Nickel Vs Brass Cases

[AJ]

Does any see in real difference in using them? Yes, I know one is silver and the other is brass in color. Does one last longer in reloading? What are the pro's and con's of these cases?

 

[max]

Some people say the nickel doesn't last as long. I don't know, I use both. Sometimes use nickel to denote something.

 

[Dvus]

In my experience, the nickel run through the sizing die easier, but are more brittle and crack after multiple loadings before the brass does.

 

[BigBill]

I think we can leave a revolver loaded longer with no Corrosion with nickel cases? I leave a gun loaded a longtime with nickel cases.

 

[rockquarry]

I think most will agree that the nickel plated brass will suffer splits at the case mouth much sooner than the plain brass cases. Other than that shortcoming, I can't see any difference. Some say the nickeled brass is harder on size dies. That may be a perceived fault rather than a real one, but even if it's true, I doubt it's of any significance.

 

[SLT223]

I don’t recall why, but nickel cases split in no time. That doesn’t mean avoid them, just don’t be shocked when they are in the recycling bin well inside of ten reloads no matter how you load them.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I use both and don't see any difference. Have yet to have any split.

 

[diyj98]

Nickle looks nicer to me, but I've always assumed that the brass cases would last longer. Of course my assumptions have been wrong before.

 

[Racer X]

Some people say the nickel doesn't last as long. I don't know, I use both. Sometimes use nickel to denote something.

I have nickel in 9,40, 10 and .357. My plan is hot defense loads go in the nickel cases and get tossed when used. That and the HP bullets make them easy to tell apart from range practice rounds.

 

[colt_saa]

Cosmetically I prefer nickel. This is the main reason I use it, I use the brass casings for events where I can not retrieve my brass

Nickel is easier to spot if you are picking up your brass

There is definitely a higher amount of splitting with nickel but not enough to stop me from using nickel

I use nickel cases in 357 Magnum, 357SIG, 9MM Parabellum, 22 TCM, 10MM Auto, 45 ACP, 45 Long Colt, and 500 Magnum

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[ddixie884]

I'm not a metallurgist but when I was first loading for .38spl I noticed I had more splits with nickel cases. I asked and read up on it and the consensus opinion was that the nickel plating was changing the metal and made it brittle. That was a long time ago and there may have been advances in plating technologies. I really like to put specialty loads up in plated cases and prefer to load ammo that I consume more of in plain brass.

 

[AJ]

I don’t recall why, but nickel cases split in no time. That doesn’t mean avoid them, just don’t be shocked when they are in the recycling bin well inside of ten reloads no matter how you load them.

I just reload them (Brass or Nickel) until I find them split. Usually notice it when I am belling the case mouths.

 

[Kid Shileen]

I get more splits with 38 and 357 but not sure why. Other calibers no difference.

 

[Safestuffer]

I've also noticed that my nickel cases split sooner than my brass cases,
And for what its worth, i've only stuck two cases in sizing dies. Both were .223, and both were nickel....I've only tried to size two nickel .223 cases and both stuck.
Both were stuck bad enough to rip the rim and required tools to extract from the die, so I tossed the few nickel .223 cases I have found amongst my brass.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I have used just about every brand and type over the past 49 years. My usual practice has been to keep everything in batches sorted by headstamps and plated/plain brass. I have brass that is older than I am that continues in use as long as it remains useful.

No doubt in my mind that nickel-plated brass will display neck splits more frequently. Sometimes after one or two uses, sometimes after a dozen, sometimes after loading and sitting in the box for a while. That is okay, I will continue using what I have as long as it remains useful, pitch it in the trash when it stops being useful.

I have GI-surplus .30-06 brass as old as 1935 (Frankford Arsenal match) that continues to serve for modest pressure uses. I have GI-surplus .45ACP brass as old as 1918 that is still in use. I have GI-surplus .38 Special brass from the mid-1960s that remains in use for practice ammo.

As long as it serves the purpose I continue to use it, but I continue to keep track of each batch and use each for (what I consider to be) appropriate uses. New brass and once-fired factory brass is treated differently than some of my really old range fodder.

I won't throw nickel-plated brass away just because it may not last as long as straight brass cases. I only have what has come my way over the past half-century so I have to make do with what I have.

Maybe one day I will learn how to spell metallurgy and understand what I am talking about!

 

[stansdds]

Nickel plated cases tend to be easier to clean and do pass through a carbide resizing die with less pressure. The nickel plating also protects the brass from corrosion. Those are the good points.

The bad points about reloading nickel plated brass is that the brass is more brittle due to hydrogen embrittlement caused by the plating process, so case mouth splits are more common and you might even get a crack along the length of the case with high pressure loads.

Also, little bits of nickel can come off of the case during resizing. You are not likely to notice this when resizing plated brass, but you can end up with long scratches along the body of a plain brass case unless you clean the resizing die after using it for nickel plated brass.

 

[Ray1970]

Most of the nickel cases I have loaded were 45 ACP. I processed many of them so many times that the nickel finish wore through and they were mostly brass and didn’t see any premature splitting or cracking.

 

[smithra_66]

Nickel cases always seem harder to extract from the expander die for me. I think the process of nickel plating makes the case harder, obviously, which makes it hold onto the expander more tightly.

Other than that I don't see many differences.

 

[mtgianni]

I believe nickel cases were developed due to the long standing practice by police of leaving 38 cases in dump pouches for long enough times to turn brass green and prevent chambering. I have quite a bit of nickle 38 and a few others but see it as a general disadvantage rather than a plus. I see early wear from splits and flaking.

 

[rwsmith]

Nickel cases don't tarnish....

Nickel cases don't tarnish as badly as plain brass. I can put Nickel plated ammo in a gun and months later, take it out to clean/oil it and the cases still look new.