Reeder Custom Guns - Starline Nickel Plated 44-40 WCF Brass...

Back 20+ years ago, I bought 1000 Rem Nickel Plated 25-20 Brass. They were a whopping $72/500 ppd.

Those cases have been loaded countless times with 10.8 grn of Lil Gun pushing a 75 grn V-Max at 2400 fps. The cases have never been trimmed and I don't recall ever loosing one.

They are a little thicker than brass cases due to the plating. I believe (right or wrong) that the plating has contributed to their long life.

Fast forward to the 44-40s I've been playing with. Last week I ordered a batch of Starline 44-40 Nickel Plated Brass.

Sure enough, the mouths measure a full .0005" thicker than their brass counterparts. Remains to be seen if this causes chambering issues.

I've read, but never encountered, negative about reloading nickel cases. Wondering about other's experience with nickel brass?

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Where I own multiple guns. 44-40 +P 30K psi loads for my Ruger Blackhawk will be in nickel cases with long nosed bullets. I call this "Idiot Proof."

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Back 20+ years ago, I bought 1000 Rem Nickel Plated 25-20 Brass. They were a whopping $72/500 ppd.

Those cases have been loaded countless times with 10.8 grn of Lil Gun pushing a 75 grn V-Max at 2400 fps. The cases have never been trimmed and I don't recall ever loosing one.

They are a little thicker than brass cases due to the plating. I believe (right or wrong) that the plating has contributed to their long life.

Fast forward to the 44-40s I've been playing with. Last week I ordered a batch of Starline 44-40 Nickel Plated Brass.

Sure enough, the mouths measure a full .0005" thicker than their brass counterparts. Remains to be seen if this causes chambering issues.

I've read, but never encountered, negative about reloading nickel cases. Wondering about other's experience with nickel brass?

Of thousand once fired SPP for 45 acp, might just have to give em a go.

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Dies are different as is case lube procedures. Even though, I do lube even for dies that don't require it.

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mostly straight revolver cartridges. Haven't heard much of necked rifle or handgun cartridges.

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BP LOADS. EVEN HAVE 250 NP .44 RUSSIAN CASES

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that seemed more resistant to splitting than regular Starline 45 AR brass.

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Would be handy to segregate them at a glance.

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1) 45 Colt .476"
2) 38-40/44-40 .462"
3) 44 Magnum .457"

I did this to determine cylinder strength. Many folks say Blackhawks in 38-40 and 44-40 are much closer in strength to 44 Magnum than 45 Colt.

But, I can see where you can get them mixed up.

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I loaded a cylinder of SWC and shot them. Seemed pretty whimpy but I shot a 4.5" 25 yd. group at the indoor range. Pondering why my 1.25-1.5" groups were opened up 4X bigger all of a sudden I remembered I had no SWC .45 Colt! It made perfect .45 Colt cases, but I later resized them back to .44-40.

I guess it is good to know it will work in a horrific emergency.

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On the first firing. Their 38-40 Brass is necked, but the shoulder is way too far back. It blows out and forward on first firing.

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Starline Nickel Plated 44-40 WCF Brass...

Picture...

That pic makes me smile! Woo hooo!

This a porn site now???

Gonna have to get me some of those in 45 Lc

I figure ideal to segregate hot loads in vintage cartridges

Had avoided because of the stories, I do have a couple

It may be different in straight cases than bottleneck cases.

Was going to ask your thoughts on that, seems to have been

I ESPECIALLY PREFER NP BRASS FOR

I have some Starline Nickel 45 Auto Rim brass

I mixed up and shot .44-40 in .45 Colt once!

I recently measured some Starline Brass...

My reloads are more tapered than bottlenecked in .44-40.

Starline 44-40 Brass comes tapered. Blows out the shoulder..