of nickel plated 40 S&W and 357 SIG brass; the nickel is much harder than brass.

Some claim that the nickel plating is easier to see in low light (for chamber checks), it resists corrosion better than raw brass as Patriot mentioned, and it is somewhat slicker than brass, which may aid in feeding.

 

[PRasko]

Nickel plating has better lubricity, so it's feeds and ejects better.

-edit-

sling beat me by 10 seconds

 

[Fullmag]

Yep, totally reloadable, just be cautious as I scratched up my carbide sizing die processing a bunch (>1000) of nickel plated 40 S&W and 357 SIG brass; the nickel is much harder than brass.

Some claim that the nickel plating is easier to see in low light (for chamber checks), it resists corrosion better than raw brass as Patriot mentioned, and it is somewhat slicker than brass, which may aid in feeding.

Nickel alloyed stuff can be terrible to work with, without a doubt, have to deal with it work sometimes. Got into that with a guy trying sell some 357mag brass. He did not seem to think nickel plated brass would do that and I disagreed. He seemed to think RCBS didn't know what they were talking about.

 

[Robert Richardson]

I've reloaded 1000s of nickel plated cases and have never seen a scratched carbide sizer die. I find it hard to believe that a piece of nickel could scratch a piece of carbide. I have seen carbide dies that have been cracked that would cause a scratch. The crack is usually caused by the die having hard contact with the shell holder.

 

[safarihunter]

I have never had a problem reloading nickel plated brass. When the nickel begins to flake at the case mouth, I toss it.