why are some cartridge cases not brass-colored?

[piranha45]

in particular, I ask why my Speer Gold Dot ammunition casings are not brass-colored; they have the appearance of tin or the like. I understand this to be quality self-defense ammunition....

[8830]

The silver cases are nickel, CCI Blazer is aluminum and Wolf is steel. That's why they are not all brass colored.

[Jim Watson]

The silver cases are nickel plated over brass. Once upon a time meant to prevent tarnishing and corrosion of ammunition carried in leather belt loops. Now it seems to be a trademark for the high priced "premium" ammunition in the little boxes at big box prices.

[loneviking]

And what about the copper colored, military stuff I find at the range? The cases are brass, but the body of the case is copper colored, maybe copper plated?

[louie19]

CCI has a nice page that visually shows how the Gold Dots are made: http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_const.aspx

The last step confirms that they are nickel-plated brass cases. Also I don't think there's actually any gold in them. It's lead core, bonded/plated with copper, which is then seated in a nickel-plated brass case (plus primer + propellant). I found some more info about Gold Dots on this older thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5070253

From my research, the Gold Dots are some of the highest quality self-defense ammo that you can buy. Apparently they're also pretty effective. I'm using the 124gr +P in 9mm, personally.

[Jim Watson]

Most of that copper colored stuff is steel plated with copper for rust protection until shot.

[evan price]

The nickle plated cases also (to me) feed smoother and more slippery than plain brass does. However, some imported ammo uses a steel cases that is plated and looks like nickled brass. Makarov stuff especialy. There's also a lot of copper-plated steel cases out there too.

The "gold dot" moniker comes from the process that makes the hollow point- it is punched after the lead core is plated with copper- leaving a little "dot" of copper plating in the bottom of the hollowpoint cavity. Thus, "Gold Dots" was what they were called.

[usp9]

There is some funky epoxy coated/ steel case green commie ammo too. Hornady used a black nickel coating for their high quality carry ammo, (TAP).

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/316/facepalmyq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/facepalmyq8.jpg/1/w400.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img367/facepalmyq8.jpg/1/)

[rhinoh]

The name "Gold Dot" always puzzled me...there is no gold or even a gold color :scrutiny:

[Zesty]

^When you recover the expanded slug there is usually a little gold dot right in the center.

[Walkalong]

I have 400 RA 65 .45 cases that are copper colored. Interesting brass.

[Jim Watson]

Probably been chemically cleaned with something that dezincified the surface of the brass.

[Deanimator]

The nickle plated cases also (to me) feed smoother and more slippery than plain brass does.
I find that they come out of the resize/decap die more easily when reloaded as well. The vast majority of my .38 Special cases (I have literally thousands) are nickeled. I like them better.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

What I really like about the Nickel cases is that they don't leave brass all over my extractor, or anywhere else in the receiver.

[Walkalong]

Probably been chemically cleaned with something that dezincified the surface of the brass.That has been my concern. It looked good when I bought it, cheap, but over time it turned color. It will shine up OK, but turns back copper colored. I have never used it for that reason, although I figure it would hold up for a firing or two, I think.