Nickel plated brass question

[6x6 elk]

Looking to start reloading for my 300 weatherby and I have several boxes of federal nickel plated brass. I'm new to reloading and wanted to know if these are worth reloading, and if they are what's the advantage or disadvantage over regular brass. What's the number of times of reloading Nickel brass I can expect if they are usable. Thanks for any help.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

The only problem I ever had was the point of impact was different, elevation was alright but the group was about 4 inches to the left. How long they will last is the same as with brass, how much are they worked. In a factory chamber with all the slop that they have just about the same as brass, if your shooting a custom cut chamber with much less slop in the neck area they would last much longer just like normal brass..expansion just like brass is the determining factory. I've read over the year about how they damage this and that but I've never noticed any of this in my rifles or my reloading equipment.

 

[EddieHarren]

I agree with Frank. You'll, no doubt, get all kinds of advise about how the nickel will flake and scratch your chamber. In 40+ years of reloading using a slew of nickel plated brass from, Federal 222 Match to Rem 45-70, I've never encountered any of this.

 

[EddieHarren]

I agree with Frank. You'll, no doubt, get all kinds of advise about how the nickel will flake and scratch your chamber. In 40+ years of reloading using a slew of nickel plated brass from, Federal 222 Match to Rem 45-70, I've never encountered any of this.

NRA Patron Member

 

[woods]

Here is one person's opinion (albeit an accomplished shooter/reloader's opinion)

Varmint Al's Handloading/Reloading Page

I guess what I get out of that is do not anneal and watch for nickel flakes

I have had them damage a Lee Collet mandrel

and dull a trimmer cutter

I suspect that most of the damage to dies occurs where the case mouth meets the forcing cone up inside the die so is not detected, hard to see or measure there

 

[6x6 elk]

Thanks everyone for you input. I'm going to a local gun show this weekend, any Hopefully find some 300 wby brass

 

[MudRunner2005]

You need some of this stuff. I use it to form brass for my .300 Ackley Imp. Magnum.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

muddy's right on the nos brass.... sometimes you can even pick up overruns at shooter's pro shop for a bit more than rem rum brass is priced at. I've got 100 nos 300roy casings on the bench primed ready for a buddy of mine to load when he gets back into town from work. They weigh within a grain of the roy head-stamp brass too.

 

[roninflag]

I use nickel in several calibers and it has worked great for me. it really looks nice once i put it through the tumbler too. what rifle are you loading for.

 

[6x6 elk]

Weatherby Accumark in 300 Weatherby.

 

[roninflag]

6x6- with an accumark i would use norma or nosler. since lapua is not available.... i have not had any problem with nickel and have used it in 30-06, 25-06 , .222 . one year i loaded and shot 2500 rds of 30-06 in matches with no problems at all with the ammo . shooter was so-so.