Plated casings - The Firearms Forum

w1spurgeon · 07-26-2012, 05:20 PM

For years we have used brass cartridge casings. Now I see a lot of ammo advertised as having cases of "nickel plated brass". Why go the extra step?

woolleyworm · 07-26-2012, 05:32 PM

Durability, easier to see in low light conditions and "slicker", ie easier extraction reliability. A majority of SD ammo is loaded in nickle plated.

skullfr · 07-26-2012, 05:33 PM

I dont know why but may be to keep cases from expanding to aid in extraction.I carry Hornady critical defense rounds and they are plated and siver bear russian are nickle plated

GunHugger · 07-26-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w1spurgeon

For years we have used brass cartridge casings. Now I see a lot of ammo advertised as having cases of "nickel plated brass". Why go the extra step?

I love plated cases for my leather ammo belts. Did you ever use a leather ammo belt with brass cases and leave them in the belt for a year? I don't know what it is but a green paste substance appears on the brass cases and makes a real mess of it. It doesn't happen with plated cases.

I think it's a reaction between the leather tanning chemicals and the brass. If left alone long enough it actually eats the brass.

Jim K · 07-26-2012, 06:48 PM

Plated cases, as GunHugger says, are corrosion resistant. When police carried revolvers, they used belts with loops and brass cases turned green. Police found with green cartridges were in trouble unless it was March 17.

So there developed a cottage industry to chrome plate live ammunition. It cost, IIRC, almost a dollar a round (regular ammo was something like $.07) but the cops figured it paid for itself in time saving. Reportedly, some cops had a tough decision to make if faced with the choice of getting shot or actually firing that expensive ammo.

So there is a practical reason. But the real reason is simply hype, to make the buyer believe that the ammo is something special and better than ordinary brass case cartridges.

Jim

Hawg · 07-26-2012, 07:34 PM

I don't like plated cases for reloading.

Deacon_Man · 07-26-2012, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawg

I don't like plated cases for reloading.

How does a plated case efect reloading ? I am new to reloading and hav'nt tried a plated case yet.

Clipper · 07-26-2012, 08:51 PM

I don't have any problems with plated .45's. I don't have a lot of them, but they load just like my brass.

gdmoody · 07-26-2012, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Man

How does a plated case efect reloading ? I am new to reloading and hav'nt tried a plated case yet.

They reload just as easy as brass cases. The only problem is that you will not get very many loading out of the nickel plated stuff. They will crack and split much faster than brass. The brass plating will also flake off at times.

steve4102 · 07-27-2012, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skullfr

I dont know why but may be to keep cases from expanding to aid in extraction.I carry Hornady critical defense rounds and they are plated and siver bear russian are nickle plated

Your Russian ammo is plated so it will not Rust as it is plated steel. It is also not reloadable. Oh you can, if you have the tools and the Berdan primers, but loading steel is ill advised by most.

howlnmad · 07-27-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon_Man

How does a plated case efect reloading ? I am new to reloading and hav'nt tried a plated case yet.

It doesn't one bit. Some say that the plating will start to flake and may scre up a die but I've never had that happen. I have had it wear down to the brass but never flake. Go ahead and load them if you have them, just inspect them well before reloading.

07-26-2012, 05:20 PM	#1
w1spurgeon V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 176	Plated casings For years we have used brass cartridge casings. Now I see a lot of ammo advertised as having cases of "nickel plated brass". Why go the extra step? -->

07-26-2012, 05:32 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,881	Re: Plated casings Durability, easier to see in low light conditions and "slicker", ie easier extraction reliability. A majority of SD ammo is loaded in nickle plated. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-26-2012, 05:33 PM	#3
skullfr Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Beaumont,Texas Posts: 902	Re: Plated casings I dont know why but may be to keep cases from expanding to aid in extraction.I carry Hornady critical defense rounds and they are plated and siver bear russian are nickle plated __________________ If Ya cant stand up stand out There is no atheist in a foxhole Psalms 144:1 Blessed be the Lord my strength,which teacheth my hand to war and my fingers to fight

07-26-2012, 06:48 PM	#5
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Plated casings Plated cases, as GunHugger says, are corrosion resistant. When police carried revolvers, they used belts with loops and brass cases turned green. Police found with green cartridges were in trouble unless it was March 17. So there developed a cottage industry to chrome plate live ammunition. It cost, IIRC, almost a dollar a round (regular ammo was something like $.07) but the cops figured it paid for itself in time saving. Reportedly, some cops had a tough decision to make if faced with the choice of getting shot or actually firing that expensive ammo. So there is a practical reason. But the real reason is simply hype, to make the buyer believe that the ammo is something special and better than ordinary brass case cartridges. Jim

07-26-2012, 07:34 PM	#6
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,554	Re: Plated casings I don't like plated cases for reloading.

07-26-2012, 08:51 PM	#8
Clipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 381	Re: Plated casings I don't have any problems with plated .45's. I don't have a lot of them, but they load just like my brass.