quote:

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Originally posted by KING:
DOES ANYONE KNOW A WAY TO ANNEAL NICKEL PLATED BRASS?

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King, I've looked around and am unable to garner ANY information on nickel annealing [other than brass].

I�ve personally annealed brass on a number of occasions, but always avoided nickel (unless it is new) due to malleability & neck splitting issues.

Since the brass is nickel plated (from the way I understand it), make the properties undesirable for either reloading or annealing. If I were you, I'd stick to brass [tried & true].

Perhaps another brother here has had better experiences they are willing to share.

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Best regards,
Alex

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! - Benjamin Franklin 1759

The nickel on cartridge cases is deposited chemically as opposed to electro-chemically, hence the term "electroless" nickel plating. The process has the advantage of "throwing' nickel into internal cavities and crevices, whereas electro-deposited nickel will not. The nickel deposit is very thin, but very strong and brittle as-deposited. Thus our nickel plated cases seem to take more force to size, etc.

As-deposited, the plating usually is laced with microscopically small cracks which can propagate into real cracks with excessive flexure.

The temperatures and conditions used to "anneal" the brass itself will also soften the nickel plating.

Good shooting.

Robert