I shot some SIG Elite Hunter 130 grain tipped ammo in my SP10. This factory ammo has nickel plated cases. It shot real well and feeds well. Is there any downside to running nickel plated cases through an AR?
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Yes, it's ruined.I shot some SIG Elite Hunter 130 grain tipped ammo in my SP10. This factory ammo has nickel plated cases. It shot real well and feeds well. Is there any downside to running nickel plated cases through an AR?
You realize the cases are nickel PLATED brass right? The plating, as thin as it is, can't be much harder than it's substrate. In fact, one could argue based on its lower coefficient of friction that nickel is actually less abrasive than brass.So I checked out the scientific scratch rate scale of nickel vs steel, which turns out to be the same...resulting in sharp tiny pieces of nickel able to lightly scratch steel as it wears to dull the sharp nickel edges.
So sharp nickel edges can have an effect on steel.
If you use nickel cases, make sure they are clean, free of nicks, burrs, and sharp edges.
Brass IS softer, and will not scratch unless it has picked up something hard that gets embedded in the brass case, like maybe grit from primer residue.
Clean smooth cases and clean chambers might be the key.
I shot some SIG Elite Hunter 130 grain tipped ammo in my SP10. This factory ammo has nickel plated cases. It shot real well and feeds well. Is there any downside to running nickel plated cases through an AR?
That guys still around spreading fuddlore?Yeah, well Ron Spoomer said...
He's king of the Fudds. Sometimes I'll feel my disgust for humanity beginning to recede, and I'll go look at his latest article, and I'm right back to normal.That guys still around spreading fuddlore?
agree!!!!! I was going to jump in but I've been too 'argumentative' lately lolYou realize the cases are nickel PLATED brass right? The plating, as thin as it is, can't be much harder than it's substrate. In fact, one could argue based on its lower coefficient of friction that nickel is actually less abrasive than brass.
FFS, I can't even tell if some of these threads are for real or just a joke.
I challenge the OP to shoot 4k rounds of nickel plated in one gun then 4k of brass in another then compare feed ramp condition.
Except it won't matter because the throat will be toast in both of them. People seem to forget barrels are like tires. You use them, they die, you install new ones.
You make some great points. I realize it’s nickel plating over a brass case. There are some articles where guys claim they have damaged reloading dies so that all subsequent brass gets scratched until they polish out the dies. I am just now getting set up to reload 6.5 Creedmoor. I am collecting spent brass from factory ammo fired thru my newer SP10, mostly Hornady. I only have 149 rounds thru my rifle. I would not pay extra to buy nickel plated brass. But this SIG factory ammo is the best performing factory ammo I have shot. After reading the article about scratching the reloading dies, I just thought I would ask here with all the experience on this site. I appreciate your response.You realize the cases are nickel PLATED brass right? The plating, as thin as it is, can't be much harder than it's substrate. In fact, one could argue based on its lower coefficient of friction that nickel is actually less abrasive than brass.
FFS, I can't even tell if some of these threads are for real or just a joke.
I challenge the OP to shoot 4k rounds of nickel plated in one gun then 4k of brass in another then compare feed ramp condition.
Except it won't matter because the throat will be toast in both of them. People seem to forget barrels are like tires. You use them, they die, you install new ones.
I've loaded hundreds, probably over a thousand, but definitely hundreds of nickel plated cases. They are more likely to stick in a die if not well lubed. Beyond that I've never had a problem. The necks seem to crack after fewer firings than plain brass and eventually the plating wears through/off. I've not encountered any die scratching but I wouldn't argue with someone who had.You make some great points. I realize it’s nickel plating over a brass case. There are some articles where guys claim they have damaged reloading dies so that all subsequent brass gets scratched until they polish out the dies. I am just now getting set up to reload 6.5 Creedmoor. I am collecting spent brass from factory ammo fired thru my newer SP10, mostly Hornady. I only have 149 rounds thru my rifle. I would not pay extra to buy nickel plated brass. But this SIG factory ammo is the best performing factory ammo I have shot. After reading the article about scratching the reloading dies, I just thought I would ask here with all the experience on this site. I appreciate your response.
Do you anneal? Ever try it on nickle brass?I've loaded hundreds, probably over a thousand, but definitely hundreds of nickel plated cases. They are more likely to stick in a die if not well lubed. Beyond that I've never had a problem. The necks seem to crack after fewer firings than plain brass and eventually the plating wears through/off. I've not encountered any die scratching but I wouldn't argue with someone who had.
Just the science, the nickel plating is still all nickel, and has the hardness of nickel.You realize the cases are nickel PLATED brass right? The plating, as thin as it is, can't be much harder than it's substrate. In fact, one could argue based on its lower coefficient of friction that nickel is actually less abrasive than brass.
FFS, I can't even tell if some of these threads are for real or just a joke.
I challenge the OP to shoot 4k rounds of nickel plated in one gun then 4k of brass in another then compare feed ramp condition.
Except it won't matter because the throat will be toast in both of them. People seem to forget barrels are like tires. You use them, they die, you install new ones.
Nope. Not that kinda handloader.Do you anneal? Ever try it on nickle brass?
Definitely made me curious. Just tried the same thing. Got a couple nickel plated cases, some barrels, some dies, my bench vise. Went to town trying to scratch things. They all showed what appeared to be scratches but it all wiped right off with my finger. Looked at my finger. It was shiny. Looked at the cases, they are missing plating anywhere I rubbed them hard on my test surfaces. I remain unconvinced that nickel plating poses any danger to barrel steel.Just the science, the nickel plating is still all nickel, and has the hardness of nickel.
It could be fine nickel dust, any sharp corners would tend to be a problem until they are rounded off, rubbing against equally hard steel surface.
Let's do a test I have the stuff...
Pictured 45-70 barrel, nickel case rubbed across it's surface, scratches the face of the barrel steel, and it's not particularly sharp...notice it even breaks down the sharp edges of the rifle barrels steel, as the case head goes off the edge of the barrel.
Things can be too smooth to work. Like trying to slide 2 glass panes across each other. Surface tension is tied to surface area, somebody smarter than me alluded to.I've loaded hundreds, probably over a thousand, but definitely hundreds of nickel plated cases. They are more likely to stick in a die if not well lubed. Beyond that I've never had a problem. The necks seem to crack after fewer firings than plain brass and eventually the plating wears through/off. I've not encountered any die scratching but I wouldn't argue with someone who had.
Yeah that was my best guess as to why they stick harder in dies.Things can be too smooth to work. Like trying to slide 2 glass panes across each other. Surface tension is tied to surface area, somebody smarter than me alluded to.
Does he still hate the new flash in the pan chambering, 6.5CM? It'll die out any day now and you'll see he was right. Just wait.He's king of the Fudds. Sometimes I'll feel my disgust for humanity beginning to recede, and I'll go look at his latest article, and I'm right back to normal.
Yes, working on a microscopic level. It's why its nice if bolts are fluted, it's all about reducing friction. Nickel cases are nice, sure, but we did fine without it so far. I wonder if anyone sat around debating if they would have survived, succeeded, or won the match if only their shit was nickel plated?Yeah that was my best guess as to why they stick harder in dies.
Some where, some one has considered it, just because people are that retarded.I wonder if anyone sat around debating if they would have survived, succeeded, or won the match if only their shit was nickel plated?
My case wasn't missing any nickel off the rim, plus it dinged the sharp edge of the barrel steel as seen, actually cutting into it, very slightly.Definitely made me curious. Just tried the same thing. Got a couple nickel plated cases, some barrels, some dies, my bench vise. Went to town trying to scratch things. They all showed what appeared to be scratches but it all wiped right off with my finger. Looked at my finger. It was shiny. Looked at the cases, they are missing plating anywhere I rubbed them hard on my test surfaces. I remain unconvinced that nickel plating poses any danger to barrel steel.
Your plated cases must be a hell of a lot tougher than any I have here, I can't manage to damage anything with them.
None so blind as those who will not see!I don't see an edge worn down. I can also see stuff that would catch your nail all the way around from where the barrel was cut.
Pretty much as the science says.
Just the facts,... believe what you like.
Use what you like.
I'm not "denying" or "refusing to see" anything. Instead of just arguing with you, since you seem to feed off of that, I went and did the same test. Then I posted my results. They exactly mirror those of @supercorndogs . Your test gave you very different results that I can't replicate, and I wasn't there to see it, and your pictures aren't exactly of amazing quality, so I'm just going to keep on believing exactly what my "science" showed me and you're free to do you.Amazing how many guys on this site deny the obvious. They won't believe what they see, and make phony excuses, on many levels, not just on this.
Logical reasoning, and critical thinking have evaporated.
It's the science of metallurgy, I actually investigated it...then actually did the experiment, in real time.
Kind of a lost cause, but maybe one ot two will appreciate it.
The 2+2 = 5 crowd ...if it makes you "feel" better... then, that's "your" answer!
I'm surprised you didn't cut that barrel in half with that nickle plated brass case and all that rubbing...or start a fire!So I went to town on this junker McGowan barrel with a nickle plated case trying to scrath this ss barrel with the rim of the case. You can see the nickle stuck in the machine marks. View attachment 8390712
Then wiped it with rem oil. You can still see all the ridges on the machine marks.
View attachment 8390711
Then I went again.
View attachment 8390716
Wiped it off.
View attachment 8390718
And
View attachment 8390719
And still didn't even scratch the machine marks.
New York times will melt it for sure.I wanna use newspaper as a case ,will they leave burn marks in my chamber , its an M 177 ?
Last night I annealed some LC nickel 5.56 brass. With the black coating it was hard to see the annealing but it sized just fine and I didn’t measure any spring back. Going to shoot it today and see how it does.Do you anneal? Ever try it on nickle brass?
I've loaded hundreds, probably over a thousand, but definitely hundreds of nickel plated cases. They are more likely to stick in a die if not well lubed. Beyond that I've never had a problem. The necks seem to crack after fewer firings than plain brass and eventually the plating wears through/off. I've not encountered any die scratching but I wouldn't argue with someone who had.
The main reason nickel brass is used is factory defensive ammo and factory hunting ammo, where the ammunition may be stored in "less than ideal conditions" for an extended period before use, so it acts as a corrosion/tarnish resistant coating to prevent the rounds from giving top performance when called on.Some where, some one has considered it, just because people are that retarded.
To be clear, all my experience with nickel cases is because they pick up off the range floor the same as brass does. Not because I care either way about any of the perceived pros/cons of them.
I loaded and fired then annealed sized and fired several of the same LC nickel plated black 5.56 cases Saturday & Sunday. Never had any issues. It would seem that the nickel cases might need 0.1 more grains of Ramshot TAC to get back in the velocity node for that gun with 77 grain TMKs.I mixed a bunch of 280 plain and nickle plated brass after I was told the nickle plated was harder to size. I couldn't tell the diffrence between them. I seem to remember the two needing diffrent charge weights.