Hey what are the ups and downs to nickel cases? Is there much of a difference in the way you use them for reloading. For 44 mag. of course!

The nickel cases are much harder than the regular brass. So for rounds like the 44 Mag it is much harder to put a good roll crimp on the bullet. I have both and prefer the standard brass. However the Nickel is much less likely to tarnish and looks cool.

Had an offer to get some cases and wasn't sure if it was worth the trouble or not! Can you reload them as many times as brass? I just started reloading, but have not even thoughts on the nickel cases! A couple of weeks ago I turned out my first rounds and that was ... just plain addicting!! Of course I didn't make enough.

IMHO it depends on the case. I have found Remington plating to be the most durable followed by Winchester and Speer. I had some 44 Mag Midway cases a few years ago, and the nickel would wear off in the tumbler! I have not had problems crimping any nickel cases, but I generally use a profile, or taper crimp. Last nightI reformed a batch of R-P .444 Marlin nickel plated cases to .358 JDJ with no case loss or peeling of the nickel plate. If you can get the cases for a good price, and they are not MidWorst, go for it.

I do have some winchester nickel brass that is not bad but my starline brass for my 480 is like twice as thick around the rim and is very hard to crimp. the only rifle brass I have used that was nickel was 270WSM Federal it was very stiff too. I know you spoke of the nickel wearing off I think the starline is the oppsite problem I think it has to much and that is what makes it stiff.

I reload Starline's nickel .45Colt with very good results. They match my nickeled 12" Colt New Frontier Ned Buntline Commemorative very well, which is the only reason I use them....

They are awfully hard to pull after a good crimp, though, if you need that. I did pull a full box of 50 250gr XTPs once (wrong powder and good, expensive bullets I didn't want to waste) and that was a lot of hard work. I understand this was due to the hardness of the cases.

I also remember having problems with a bunch of Magtech nickel .357mag cases. Both the bullet and the case might have been the problem though, which essentially was getting a sufficient crimp.

I have used them to be able to (at a glance) seperate certain wildcats. For instance 358JDJ and 338JDJ. Brass for one and nickel for the other. They are very useful for this.
Good Shooting,
Doug

I also found in my bfr 45-70 the nickel would do better job at holding it's crimp and stopping bullet jump but 45-70 brass is thin to begin with.