I am getting ready to be in need of new brass for semi auto hunting rifle......Is Nickel plated brass a little more dependable for function in adverse conditions over regular brass in semi auto hunting rifles? I have heard it was but only thru rumor mills.
Any special reloading process needed over regular brass,,,,,,Thanks for any input.

Nickel plated might be slicker, is more resistant to verdigris (from long term carry in leather cartridge loops), might chip or peel (and so not so hot for reloading).

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Sincerely,

Hobie

No experience with hunting cartridges. However, I got some 5.56 brass years ago that was nickel, reloaded it 4 times and its ready for loading again just like brass cases. It was always shot thru a semi-auto. Bigger rounds may have different results. For pistol, I like nickel; easier to clean and gives long life just like brass...except 32/20 RP brass which doesn't last long. I had some 38 special nickel chip on me in the past but nothing else. This is my experience, others obviously vary. My opinion is use what you can get. I never found nickel more dependable.

PREFER IT FOR BRASS TO BE CARRIED IN SHELL LOOPS AND DEFINITELY FOR BLACK POWDER LOADS. I HAVE SOME .38 SPECIAL NP BRASS GOING BACK TO THE LATE 1950s AND STILL IN USE, HOWEVER I JUST RE-SIZED 150 NP .44 SPECIAL REMINGTONS THAT HAVE BEEN USED ABOUT FIVE TIMES AND SIX OF THEM WERE SPLIT. NP SIZES EASIER AND SEEMS TO SLIDE INTO THE CHAMBER EASIER BUT SOME OF IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE MORE BRITTLE.

I don't care for it. The ones I had, the nickel flaked off. Necks split sooner. It was hard to know when the base was near splitting, because I could not see the stretch line at the bottom.

I don't think, for the long term at least. Will be slicker for reloading and chambering, but what little of it that I have used seems to case split quicker than brass.

Gunner

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41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

for me and my limited experience. I have found it to split easier and the neck tension gets springy when worked. J.Michael

I 'inherited' a batch of nickel .38 Spl which had been loaded an unrecorded number of times before I got them. I used them for wadcutter loads in our pistol league. I lose a few to neck splits every time I cycle through the batch. I've loaded them maybe 4 or 5 times myself but, like I said, I don't know the history.

There is also some 'net chatter about the nickel galling or otherwise gumming up dies but it's never happened to me. FWIW.

If you have non-carbide dies, it *will* scratch the dies sooner or later as the plating flakes off.

If you carry ammo in leather loops, it has utility in preventing corrosion - especially since some cheaper leather is not veg tanned.

THANKS

I’ve had similar, mixed results. I have some old .38 brass that has been loaded so many times the nickel is mostly worn off. I also had a batch of R-P .45 Colt brass that split probably 50% of the cases on the first resizing. It does seem to go through the dies easier when it’s in good shape. I’m working on 200 pieces of once fired Federal .308 brass right now and it seems to be ok. I also just resized a hundred rounds of R-P .303 Brit nickeled brass (never seen THAT before!) and it seems ok too.

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I've tried trimming it and it just flakes the nickel off so I use it as is for revolver rounds. I have reloaded some Winchester 223 that was nickel as well. I'm really picky about consistent handloads and try to keep stuff trimmed and uniform so I haven't done much with it.