is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? - The Firearms Forum

rob the painter · 11-16-2007, 10:00 AM

i know you can reload just about anything , but is it safe to reload these zinc plated case they are from silver bear mae in rusia in 30-06 springfield thaNKS!

Crpdeth · 11-16-2007, 10:45 AM

You talking about the "Nickel looking cases"?

I know that the pistol cases are reloadable but a bit more brittle than brass...I store a bunch of once fired .45 ACP and plan to reload them some day as disposable brass, where, if were just going down into the bottoms to the old snake pit where I know I'll never recover my brass, I wont be using my good stuff.

Crpdeth

rob the painter · 11-16-2007, 12:22 PM

yes they do look like nickel type of coloring is it safe to reload 30-06 and if these type are brittle maybe i will just buy some new cases thanks for responce.

Crpdeth · 11-16-2007, 09:18 PM

Rob, I've personally not had any dealings with the nickel rifle cases... If I were you I'd go with brass until you can get some more responses.

I'd personally like to hear what they have to say as well since I do have a few boxes of 22-250 that are nickel.

Crpdeth

Bindernut · 11-16-2007, 09:57 PM

I know the Brown Bear ammo is laquered steel Berdan primed ammo. I thought Silver Bear was the same steel case except with a zinc coating instead of the laquer...it's still berdan primed.

Even if it was boxer primed, I'd still keep those steel cases away from my dies.

Nickeled brass cases are another story. Not a problem reloading them in straight-walled or bottle neck.
I now use nickeled brass exclusively in my 25-06. Long story short...I've got a 25-06 and dad has a .270. One year before deer season he ran half a box of my 25s through his .270 before asking me to help figure out why it wouldn't group worth a rat's rearend! Now, it's clear to every one in the house that he's got red ammo boxes with brass cases and I've got blue boxes with nickel brass. Haven't noticed any shorter lifespan from the nickel brass compared to my old plain brass 25s.

Crpdeth · 11-16-2007, 10:29 PM

Holy crap!

Oohrah · 03-02-2008, 02:54 AM

If it is steel covered with nickle or Zinc NO !!!!! If it is nickle plated
brass, not a problem. No cases except brass or nickle plated brass
should be reloaded. The CCI aluminum cases have berdan primers to
prevent the attempt to reload these pistol cases. This also goes for
Wolf steel cases!

11-16-2007, 10:00 AM	#1
rob the painter Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 39	is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? i know you can reload just about anything , but is it safe to reload these zinc plated case they are from silver bear mae in rusia in 30-06 springfield thaNKS! -->

11-16-2007, 10:45 AM	#2
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? You talking about the "Nickel looking cases"? I know that the pistol cases are reloadable but a bit more brittle than brass...I store a bunch of once fired .45 ACP and plan to reload them some day as disposable brass, where, if were just going down into the bottoms to the old snake pit where I know I'll never recover my brass, I wont be using my good stuff. Crpdeth __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

11-16-2007, 12:22 PM	#3
rob the painter Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 39	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? yes they do look like nickel type of coloring is it safe to reload 30-06 and if these type are brittle maybe i will just buy some new cases thanks for responce.

11-16-2007, 09:18 PM	#4
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? Rob, I've personally not had any dealings with the nickel rifle cases... If I were you I'd go with brass until you can get some more responses. I'd personally like to hear what they have to say as well since I do have a few boxes of 22-250 that are nickel. Crpdeth __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

11-16-2007, 09:57 PM	#5
Bindernut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ND, USA Posts: 2,433	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? I know the Brown Bear ammo is laquered steel Berdan primed ammo. I thought Silver Bear was the same steel case except with a zinc coating instead of the laquer...it's still berdan primed. Even if it was boxer primed, I'd still keep those steel cases away from my dies. Nickeled brass cases are another story. Not a problem reloading them in straight-walled or bottle neck. I now use nickeled brass exclusively in my 25-06. Long story short...I've got a 25-06 and dad has a .270. One year before deer season he ran half a box of my 25s through his .270 before asking me to help figure out why it wouldn't group worth a rat's rearend! Now, it's clear to every one in the house that he's got red ammo boxes with brass cases and I've got blue boxes with nickel brass. Haven't noticed any shorter lifespan from the nickel brass compared to my old plain brass 25s. Last edited by Bindernut; 11-16-2007 at 10:05 PM..

11-16-2007, 10:29 PM	#6
Crpdeth Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Location: Location Contributor Posts: 8,247	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? Holy crap! __________________ Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness. The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there. ~Eric Hoffer

03-02-2008, 02:54 AM	#7
Oohrah V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 60	Re: is it safe / normal you reload zinc plated cases? If it is steel covered with nickle or Zinc NO !!!!! If it is nickle plated brass, not a problem. No cases except brass or nickle plated brass should be reloaded. The CCI aluminum cases have berdan primers to prevent the attempt to reload these pistol cases. This also goes for Wolf steel cases!