Will nickel plated cases scratch chamber or feed ramps in AR10?

[WindstormSCR]

I've been intentionally shooting and loading a batch of Lapua cases, and a batch of nickel cases, (.308) Specifically because I had heard this and wanted to find out for myself. I feel like I don't have enough data yet to draw any conclusions.

Also, I do nickel plating myself as well on many different things for people. There are a lot of variables to take into account. You can almost just dip a case slowly in and slowly out and it's going to come out looking just like a nickel plated case. Nickel and brass are about the best bonding metals to each other. Usually you'll brass plate something before you nickel plate over the top. There are 3 different common ways to do it and I could see where doing something like electro less plating could actually degrade case life. Again I don't have enough data to prove that. It's just speculation.

I'm actually playing around with plating just the primer pocket/ case rim area on some of my ADG brass for my 7-300 PRC to see if its a feasible way to restore some life into a bunch of cases that are still in really good shape otherwise. My thought was if I was just missing like a half to a thou of clearance I could probably make up that difference safely and structurally.

Final thought, I've been doing all kinds of gun parts. Magazines, slides, guide rods, firing pins....etc... and had very good results. These parts are heavily contacting each other and sliding under load on each other without any indications of bad wear. To clarify, I'm aware that's not apples to apples as those parts are not being expanded under 50,000psi and then resized. I'm just pointing out that pistols are regularly plated with Nicole for it's superior corrosion resistance and natural lubricating properties.

Aaaaannnndddd ... I'm done.

should get a commercial supporter status and plug your business, I know a lot of people (self included) will be interested in a plating/coatings vendor who actually understands guns

bonus points if you can do anodizing, DLC, etc

 

[Bobby Ball]

I can anodize as well. I really want to do DLC, but right now the machines are way out of my price range. Im waiting on some supplies to start trying some applications of nickle-teflon and also nickle- silicon carbide (diamond) to see what type of hardness and durability it will stand up to. It may be wishful thinking but if I can get anywhere close to DLC it would make for a much more economical option for people. I'm also doing some work on Non-conductive parts plating, such as 3d printed stuff. I think there is a lot of potential there. As an example I've been trying plating on my plastic magazine followers.

I'm not currently up and running with it as a business yet, but that's the intention. And to be honest idk why I didn't consider that I could possibly advertise on here. As much information and help that I have received from this site and the contributors, I'd happily offer a discount for hide members. Here's a quick photo I had in my phone. Of a before and after on polishing and plating my firing pin on my H&K just as an example. But I'd be happy to keep everyone in the loop. I guess I didn't even take the time to gauge any interest...

 

[WindstormSCR]

you definitely should once you’re up and running. platings and coatings are a huge area of specialist knowledge that most manufacturers and gunsmiths simply don’t have the time or facilities to fully explore and leverage, so having a specialist shop that can be contracted to would be great, especially one that has an FFL for handling full receivers and as previously stated, actually understands the details of what’s being worked on.

Example I’m working on jigs for HK roller lock custom builds, but the part I’m looking forward to the least is trying to get a good HK-style finish on the completed receivers

 

[bfoosh006]

I don’t shoot nickel plating because it’s white and privileged. I paint all my brass red green yellow and violet to be equitable.

Very Pride month of you. Lol

 

[bfoosh006]

FWIW... I also have had a 45/70 FL die get internally scratched from a Virgin Rem. Nickel case.
However all the virgin cases had been trimmed to a same OAL.... and I may not have properly radiused the sharp edge completely... ( It was decades ago. )

It didn't stop me from using Nickel cases though.

I have had some odd issues with Virgin Nickel cases... I still have a "Dummy" Remington 44 Mag case, with a 300gr Horn. XTP , that cold welded itself together.

No amount of banging with a kinetic bullet hammer would allow the bullet jacket to release from the Nickel case, as a matter of fact, all the hammering did was to cause the lead core to "extrude" out.

It took decades ( before the internet ) to find out why that happened.
BTW, that same cold welding can happen in Ultra-Sonic cleaned cases... they are to "Clean"... so lube your case necks for a more uniform neck pull.
https://bulletin.accurateshooter.co...sonic-cleaning-some-advice-on-bullet-seating/

Sorry for derailing the thread.

 

[Bobby Ball]

Yeah so your head is where mine is at too. That's what I'm aiming to do. I've been having good results so far. It just seems to me along the way with a lot of the different guns and projects, that you realize some of these coatings are really poor quality sometimes. And I'm not interested in making something for myself or others that doesn't improve upon what already exists. There's enough garbage and snake oil out there already. Feel free to send me a message and I'll send you some more pics and further explanation. I'm a big HK fan and that's been what most of my work has been tried out on.