Difference in nickel & brass cases....

[damndave]

You will most likely lose the brass before it cracks

[SixPointEight]

I like nickle because people think it cracks too fast so they leave it at the range. That, and the police leave it at the range. So...does is crack faster than brass? Maybe, but I get a ton of it so what's it matter.

[Eat Dirt]

Some interesting info. here

Thanks Guys

I've been tossing the nickel stuff I ' harvest ' into the recycle Bucket for some time now

[fabguy]

Some interesting info. here

Thanks guys

+1
thank you for all the great info

[Marlin Hunter]

Your dies may also wear out faster with nickle brass. I lube my nickle plated brass.

(WAG)
One reason the nickle plated brass may crack sooner is that it work hardens when you re-size the case. Nickle is harder, so it will generate more heat when it is pressed into the sizing die. The harder the brass case, the easier it is to crack. When the factory makes brass, they must anneal the case after each operation because the brass work hardens.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2007/06/how-cartridge-brass-is-made/

[Bill Steele]

From my experience, how I use the brass I am shooting affects its life far more than what material it is made of.

When I am running full house magnum loads my brass cracks pretty fast relative to when I am running light loads.

In addition, I load some oversized lead bullets for a few of my guns. I have to bell that brass more to avoid shaving the lead when seating the bullets. This brass cracks far sooner than say standard sized FMJ loaded rounds.

I have a buddy that will not pick up nickle brass for reloads as he swears it wears his dies prematurely. I pick up everything I see.

[Fishslayer]

The theory is dissimilar metals causes the splitting, but I just have not found this to be true.

It might be the plating process. I know that chrome plating will cause hydrogen embrittlement and people who make bike parts have to deal with it. But that is a three step process.

No idea if simple nickel plating will do this. They've made quite a few nickel plated handguns over the years.

I would think that excessive belling and roll crimping would be more of a factor.

[Cowboy T]

I'm with Bill Steele and JT1989. Pick up what you see and use it! If it splits, so what? Unless you're running some really rare cartridge (e. g. .44 AMP), there's plenty more.

Bill also makes a good point about how you load those cases. I think one reason I get so many reloads out of my cases is that I don't typically load 'em full-house. Even my .357 Magnum "hotter" load is only about 28,000 PSI or so (same as typical 9mm).

[ireload]

I'm with Bill Steele and JT1989. Pick up what you see and use it! If it splits, so what? Unless you're running some really rare cartridge (e. g. .44 AMP), there's plenty more.

Bill also makes a good point about how you load those cases. I think one reason I get so many reloads out of my cases is that I don't typically load 'em full-house. Even my .357 Magnum "hotter" load is only about 28,000 PSI or so (same as typical 9mm).

I agree with Cowboy T. I've had nickel plated .38spl and .357mag. which I purchased new manufactured loaded rounds back in the early 90's and still load them to this day. But I only load them with minimum charge. I'm sure with full bore load they would have split long before. Several are showing signs of nickel plating wearing off.

[Southpaw45]

Leave you nickel brass at the range and I will pick it up and will be happy to reload them again for my use.......

[Viagrow]

Nickel plated brass will crack, split and scratch your dies. Mail it all to me and rid yourself of that nasty junk.

[meaty-btz]

I have a ton of nickle plated from the early 90s. Some of it has the nickel worn off.

[GeoffLinder]

IME nickel plated has pretty much the same service life as plain brass. I learned this using both types feeding a .38 super comp gun in the early 90's. These were way over max, primer frlattening, +++P loads. I used Remington brand brass and nickel plated .38 super interchangeably for a number of years with no difference in anything reloading them.

Now different brands may be an issue if you are pushing the max end on loads.

For my low to mid-range 9mm plinking ammo, I don't care what the brass is as long as it goes through the press