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Re: why nickle plated cases?

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08 September 2004, 12:48
grizz
Re: why nickle plated cases?
Quote:

I've read somewhere (yeah was probably BS) that a lot of benchrest/accuracy nuts won't use them due to the fact that the nickel can flake off from around the neck of the case and embed itself into the soft copper or lead of the projectile.
When the round is fired, the nickel being much harder than steel, will score the bore of the rifle as it travels through.
Like I said, not sure if it's BS or not but there you have it.



Nickel is NOT harder than steel. It's nickel not CHROME! Pure hogwash to say nickel could harm barrels, chambers or for that matter dies.

I've never seen nickle plating flaking from rifle shells, and I've loaded a lot of them. Pistol brass,(.38's nd .357), flake some if loaded hot in loose chambers.
08 September 2004, 13:34
Avatar
Quote:

Quote:

I've read somewhere (yeah was probably BS) that a lot of benchrest/accuracy nuts won't use them due to the fact that the nickel can flake off from around the neck of the case and embed itself into the soft copper or lead of the projectile.

When the round is fired, the nickel being much harder than steel, will score the bore of the rifle as it travels through.

Like I said, not sure if it's BS or not but there you have it.





Nickel is NOT harder than steel. It's nickel not CHROME! Pure hogwash to say nickel could harm barrels, chambers or for that matter dies.



I've never seen nickle plating flaking from rifle shells, and I've loaded a lot of them. Pistol brass,(.38's nd .357), flake some if loaded hot in loose chambers.





I wouldn't be so sure....electro-nickel *can* be plated onto brass up to around 50 Rockwell C...That's approaching knife blade hardness (around 55-59 I think).....

Barrel steel is nowhere near that hard. It's treated for toughness, not hardness, probably high 30's to mid 40's.

I've loaded plenty of 357 Mag brass where the nickel has flaked from the case mouth when applying the flare and crimps. The nickel workhardens quickly and becomes brittle and flakes off the base metal. If those flakes embed into the soft copper jacket of the proj I'll bet that it will score the soft barrel material on the way through. Tiny amounts yes, but score it notheless. After a bajillion rounds you *might* see some extra wear maybe...dunno.

It won't stop me using them though.



Like I said, not sure how much cred there is to this but is something to think about....



cheers
08 September 2004, 13:45
lawndart
Here is an alternative use for nickel plated brass cases. Cut some holes in a coconut shell that are just large enough for a monkey to stick his hand into. Hang a big nickel plated case inside the shell. Secure the coconut shell to a tree limb. When a monkey sees the shiny bright object it will reach in to grab it. It can't pull its hand out now because the hand + case combo is too big to fit through the holes. The monkey won't let go of the shiny object.
Voila, just add onions and barbecue sauce and it's roast monkey tuesday at the line doggie's hoochie.
JCN
This also works with a chewing gum wrapper wrapped foil side out around a rock.