Reloading Plated Brass

booter_one

Does anyone reload nickel plated brass? Have not seen anything here about it. Heard it was hard on dies. Any info is appreciated![:)]

charliemeyer007

Nickeled brass generally doesn't last as many reloading's. Your carbide sizer die will not see any difference in practical working life. Nickeled brass is nicer in leather cartridge belt loops, doesn't corrode as fast. It extracts a little easier in guns with rough chambers

geeguy

If you are NOT using carbide dies make sure you clean the sizing die after use. Small flecks of Nickel can create small grooves in brass (as I learned from some old dies I got in a "lot purchase").

I load a lot of Nickel because it's popular in .38 spec, but as Charlie indicates, I get a lot of cracking at the mouth and a lot less amount of times I can reload it. If I didn't have so much of it from "lot purchases" I would never use it vs. regular brass.

Although, it is pretty, if your into that type thing.

Best of luck

bpost

It works fine, but as noted it tends to develop mouth cracks sooner than brass cases do.

JustC

it is also harder at the surface than brass,..so MAKE SURE THE CASES ARE CLEAN OF ANY AND ALL DEBRIS, prior to sizing them. The debris, as stated, will wear the interior die surface during sizing. I try not to use it for that reason.

booter_one

Thanks for the replies, just the info I am looking for. At present, I have only a handful and was wondering what the outcome would be if I ran a few. [:)]

dcs shooters

I have loaded 1,000s 38spl,s Justc and bpost have it right [;)]
Keep'em clean and watch for splits [^]