rustybayonet Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Nickel plated case question: Are they any better than plain brass? Are they any worse than plain brass? Are they nothing special or just pretty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compshootfl Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 (edited) They clean easily. Loading takes a little more effort. Easy to find, so picking up your own brass is easier (I recover about 90% of my own brass). Overall...I use and like them...especially since I got a 5 gallon bucket for free. Edited April 19, 2016 by compshootfl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dansedgli Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 They seem to split easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 I trash them or trade them if I happen upon a huge quantity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamboo Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 I've heard that they help feeding as nickle is harder and slicker. If you look at the coefficient of friction tables for brass on brass and nickle on nickle you'll find that nickle has a higher coefficient than brass so I think that is just folklore. I agree that they split easier but I've shot nickle plated 38 super and tumbled them so often that the nickle plating has been worn off. I can't tell a difference between brass vs nickle as far as function in the gun, and reloading brass takes less force than reloading nickle. On the plus side they look great loaded with Montana Gold bullets, so the cool factor is high. I wouldn't spend a penny more for nickle over brass but if I have them I'll use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herky Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 They seem to split easier. My experience as well, especially 38 special, have not had the same problem with 40 or 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 They seem to split easier. This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I was using nickel to load minor, but got tired of sorting them, so now I just use different bullets to tell my loads apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
314shane Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I agree with, "they split easier" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al503 Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Agree about the splitting but disagree about the friction/slickness. Don't know anything about the friction coefficients but if I rub two clean nickel cases together, they feel noticeably slicker than rubbing two clean brass cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashAndPoof Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Really? What caliber do you guys notice nickel splitting more? I don't think I've ever had one split on me before... but then again the overwhelming majority of my reloads are brass case and I probably lose them in the grass too early to notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 No No Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al503 Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Really? What caliber do you guys notice nickel splitting more? I don't think I've ever had one split on me before... but then again the overwhelming majority of my reloads are brass case and I probably lose them in the grass too early to notice. I've loaded up Starline 38SC brass and nickel more than a dozen times. During that time, I had a few nickel cases split at the mouth but zero of the brass cases. I know its not a huge sample size but it does seem to go with what most seem to report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpaw Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Really? What caliber do you guys notice nickel splitting more? I don't think I've ever had one split on me before... but then again the overwhelming majority of my reloads are brass case and I probably lose them in the grass too early to notice. 9mm. I've had a LOT more nickel cases split than brass. I've even had a once fired nickel case split when reloading it for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 I was using nickel to load minor, but got tired of sorting them, so now I just use different bullets to tell my loads apart.Same here Bob. BBI's in minor loads and JHP's for Open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfalcon00 Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 They seem to split easier.My experience as well, especially 38 special, have not had the same problem with 40 or 9. Yeah I got a whole bucket of nickel 38 special that just sits in the corner of the basement. Maybe I'll figure out a good use for them one of these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishsticks Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 In my experience both the 9 and 40 nickel split at a higher rate than brass. I just roll with it. Not all of them split and they make up a low percentage of the range pickup I use. They blend in with the rock in our bays, so I probably lose more than I pick up anyway. I wouldn't specifically buy any though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 love nickle cases. no spiting issues for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rishii Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Add me to the list of nickel user I switched to nickel 38 supercomp case a few years back, and have not regretted it It cost more that regular supercomp brass, but I get more of my brass back than before In my club we police the brass after the match, and the nickel cases are easier to find in the grass, and in the pile of brass we sort thru Afterwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZinZA Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Since the nickel cases are just brass cases plated with a microscopically thin film of nickel, there should be no reason for them to split more readily. If this is the case, though, then i wonder which aspect of the plating process is making the brass work-harden faster so as to split sooner. The engineer in me is intrigued Sent by Jedi mind control Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyD Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 They do seem to split a lil faster but I don't really care as all my brass is range brass (hello free). If I were to buy brass I would definitely skip the nickel if I had an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 When I shot revolver I had 1000 Nickle cases and I loaded them for several times with no problem..it was a 625 shooting major.. Mostly jacked bullets,not coated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I noticed 38Spl. cases that splitted sooner than brass, but 9mm seemed to last the same. Most duty ammo is plated to resist corrosion better, & supposed better lubricity, & therefore more reliable. But I wouldn't pay a premium for it for our game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
open17 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I don't care one way or the other for local matches and practice ammo. As long as it's not split, the primers don't fall out and it fits a case gauge---it's good to go. Usually purchase a few thousand nickel 9mm for major match ammo. I do believe it's just a touch slicker, there is a better chance it's actually once fired, and the rims and extractor grooves are generally not beat up. It seems to feed and extract just a touch smoother. Load it , shoot it at Sectional/Area matches, walk away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgj3 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I like it! Anyone who wants to toss nickel cases out, let me know and I will pay for shipping and your trouble to send it my way. I think it makes really pretty ammo, and when I'm really sucking at a big match, I can look into one of my ammo boxes and think, "Damn, at least my ammo looks awesome!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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