DickM
Member
I guess my experience with nickel-plated cases has been different. I load them interchangeably with plain brass for a number of cartridges, including .357 SIG, and I just don't see any difference. After a number of loads the necks eventually start to get splits, but I can't say it happens any sooner than for the brass cases. I have a couple hundred old Super Vel nickel .357 Mag cases that I've been loading for about 30 years - they're getting to the point where the plating is starting to wear off and I don't think I've lost more than a few to neck splits. I did run into some Remington .357 Mag nickel-plated brass where the plating started to flake off after the first firing, so I obviously tossed them, but otherwise I just haven't had any problems.
With regard to the volume issue, are you saying that the plating reduces internal volume enough to matter? I've never heard that before, and the reloading manuals certainly don't indicate that plated cases have to be treated any differently regarding max loads. I have to believe there's more difference between brands than between plated and non-plated cases. I'm always willing to learn something new and/or be told I'm wrong, but that strikes me as a theoretical construct with no practical reality.
With regard to the volume issue, are you saying that the plating reduces internal volume enough to matter? I've never heard that before, and the reloading manuals certainly don't indicate that plated cases have to be treated any differently regarding max loads. I have to believe there's more difference between brands than between plated and non-plated cases. I'm always willing to learn something new and/or be told I'm wrong, but that strikes me as a theoretical construct with no practical reality.
