Marking Cartridges for Rifle Only

[Ivan the Butcher]

I never would have thought of nickel cases. Really like that idea. But can you reload those?.

Very much so! 38 special and 357 mag (Non-target loads) are almost exclusively nickel. You can find most common handgun and selected rifle brass in Nickle. 45-70 is fairly common now days but the other rimmed rifle round are pretty sparse in Nickle.

Ivan

 

[Nemo288]

Yep.
Looking forward to some of the new Federal Hammerdown 444 Marlin ammo that is in nickel cases.
Be a first for me.

 

[TheTinMan]

Very much so! 38 special and 357 mag (Non-target loads) are almost exclusively nickel. You can find most common handgun and selected rifle brass in Nickle. 45-70 is fairly common now days but the other rimmed rifle round are pretty sparse in Nickle.

Ivan

I vaguely remember trying to reload nickel cases a long time ago. Seemed like I got some galling on the first couple cases so I stopped. I'm sure case lube would help as someone just pointed out. However, I haven't come across any nickel 45 Colt cases.

Nemo's case head stamp has the strong appeal of being permanent.

 

[HarpHack]

My guns and tastes in loadings change often so I like to keep my cases unmarked and options open, especially when brass can get scarce.

I keep a set of several vividly colored Sharpie markers and color the primers only. The bright colors stand out nicely and leave no trace for the next load.

Of course I segregate boxes for particular guns but for a few straight wall cartridges the color coding serves best. I have 45-70s in 2 different pressure categories so some kind of system beyond just boxes and labels was a must for me.

Everyone's needs and solutions vary. 'Glad to see this topic since it might save someone serious trouble.

 

[glenwolde]

If you want to splurge, rifle only loads in nickel plated cases?

I use nickel 9mm cases for conversion to 9mm Makrov. I don't otherwise load nickel cases in 9mm or .380....or as I call them, the "Nine By's". 9x19, 9x18, 9x17.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I also use a black pointed sharpie to mark my cases rims & primers with dots and slashes
when I have a box of test loads, just in case it gets spilt, so I can put all
of them back in the right holes.

One time I had to pull 21 of 50 bullets and sort the powder or dump it, when I went to put the plastic container, away and Mr. "Bumble fingers" took over.

 

[Rambler42]

I have the same issue with .32-20. I have a Winchester 1885 and a S&W in .32-20. I use lead bullets in the pistol loads and FMJ in the rifle. I also use a green cartridge box for the revolver and a red one for the rifle.

Works for me!

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

My 45colt cas rifle loads are brass cased and in green ammo boxes while my 45colt revolver loads are nickel in red boxes. The loads are the same except the rifle is 225-250 gr while the revolvers are 200. All are rnfp lead. Initially I had the brass reversed thinking the shiny nickel would be easier to find but my marlin 1894s tend to have large chambers and would split the nickel brass so i reversed it.

 

[M29since14]

In my .45 Linebaugh revolver, I used only Federal cases. For the .45 S&W M25, I'd use anything else, usually Starline. That way, even if the cartridges were accidentally mixed, they were easily, positively identified and separated. Of course I kept the ammo in plastic boxes with appropriate load information, and I made it a practice not to take the S&W to the range if the Linebaugh was going.

 

[StrawHat]

…my marlin 1894s tend to have large chambers and would split the nickel…

Sounds like you are oversizing your brass. A non carbide die and lube may be called for.

Kevin

 

[dave1918a2]

Lots of very good suggestions here. All of which work if YOU PAY ATTENTION!

 

[mtgianni]

I bought close out priced nail polish. The price ranged from 10 cents to 99 cents. Green for me means go so warmer loads, Red means red dot powder so safe in anything. My code is written on every ammo case that uses it. Depriming and a fingernail remove the polish quickly.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

I use a P-touch label maker.

And make a custom label for every box of ammo.

 

[Arkfarmer]

Over sized carbine chambers and marking cases

My 45colt cas rifle loads are brass cased and in green ammo boxes while my 45colt revolver loads are nickel in red boxes. The loads are the same except the rifle is 225-250 gr while the revolvers are 200. All are rnfp lead. Initially I had the brass reversed thinking the shiny nickel would be easier to find but my marlin 1894s tend to have large chambers and would split the nickel brass so i reversed it.

Waiting to see if I was the only one who did this. For over 20yrs I've used a small triangle file to notch the rim of the case. Just a couple of passes, if I see a notch in the rim I know it's Ruger or rifle.....as far as the over sized carbine chambers, SAAMI has not updated the specs on 45 Colt since 1938 and balloon cases. If you look up the plus/minus on SAAMI's chart you will find a huge spread. Been a while since I looked at it but if I remember correctly it's over .009 and most manufacturers err on the high side. I ordered a reamer based off one of my normal new Remington and Winchester brass and had my carbine barrels set back and rechambered. They now will shoot along side my 41 and 44 mag rifles pressure wise and no longer swell the cases. All you get from the manufacturers that I have talked to in person is " well, they are within SAAMI specs and we are selling everything we can build", when I talked to them at the shot show.... John

 

[Jack Flash]

I can understand why in the old days a guy would want a handgun and rifle chambered for the same cartridge, especially someone who spent much of his time out in the wild where he was pretty much on his own with regard to self-defense, hunting for food, do it yourself gunsmithing, etc. I can even see someone these days wanting the same thing.

What confuses me is having a rifle and handgun chambered for a common cartridge then making ammunition that is not compatible in both. I can understand having heavy hunting loads for a tank-like Ruger revolver and milder loads for older SAAs and such. But outside of some Zombie Apocalypse scenario, it seems like it would seem that if your rifle and handgun ammo isn't interchangeable anyway, why not get a rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge?

 

[Skeet 028]

The sharpie method works but I went a step farther. I got different colored stamp pads. A quick stamp and done. I have 4 colors Red is HOT. I also use nickle cases. Throw the stamped cases in the tumbler and load...new stamp

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Put an "X" on the case with a magic marker.

I have a Winchester M94 in 44 Magnum and the cases that was fired in it does not like to be used as revolver ammunition.

 

[glowe]

Load all revolver ammunition with lead only and all rifle ammo with jacketed. I have done this for years and shoot both 45 Colt revolvers and rifles without issue. Besides, I believe the accuracy is better with jacketed bullets in the rifle.

 

[Skeet 028]

To be honest Just having the regular loads in a rifle makes 'em a bit more Maggie. I have a couple of 94s with 24 inch bbls. A 357 mag and a 30-30. They both shoot better than the standard length guns. The only difference I do loading for the 30-30 is I have a 788 Rem I load 30-30s for...I use pointy bullets for it. I can also load 2 of them in the Lever...1st and last. The 357 shoots 38s but all I use in it are 357 nickle cases which in my case denote my max loads. Note I said My max...not The max. All shootable in my handguns

 

[diyj98]

Have used different colors of magic markers on case heads and primers for many years to designate different loads. Generally I put a small hand-printed and dated paper note with load information inside the box also.

I've done the same thing.