Reloading Nickel Brass

[analog_kidd]

Picked up some brass at the range this weekend and found some nickel .38 spl cases. Are these good to go for reloading on a Lee press with carbide dies?

[krunchnik]

I have reloaded the nickel casings in .38 and .357 mag with no problems and I use the Lee Carbide dies.The casings are a little more prone to cracking but they reload fine.Just keep an eye out for splits.

[Trekbike]

+1 with what Krunch said.

[gregintenn]

They will go through your dies smoother than brass. No lube needed.

[kb4ns]

What the others said.

No lube needed.

Would you ever need lube on straight walled pistol cartridges using carbide dies? (Hope not - I've been doin' something wrong for a long time now if so )

[analog_kidd]

Great info. Thanks guys!

[glockster157]

With straight walled cases no lube is required with carbide dies. However, I have found a light shot of a spray lube cuts the effort to size down tremendously. Required..No..Very helpful..Yes.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The nickel will scratch your dies if it has started peeling. Other than that load like you would any other brass.

Dolomite

[gregintenn]

Would you ever need lube on straight walled pistol cartridges using carbide dies? (Hope not - I've been doin' something wrong for a long time now if so )

You're right. I had rifle cartridges on the brain.

[SonnyCrockett]

any cases I have had split were Nickel for what thats worth

[LngRngShtr]

only time I got concerned with nickel cases was when I shot USPSA/IPSC when we found the powder bullet combo I had shot different in brass vs. nickel cases the brass casings, if I remember right, posted faster than nickel perhaps due to how the casings expanded and sealed the chamber...the nickel plating makes then a tad more brittle this explains the splitting sooner than just brass..

other than that,..load em and shoot em

John