Why wouldn't you just nickel plate the projectile and the case seperately? Then assemble them along with the primer and powder after the nickel process. Then you would be sure they would fire!

As for the chemicals making them dudds I don't know. I do know that I've washed quite a few .223's and .45acp's in full cycles and it wasn't until they were put in the dryer for a bit were they found by my wife.

I always make sure to take them to the club/range with me and I've never had one not fire!