Nickel plated brass

Lee and Penny

Lee and Penny

New member
I thought the nickel plated brass was poorer quality and shouldn't be reloaded??? Friend of mine says it's just as good as normal brass.
Also new unfired brass must be full length sized the first time before the first use right??? or not,

Lee
 
I have never used nickel brass so no advice on that. I always run new brass threw a a FL die because it does get dinged up during shipping and everything. Now if you use the higher dollar stuff like Lapua they I have heard it's ready to load right out of the box.
 
I have reloaded plated brass a few times and it is still working after 5(?)or so times.I dont know if it last as long as non plated.I think you should full length size first unless you bought some of the high dollar stuff.
 
Nickel brass is just more of a PITA then anything really. Its harder on stuff and it flakes off. Its really not high quality because no high quality manufacturer makes it, theres a reason for that...It will still produce 1/2-1 MOA accuracy with a pet load so its definately sufficient for general hunting purposes. For LR hunting or target shooting, I wouldn't use it.

With that said, I've used it over the years when it was all I had and it did OK. My dad just tossed his 100 that he bought for his 25-06, has 5-6 reloads on them and hes just now tossing them for peace of mind. I thought it looked "cool" back in the day when loaded with a combined technology ballistic silvertip or a barnes XLC. I do not buy it now, and only use it if I have to.

I run new brass through the sizer enough to round out the necks, then trim, chamfer inside/outside, and debur the flash hole.
 
Many years ago, when I first started shooting IBS Hunter class matches, the best 308 brass available was Federal Match. It was nickle plated. I used it and was never dissapointed. Until they discontinued it.
 
I have never used Nickel plated brass For rifle as I was told by an old time reloader when I started reloading that it can flake off and scratch your sizing dies when you resize it.

DAB
 
Originally Posted By: EddieHarren"it will flake off and scratch your dies...."
That old myth ranks right up there with, "I'm from the Gov't, and I'm here to help you".
Call RCBS and you will find that it is not a myth.

RCBS 1-800-533-5000
 
Just look inside the necks, rough like sandpaper, this has been said to embed in bullets and give you the tubb;s treatment in every shot, maybe, maybe not. ed
 
in the early 80's, I shot untold thousands of Federal 222 nickel plated brass at p. dogs, no telling how many times I loaded the stuff.

The issue with the Ni is that if it starts to flake off, it will ruin a die, just keep a watch on your brass.

I have seen the Ni plating come off of 300 Winchester and that is all.

I shot 357mags Ni cases till the plating was worn through.

If you are a guy that likes to shoot the accuracy node on the upper end of the pressure curve, I found that the Ni brass is tougher than regular brass in Winchester brand...tough as nails.
 
On brand new nickel plated brass, I have found that there is a slight build up of the nickel plate right around the mouth (for lack of proper term?)of the case that will (or has on me)flake off and make scratches. I could see the scratches on the new cases, so stopped and investigated, cleaned out my dies, and determined that if I scrape that build up off first it not an issue.I would recommend cleaning your die out afterwards and thats not a bad idea once n awhile anyway.just my experiences
 
Dies are extremely hard, as compared to barrel steel. I would be more worried about scratching my chamber than my dies, if there was any basis to this theory. I have been using nickle IMI 223 brass, in my 223x35 Culver, since 1994 and never had a problem. YRMV!
 
I got a box from my late brother of new nickel brass and i chamferd in side and out and loaded for my 22-250 no problems no resizing ive shot a couple hundred.
 
Back
Top