Nickel plated cases

[Veldy]

How many reloads are you all getting from nickel plated cases compared to brass cases?

[1911fan]

Depends on how hot they are loaded. Mid range plinkers will last 10-15 no problem. Hot loads like full house magnums I limit to five.

[Veldy]

Depends on how hot they are loaded. Mid range plinkers will last 10-15 no problem. Hot loads like full house magnums I limit to five.

It depends on the ammunition type as well. What I am trying to get a feel for is how nickel compares to brass.

Thanks for the response though. My brass seems to last forever as it is (thank goodness with today's prices)

[DeanC]

Are you talking straight walled pistol cases?

[selurcspi]

I've worn the nickel right off some of my 38 Spl cases used for PPC loads, probably in the 30 to 40 reload range!
(Don't forget the load is just 2.6 of bullseye)

[Veldy]

Are you talking straight walled pistol cases?

Pistol, but there are 38special and 357magnum cases that are nickel in particular. Brands include Federal and Winchester.

[Einthoven's Triangle]

Shoot them till they split!

[Veldy]

Shoot them till they split!

I always reload until there are signs of fatigue in the metal. I was just curious how much better or worse nickel is. They seem to use nickel plated cases for the better quality ammunition such as Gold Dot or Hydroshock; and I figure that is for a reason, but, they only intend for the cases to be used once. So far, my nickel plated 357s have gone through two loads [excluding the factory load] and look as good as new.

[1911fan]

nickel plated cases were introduced to prevent corrosion from the reaction of copper and the tanned leathers of gunbelts.

There were instances of old time cops getting killed when their corroded ammo would not chamber after years of being carried in a belt. Nickel cases solved that and ever since have been used on "cop" grade ammo.

[Veldy]

nickel plated cases were introduced to prevent corrosion from the reaction of copper and the tanned leathers of gunbelts.

There were instances of old time cops getting killed when their corroded ammo would not chamber after years of being carried in a belt. Nickel cases solved that and ever since have been used on "cop" grade ammo.

Interesting.

It sounds that if a cop kept ammo in his belt so long that it corroded that he had very little chance of hitting his intended target in self-defense anyway ... I guess they shouldn't have bothered with the nickel

[1911fan]

I am guessing that in early un-airconditioned patrol cars in Mississippi in July you could corrodes a copper case in a couple of shifts. Besides whether or not the cop was shooting enough rounds to meet your training needs, does not mean we should not care that his ammo let him down.