Reloading Nickel Plated Brass - OK?

[ChuckBen]

Returned from the range today after trying out my new 9 mm reloads. When recovering my brass, and some from others, I got some Speer and Winchester 9 mm casings that were Nickel plated. (I checked the they were not steel with a magnet.) Are these ok to reload like my other brass?

 

[ronnie gore]

brass

yes i load them all the time, sometimes they crack earlier than all brass cases.

 

[mtgianni]

The nickel can also flake off and stick to a die, grooving the rest of the cases it touches. There is no safety hazard with using them but there are some things to know. I toss the ones I have long before the case life of brass cases.

 

[Nevada Ed]

+1 ;
with the post above......

I use the nickel for +P or SD loads.

Brass for target or plinking, since they do "Flake" a little.

 

[springer99]

nickel cases will reload just likw brass and even resize with less effort. I haven't seen any flaking of nickeled cases since about 1975. I think the plating process is much improved. I also use them mostly for defensice loads to deferentiate from lighter target loads, but haven't seen any difference in case life.

 

[Mistered]

Make sure you perform a good preliminary cleaning of the cases before resizing. Some nickle cases feel a little 'tighter' in the sizing die than brass so ensureing they are clean and smooth will help. Expect less 'life' from them and watch for splitting.

 

[VARMINT POPPER]

Nickle cases do flake off, Especially new cases. if You closely inspect a new case and look just inside the neck You may see some loose plating that is about to flake off or will stick to a bullet when loading, and then get shot down your barrel with damage to the rifling. I always trim new cases to avoid this.

Good Shooting

Lindy

 

[ontargetagain]

I like the nickel cases for my semi-autos, makes it easier to identify my cases off the floor of the range for pick up
I have shot plenty of 38 and 45acp in nickel and they have held up for me so far the same as brass. Only got one where the nickel plating actually was peeling away from the brass.
You may find there is a slight variance in thickness and a small adjustment in die setting over bare brass casings.
Karl

 

[colt_saa]

Like ontargetagain, I too prefer to use nickel cases for my semi-autos and SMGs.

When shooting at outdoor facilities, it is much easier to spot nickel in the grass than brass in the grass

I have never experienced nickel flaking off and getting stuck to projectiles or damaging bores. This is not a concern with handgun cartridges

I do have 357 Magnum cases that have been reloaded so many times over the past 4 decades that the nickel is simply worn off down to the brass.

Cleaned and waiting to be loaded​

 

[JimBianchi]

what ronnie said.

 

[apollo99]

I reload nickel, It looks nice , cleans easier and faster than brass, and is easier to spot when picking up my brass. Like others have said it does tend to split a little faster, probably due to the extra step in the nickel coating process. I say reload em' if you got em'.

 

[gwpercle]

I've reloaded about six gazillion nickle plated cases , never had any problems , steel and carbide dies used. I've reloaded a batch of 200 38 special's so many times over the years the plating is halfway worn off , the head stamps are still nickel but the case is nearly all brass colored.
Load them until split or lost. Even if a speck flakes off (which I have rarely seen) just carry on , it want hurt a thing and it's not dangerous....it's just a thin plating on a brass case .
Gary

 

[patrickd]

nickel cases will reload just likw brass and even resize with less effort. I haven't seen any flaking of nickeled cases since about 1975. I think the plating process is much improved. I also use them mostly for defensice loads to deferentiate from lighter target loads, but haven't seen any difference in case life.

Ditto. I've loaded lots of nickel plated 357's and never seen the plating crack or flake. I do see the brass start to show as the sizer die begins to wear through the plating.
Load them until they split then throw them away.

 

[peachhead]

Never had a problem with it.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[Mikeinkaty]

I am now only reloading them for light target loads for my 686P revolver. Not going to use them in my Henry rifle. Don't want to have to fish out a case from the rifle if a case snaps off.

 

[Mistered]

Don't want to have to fish out a case from the rifle if a case snaps off.

It wont actually 'snap' off - maybe a crack or split but that is all. I recently discovered about 300 .357 nickle cases I forgot I had and since I am low on brass it's getting loaded as we 'speak'!

 

[dave201]

Use carbide sizer only. You will scratch the cases with the c**p that embeds itself in standard dies
Carbide just makes the pushing and pulling easier for all reloading
Propererly annealing cases and a slight trim cuts down on case mouth splits from crimping

 

[imakmst]

load 'em, shoot 'em, load 'em again, shoot 'em, til you can't no mo

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

I prefer nickel.

 

[chief38]

Nickel plated cases are absolutely reloadable. The only problem is that they will not last as long as solid Brass, however if you are picking them up for free - go for it! They DO clean up faster and look better. Solid brass is more malleable and Nickel plating makes them a little stiffer - but slicker and easier to go in and out of the Dies.