The Accurate Reloading Forums
Nickel vs. Brass

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01 February 2009, 05:10
sdtdfw
Nickel vs. Brass
I am new to rifle reloading. I have several boxes of Winchester Nickel cases in 7mm Rem. Mag. Is there any difference in the way they need to be handled in the reloading process? I know the nickel is a harder case.

Thanks,
01 February 2009, 05:29
hivelosity
no real diffrence. go as usual. i clean the necks good because I chamfer the inside before resizing . just in case some of the flakes from the nickel does not scratch or get inside the die,
01 February 2009, 05:40
MickinColo
It’s been my experience that if your dies and cases are not clean the nickel will get scratched up pretty fast. Other than that I’ve never treated them any different than regular brass cases.

I think hivelosity has a good point about cleaning up the chips after trimming.
01 February 2009, 05:46
muck
Nickel plated brass is prettier.
It is usually rough inside the neck, hard on expanders. Difficult to seat bullets without damage(not sure if this matters).
The harder metal often will split at the neck much sooner than yellow(cartridge) brass.
As far as reloading procedures. There isn't a need for any "special" procedures with nickel plated brass.
That said I would avoid working the brass as much as possible. I would bump(push) the shoulder back about .002". See HotCore's partial full length resizing thread/instructions. Also good to avoid over working the neck by using a bushing die(Redding full length bushing die or a combination of a neck sizing die and a body die.
Hope this helps.

muck
01 February 2009, 05:56
vapodog
quote:
Is there any difference in the way they need to be handled in the reloading process?

Not in my opinion.


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01 February 2009, 06:18
ted thorn
It sure is purdy with blue or black moly bullets.


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01 February 2009, 07:43
sdtdfw
Thanks