Nickel plated cartridges

[hundy]

I was sorting all my collected cartridges and I have a lot of nickel plated cartridges in 357mag and 38spc. I picked them all out and put them in bag. I am tumbling a load of 357mag brass now, and I went with my gut and decided not to put the nickel plated ones in with the brass. Can these be reloaded? My gut instinct was no, due to the hardness of the metal. I was curious if anyone does reload these cases.

Thank you,

Jay

[3006]

Yes they can I use them for my heavy loads so they don't get mixed up.

[cavemanlrrp]

Yes on the reload.
I don't even separate, just load them all the same. Never noticed any difference sizing or shooting.
I shoot 9mm but don't know why it would be any different for 357/38 cases.

Best
caveman

[mikeyr]

Same here, heavy 45Colt in Nickel, standard pressure in brass. That way I won't blow my SAA with my 92 Lever ammo.

I also have only .38spl in nickel and my .357 is brass. That is only because i picked up over a 1,000 nickel .38spl cases for free at a range 20+ years ago, but i have gotten used to it now. I do find that nickel cases split at the mouth more than brass, but I still get quite a few reloads out of them.

[hermosabeach]

Nickel is just Brass plated with Nickel. Make sure you done get some Blaser AL cases in with the nickel - reload as normal

[slayer61]

I cull the nickle cases out of my supplies. I find them to be more effort to reload, IE harder on my press

[TAS]

I reload them along with the brass and do not separate. I don't find them to be any different on the press or when firing.

I do find that the nickel cases split more than the brass so just be sure to inspect them thoroughly.

['ol shooter]

I reload them along with the brass and do not separate. I don't find them to be any different on the press or when firing.

I do find that the nickel cases split more than the brass so just be sure to inspect them thoroughly.

That. I use them only for defensive rounds, and limit their reload life accordingly.

[robert101]

Yep me too. But I do reload them. Some of my 45 automatic nickel cases have the nickel eroding off of them. They still work fine.

[fguffey]

Can these be reloaded?

I have 38 Special and 357 Magnum cases that have been tumbled to the point the brass is showing through.

The only problem I have had with nickel cases has been with case forming like going from 30/06 to 35 Whelen and 338/06. I loose half of the cases to neck splits.

F. Guffey

[JagerDog]

Yes they can I use them for my heavy loads so they don't get mixed up.

Ya...heavy (as in not safe for all guns which will chamber) or to identify non-tox.

[pacrat]

I started reloading pistol cartridges in 1970. In that time, it would be impossible to know how many thousands of nickle plated cases I've loaded.

What I've found, is that they tend to suffer split necks more than unplated cases.

And if sized "unlubed" in carbide dies. They will in time, transfer nickle onto the interior of the sizer. Causing all cases to have longitudinal scratches on cases. Until you polish the nickle out of the die.

[Red9]

Jay
Those nickle cases will blow up when reloaded. Very dangerous. Do not use them.
Please forward them and I will properly dispose of them.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

[TKM]

They split more often and earlier than regular brass. Easy to tell when listening to your tumbler, the bad ones ring like a bell.

[BajaJames83]

I cull the nickle cases out of my supplies. I find them to be more effort to reload, IE harder on my press

I load them too but Ive noticed the complete opposite nickel has been easier to resize as its smoother than brass.