Nickle Plate versus Brass??

[Taroman]

I like nickel when available as its so easy to clean. That said, in 40+ years of reloading the few split cases I ever had were mostly the nickel plated ones.

 

[jcwit]

Nickel is an order of magnitude SOFTER than carbide - how is it that the carbide ring could be deformed sufficiently to allow the nickel to get embedded in it?

I have no doubt that you had a die issue, but I cannot wrap my brain around how that could be attributed to nickel flakes.

I have had this happen, I wouldn't necessary call it flaking but more like galling on to the carbide in the die. Easy fix was to polish the inside of the die with 600 or 800 grit wet/dry auto body sandpaper with a split dowel. This took out the galling and ones back in business. Not a huge deal but an agravation.

Had a real problem with this with an old all steel die in 38 special, but it also polished out.

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I never had any problems with nickel coated brass. However, your reload die must be clean and not scratch the brass otherwise the nickel will flake off. I have never had it happen but loading more than 5 times for me is too many times.

Here again I reload my cases many, many more times than 5 times, however I stay away from hot loads, and a case cets tossed when it splits or the primer pocket becomes loose. I have some cases in some calibers that have been reloaded over 100 times and still going.