Trimming NICKEL plated pistol cases

[Drayks]

Does anyone have experience trimming nickel plated straight wall pistol cases? I would like to uniform length trim my 357 cases but am concerned with damaging/dulling my Forster cutter blades since nickel is so MUCH harder than brass. Your thoughts on the matter.

 

[peachhead]

I use a Wilson. I've never had an issue with it as far as I know.

 

[Cholo]

I've done many thousands of 38/357 nickel brass with no ill effects to the cutter.

 

[Cal30 1906]

Probably the biggest issue you may have is on older cases the nickel will sometimes peel away as you trim. I've had it happen but it was most likely a batch of brass that the nickel didn't adhere to very well, otherwise I have never had an issue.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I don't trim pistol cases nor do I load nickel plated brass so I can't help at all.

 

[Lt92]

Does anyone have experience trimming nickel plated straight wall pistol cases? I would like to uniform length trim my 357 cases but am concerned with damaging/dulling my Forster cutter blades since nickel is so MUCH harder than brass. Your thoughts on the matter.

I've done it...and I did not discern any adverse dulling on my cutter/trimmer...but YMMV

 

[Papalote]

In the over 50 years of reloading I don’t think I have ever trimmed a pistol or revolver cartridge case. Maybe I never learned how to reload. I have no idea how many I have loaded but I know it would be in the hundreds of thousands. Just my 2 cents. And I’ll admit I have been wrong at least 3 times in my life.. LOL

 

[peachhead]

In the over 50 years of reloading I don't think I have ever trimmed a pistol or revolver cartridge case. Maybe I never learned how to reload. I have no idea how many I have loaded but I know it would be in the hundreds of thousands. Just my 2 cents. And I'll admit I have been wrong at least 3 times in my life.. LOL

Nope it's not something I do regularly, just on occasion.

 

[DeletedMember275]

I frequently slightly trim straight-walled revolver cases to make them uniform in length, and to have a square mouth. I typically do this for the big boomers, where a uniform crimp is desired.

 

[Lt92]

In the over 50 years of reloading I don't think I have ever trimmed a pistol or revolver cartridge case. Maybe I never learned how to reload. I have no idea how many I have loaded but I know it would be in the hundreds of thousands. Just my 2 cents. And I'll admit I have been wrong at least 3 times in my life.. LOL

It all depends upon your loads...if U load 148 hbwc with 3. Grains of Bullseye for fun /target loads you can easily get 10 loads from each case before splitting etc.Loads at or near full press will lengthen cases. But again. Revolvers are much more forgiving...many reloaders are not concerned about OAL

 

[GasGuzzler]

It all depends upon your loads...if U load 148 hbwc with 3. Grains of Bullseye for fun /target loads you can easily get 10 loads from each case before splitting etc.Loads at or near full press will lengthen cases. But again. Revolvers are much more forgiving...many reloaders are not concerned about OAL

Only ten?
I do not load light for cartridge and 148 is only slightly light ... 3.X Bullseye is LIGHT (my 9X19 Bullseye load is about four and a half). Those cases would last 40 cycles I bet as long as the primers stay in.

 

[Drayks]

Thank you for the replies. I use the nickel cases for my S&W Model 66 in stainless, so trimmed a couple hundred 357 Winchester cases to 1.280". Seemed to have no ill effects, just a couple thousand left to go for a winters activity.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Never had an issue with it. Just trim as usual and don't worry about it.

 

[BarryinIN]

I don't trim pistol cases nor do I load nickel plated brass so I can't help at all.

OK, I have to ask: Then why did you reply?

 

[GasGuzzler]

OK, I have to ask: Then why did you reply?

So I could kindly share my opinion of nickel plated brass. Why did you?

 

[BarryinIN]

So I could kindly share my opinion of nickel plated brass. Why did you?

To be every bit as helpful.