OT: Nickel Plated Brass vs. Carbide Dies

[Modoc ED]

I either read somewhere or heard from someone that nickel plated brass was hard on and wore out carbide dies because of the extra thickness of the nickel plating on the brass. The reasoning was that because of the nickel plating, the walls of the brass were actually thicker than non-plated brass thereby making them oversized for standard sized carbide dies or any other dies for that matter. It was even suggested that if using nickel plated brass that they should be lubricated even if using carbide dies. Huh????

Is that true??? I've got just over 1000 nickel plated .38 S&W Special nickel plated cases for reloading and only 100 or so standard brass cases. Shouldn't I be ok using my carbide dies and shouldn't I be able to size them using my carbide dies without lubicating them???

[Old Ironsights]

Biggest problem I've found with nickle is tha as the brass gets worked - esp if you use a heavy crimp - the nickle flakes off and it looks like stuff.

But I don't think nickle can do any damage to carbide.

[J Miller]

I have hundreds if not thousands of rounds of nickled 38, 357, 45 ACP-Colt, and I've never had any cause to think the brass is being over worked. Nor have I noticed the plated cases causing any damage or undue wear to the dies.

About all I have noticed is the same thing OI mentioned. As the cases are used the plating flakes off and they look terrible. Don't matter to me though.

Joe

[2ndovc]

I've got two large boxes ( several thousand) of 38spl and 45 acp nickle brass that my Grandfather reloaded several times for light target loads. Other than the cases looking cinda crummy the dies that did all the work still work just fine.

I haven't reloaded any of that brass in a long time. But keep it around in case I need it.

I have come accross a set of used dies that were worn out. Was a set of 9mm Herters dies that I picked up at an auction. The old boy had tens of thousands of rounds of empties and reloads. There were a few guns that were sold that day but I don't remember any 9mms. Those were probably worn out too!


jb

[J Miller]

Years ago I acquired a batch of old, I mean OLD, 38 spcl brass that came from a scrap yard. Much of it had lengthwise scratches on it. This came from sizing dirty brass and the dirt getting stuck in the dies by the lube and scratching them. After that every case you size is scratched.
By cleaning the cases you pretty much eliminate that problem. And by using carbide dies it really doesn't exist any more.

I think that much of the worn cases and damaged dies we've seen and heard of in the past came from sizing dirty cases.

Joe

[Hobie]

Biggest problem I've found with nickle is tha as the brass gets worked - esp if you use a heavy crimp - the nickle flakes off and it looks like stuff.

But I don't think nickle can do any damage to carbide.

Dittos.

[colo native]

Nickle plated cases tend to split sooner, may be caused by hydrogen gass that is trapped under it during plating...

[Kansas Ed]

Back to the original question: Carbide is so freakin hard that nickle won't phase it. So your information wasn't correct. Nickle plated cases won't hurt your carbide dies. And no, you won't need any lube to use carbide dies. You will outlive your carbide dies, provide you don't subject them to impact situations, as carbide is extremely brittle and will chip if banged upon.

Ed