In an earlier post regarding the suitability of Nickel plated brass for reloading, made an assertion, among others, that he avoided such brass as, if cleaned in solutions containing Acetic Acid, the active component of vinegar, that this would blacken Nickel plated cases. I responded that was a new one, and would check!

So we did a small experiment. The attached photo is of 2 Federal .45 ACP Nickel plated cases. These were first de-greased using Perchlorethylene. They were then soaked in straight 5% acid content vinegar for 2 1/2 hours, rinsed in water and dried. As all will see there is not the slightest hint of blackening. As they say on "Myth Busters", I think we can consider this myth as "busted"!

Attached Images

Nickel Cases.jpg (120.2 KB, 86 views)

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Ok, now put a majority of brass cases into that mix. I don't know the root cause of that blackened case but I missed one nickle case in a bag of range pickups and when cleaned in my ultrasonic that case came out looking horrible.

That's great news! Looks is all the nickel has going for it.

You know what they say, once the looks are gone....

Premium price and shorter life, no thanks.

__________________
GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I have loaded nickel cases for 40 years and see no big difference between them and brass.

Years ago Midway offered a nickel plated 44 mag brass with a Texas head stamp. They were cool looking. I vib cleaned them with no issues. They loaded nicely but they seemed brittle. Life was half what my non plated case was.

I've only been loading 30 years, so maybe it's my inexperience thats created my dislike of nickel?

I load for better not cheaper ammo, so I'm pickier than many. Nickel is less malleable and has proven itself to be much more likely to suffer split failures sooner than the same brand of standard brass.

There will of course be exceptions, and others may have different experiences. I consider nickel to be "dress/formal/barbeque special occasion ammo."

It looks better longer in a leather belt. See I can manage to say something nice about it.

__________________
GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I wash my cases in hot water, Dawn and a bit of citric acid. There are always a few nickel plated cases in the mix and they come out looking great.

OK. Act 2:

2 Nickel plated cases, 15 plain brass, 5% acidic vinegar, in a stainless steel pan. Initially heated to just beginning to boil and allowed to cool and soak for 10 hours! Exactly the same results as before. I won't post a photo again, it would be exactly the same as the first one posted.

I don't doubt what you say about one case at one time coming out looking nasty. Possible steel or Aluminum? Or bright plating other than Nickel? Who knows? But it wasn't a Nickel case that darkened as a result of a dilute acetic acid bath! Any more ideas, or details?

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

Everyone has their preferences, but I love reloading 38 nickel. I'll be sure not to reload it though if I'm eating pickles . . .

For those that absolutely hate it . . sort it out and send it to me and I'll take it off your hands and dispose of it . . . after I've reloaded it of course.

Everybody has their own preferences . . if we all liked the same things this would be a boring world.

Interesting experiments - thanks for sharing! :-)

I separate the nickel plated cases (9mm) during my processing of brass. When I get enough of them I plan to offer them here as Karma (I don't like feel of nickel plated cases going through my press, just feels like I'm putting way to much effort even with lube). This way I don't have to deal with it and someone will get some free cases.

__________________
Minimize the variables

Well, I now have no idea why that case came out black. A vague memory is that it was a Speer case but can't be sure because any nickle cases I stumble on go in the trash.

Nickel and brass both work the same for me.

Rinse with water to get the sand and such off. Dry. Run in the tumbler (vibratory) for a while in 50/50 corn/walnut. Reload. No lube. Same for 26 years. Works. Nickel or brass, they're both good.

I do have quite a few black brass cases. They are mostly .45acp that were left on the ground for extended periods (years?) until I dug them up. Could have been cow urine. They cleaned up and work just fine except they are black. No problem. No black nickel that I can recall.

__________________
USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I think we need to continue to promote that nickel plated brass is substandard for reloading.
The will keep the supply up and the cost down for those of use that like to use them