Hello,
Why would I want to use nickel plated rifle cases?
Thanks
John

They typically don't require tumbling like brass cases do, so they should at least in theory last longer, especially if you don't set the shoulder all the way back after each firing.
A lead removing cloth will take care of the tarnish, and they are ready to re-load.

easier to keep clean and easier to find after dropping on the ground for starters.

If you have a varmint load and a big game load for the same rifle, nickel cases are identifiers. Maybe you have a .45 colt and hi pressure loads for a rifle but don't want them in your handgun.....

Personally I like the way they clean up in the tumbler.

If you carry them in a cartridge belt with leather loops they won't corrode. That's why many more pistol cartridges are plated.

Ray

I use them for one of my 7 mm RemMags because I had some on hand and it's one more thing that helps keep my loads separated.

However I just replaced a resizing die that was leaving scratches on the cases. I think the gouges were caused by full length resizing nickel plated cases. I haven't decided whether to switch to neck resizing only or just discard the nickel cases.

I'm afraid I don't have first-hand experience reloading nickel cases, but I have heard that the nickel plating can scratch reloading dies. However, I've also read that carbide dies resist this much better--a consideration for you.

If, as stated above, nickel plated brass can scratch reloading dies, I don't want them anywhere near the chamber of my barrel, which is softer than a reloading die.
I believe that most scratching of dies comes from small particles of carbon residue from burned powder and, from accumulated fine grit.

Nickel brass won't scratch your chamber, may AI User's chamber, but not yours

There was a time when rubber tires first came out for farm tractors a lot of farmers wouldn't use them because they said they would "poison the land"!!!

there is one extremely good reason why you should not use nickel cases and that is that nickel is very toxic to the human body.

All the change in your pocket will give you cancer.

I find the plating makes them prone to neck splitting earlier than unplated brass. Its a function of the harder plating.

I also think they have some value for a long hunt in hot humid climates where the ammo is in contact with leather.

I use them in a 375 to seperate solids from soft points by sight..pretty handy..

nickle is only toxic if you eat it! Don't eat your nickle cases, eat the brass ones!

Nickle cases can scratch the inside of a hardned steel die. A carbide die should be used as a rule for nickle cases. Some nickle cases crack with just a few reloadings.

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
there is one extremely good reason why you should not use nickel cases and that is that nickel is very toxic to the human body.

I hadn't planned on eating my cases. Guess you'd best not accept and five cent coins in you change at the store. They ain't called nickels for nothing.
I've used nickel cases for years, but I've sometimes wondered if it really was nickel? Maybe in the early days when they first came out, but how about now? Ken Waters thought that rather than nickel, the cases were coated with cadmium, which he stated in one of his Pet Loads articles. Regardless of what they're plated with, after about three sessions in my tumbler, the plating has the brass showing through. Considering that either nickel or cadmium, if that's what they now use are, I think less hard than steel, the scratches may be coming from another source. Like maybe a dusty lube pad? Sicne I clean and relube my pad before every reloading session, scratches in my dies have become non-existant, even with nickel cases.
Paul B.
Paul B.

They look so damn cool!

Paul, how do you clean your pad? thanks.

Red

quote:

Originally posted by Paul B:

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
there is one extremely good reason why you should not use nickel cases and that is that nickel is very toxic to the human body.

I hadn't planned on eating my cases. Guess you'd best not accept and five cent coins in you change at the store. They ain't called nickels for nothing.

Ken Waters thought that rather than nickel, the cases were coated with cadmium,
Paul B.

I don't think any brass cases are plated with cadmium..... some steel cases are or a zinc alloyed material one. Both toxic..... oh my goodness!

I have sized many a nickel plated case however. Yes carbide dies are great for handgun cases, but out of reach in cost for most of us in rifle calibers. I don't think nickel plating scratches the rifle dies.... I think the "stickiness" of nickel by nature tends to gall and "stick" small nickel particles to the inside of the dies and these particles are your scratchers! I have polished the inside of a scratching die with 600 grit wet or dry paper many times bringing it back to a non-scratcher without polishing even close the amount needed with this fine grit to remove scratches in the die steel itself or changing the dimensions of the die.. More inconvenience than anything else. As Paul says any dirt or carbon at all agrivates the process!

I think nickels (5 cent piece) may be alloyed (as quarters) to make a cheaper material to strike coins with. Maybe a cupronickel or similar........ Oh but still toxic according to the ???? I agree with the poster who said he thought it was all an "agenda". I do know monel (nickel/copper alloy) will make a welder sick if too many fumes are inhaled.... We'd all be better off watching what we eat as additives in process foods I think! These are ingested! Without a thought.........

BigRx

Fellows

" I ain't no doctor" but I sure can read the medical literature as well as the next guy.

I am not saying that you will get ill if you handle a few nickel cases every once in awhile, but don't kid yourself into thinking that you only get exposure to metals by eating them.

To my knowledge I haven't eaten any metal, but I did have myself tested for residual metals in my body and was shocked when I spoke to my doctor who advised me that through the years of drinking soda from aluminum cans and handling money and having amalgams in some teeth, and wearing a ring,abd dealing with lead from reloading, etc. etc. that I have all kinds of toxic (albeit extremely small amounts) of metal in my body.

See your own doctor and have a pee test and a couple of blood tests and find out for yourself.

I was against nickel at first but a buddy of mine is having great success with them. I am thinking of switching.