Nickel Vs Brass Cases

AJ · #51 03-29-2024, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcelect

A very valid question! ! ! I bought the gun(cheap), not had it made, and had many other problems! Basically, the gun was built too tight in all aspects! I bought a ball type polisher from Brownell's and it helped a bunch, but I was afraid of removing too much material from the inside of the chambers. The gun now runs great for bowling pin shoots, including fast reloads, if I use nickel brass. Brass cases still stick but not as bad as before the work I done!

The red dot has been changed! This was built on a 629 frame.
jcelect

Since the brass case still stick a bit, I would polish some more. Go slow and check often. Nice looking piece.

raljr1 · #52 03-29-2024, 09:52 AM

I dont have enough experience to add anything about reloadability or life, but I had a Browning Buckmark 22 that would feed nickel cases without fail, but would not feed brass cases worth a darn.

glowe · #53 04-03-2024, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krogen

I think you must mean something other than the periodic table. The atomic number isn't proportional to hardness. Elemental tungsten isn't the "carbide" used in dies. It's Tungsten Carbide.

You are absolutely correct, not sure why I picked molecular weights compared to hardness?? The Mohs scale shows hardness of the elements and minerals. The Mohs hardness, from 1 to 10, is a measure of its relative resistance to scratching, measured by scratching the mineral against another substance of known hardness on the Mohs Hardness Scale Let's try this again. The Mohs scale for nickel is 4 and 9.0-9.5 for tungsten carbide. Brass is 3.

Let me add that it is said that only diamond will scratch tungsten carbide. Rockwell hardness is a more confusing hardness measure, since there are different tests in this standard. Rockwell B for brass is 65, for nickel is 86, and tungsten carbide is 90.

rwsmith · #54 04-03-2024, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtgianni

I believe nickel became popular because cartridges in leather belt loops were getting enough verdigris they would not chamber or had to be worked out of dump pouches with tools. Hopefully no one is keeping cartridges in leather for long periods.

My nickel cases are mainly 38 wadcutter brass, though I did end up with 50 280 Remington nickel cases.

Barney ("inspecting" the ancient bank guard): Those bullets are GREEN!