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nickel plated cases

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fishingfool View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fishingfool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: nickel plated cases
    Posted: April/04/2010 at 17:05
Has anyone tried reloading nickel plated rifle cases?Iv'e done plenty of 357 nickel cases with carbide dies but not rifle.It seems like one of the self appointed internet "reloading gurus"was saying it is not a good idea.I trust this site as I have been given solid advice so far,so what say you-yea or nea?Thanks and have at it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/04/2010 at 17:27
I'm with you, I've only reloaded .38/.357 mag nickle plate brass.
But, Varmint Al has always been an excellent resource and he has some negative things to say. See the top 1/4 of this page under Forget nickel plated brass-http://www.varmintal.com/arelo.htm


Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fishingfool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/04/2010 at 17:37
Thanks Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/04/2010 at 17:55
If you get a chance, check out the rest of his web site. He is very thorough.

Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/04/2010 at 18:44
I use nickel-plated brass for all my rifle and handgun loads, and haven't had a bit of trouble with it.  I wipe it off with WD-40 and a paper towel, put it in a Lee collet die, load it up, and put it back in the rifle or handgun I originally fired it in.  Feeds and ejects smoothly, looks good, and doesn't tarnish.  Saves the trouble (and lead exposure) of tumbling.  [See Lee's Modern Reloading - Second Edition, p. 48]
 
Since I use my rifles for big game hunting and practice, and not for benchrest, 1" groups are just fine for my purposes.


Edited by Longhunter - April/04/2010 at 18:50
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/04/2010 at 22:22

it used to be cadmium plated and everybody just called in nickel plating, unless things changed recently because of the eviornmental toxcity of cad.  depends alot if the cases hit the ground. If not cleaned or polished well the silicates from the soil will imbed in the resizing dies and cause "lines" or scratches. ( not the "hardness of the nickel as suggested by varals.) which can also occur with brass, but tend to imbed in the case rather than the die for the reason varmal suggests. it seems varmals main complaint was in the reworking of the case neck dimensions and the effect on the bullet. I've never noticed any difference, but haven't reloaded alot (couple of thousand rounds only).

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 07:13
I use nickel only for subsonic reloads.  Reason being I can tell it apart from full supersonic regular loads.  I have not used it for standard loads though.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billyburl2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 09:39
Used some Winchester "nickel" brass in .300 WSM. Loaded 6 times, never had a problem!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 09:46
I reload nickle cases, no problems (yet.)

I can do a search, but would someone like to tell me what the problems to expect might be?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 10:25
Some claim that the nickel cases are harsh on the reloading equipment. ie dies.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 11:05
ive used them in 300win and 300wsm and didnt have any issues at all.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trays 7940 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 12:18
Ive used them for 30.06 and .223... No problems at all...


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fishingfool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 13:09
Varmint Al says the inside of the case neck is rough and will scratch and deform bullet when it is seated.I think I will try some and see for my self,thanks again everyone.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 16:21


The only problem I have had was with 1 case out of 150 pieces.
Notice the splitting in the head space area.  That was after one reload of fairly mild (43grs Varget) with 168gr Amax.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sakomato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 19:12
This is what new nickle brass did to my mandrels on a Lee Collet Neck Sizer
 
Will they scratch dies,  I think so!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 19:46
Did you lube the cases?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 19:54
i know they are a bitch to chamfer/deburr thats for sure.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 20:49
I've heard of problems with necks being hard, and having neck splts, but never loaded enough to confirm.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sakomato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/05/2010 at 21:24
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

Did you lube the cases?
 
Actually, no.  The cases were new and the ID of the neck was smaller than the mandrel size.  I have done this many times with brass cases so did not realize what was happening until I removed the mandrel for switching to another.
 
The mandrel was working like an expander.  This would not have happened in fired cases where the mandrel would go in without resistance.  The cases were chamferred though.
 
Perhaps lubing would have prevented it but like I say I have done it many times with brass cases with no problem.
 
But it does illustrate a problem and imagine any die where the die will size the necks down and size the case body smaller.  It will scratch the inside of your dies.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Trays 7940 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/06/2010 at 14:11
  Interesting...


I don't shoot innocent animals, just the one's who look guilty.
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