Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Case Prep for Nickle Cases

I was given a few hundred .222 nickle cases years ago that I haven't touched. Should I be treating these any different in regard to case preparation - specifically around trimming and annealing? I have the carbide cutters on my FA case prep machine and don't know if the nickle will dull the tools. Also, is there any difference when annealing compared to brass cases? Do I just use the same 750/450 tempilaq?
Thanks

Don't mean to offend but the best case prep for these cases is to load them once then discard them and buy new Lapua cases and case prep them

I have never treated nickel plated cases any different than uncoated cases.

Same. They crack a little easier than uncoated brass, but I treat them the same otherwise. I don’t buy nickel anymore, and haven’t for many years, but I’m not anxious to get rid of what I still have remaining, either.

BC3: I have been using nickel plated brass for several decades now and I actually seek them out for my new Rifle acquisitions!
No harm has befallen any of my loading tools, cutters, dies etc.
In fact just yesterday I was at my local pawn/gun shop and someone was "offloading" two huge boxes of unwanted reloading gear/components.
Once they had left the store I immediately purchased a full box of unfired/new Federal Premium nickel plated brass in caliber 7mm/08 Remington!
100 pieces for $10.00 (no sales tax!).
I could not have been happier.
I have a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in caliber 7mm/08 that I bought a couple years ago (at the same shop) and I fully intend to swap out the small amount of regular brass cases I have dedicated now to this Rifle for the Federal Premium nickel plated brass!
I think nickel plated brass lasts longer, stays cleaner and when properly lubricated is easier on dies.
If those nickel plated 222 cases are unfired and you decide to sell them please notify me.
Best of luck to you which ever way you go.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Alright, I'm going to give it a try. I annealed some this morning using tempilaq and could not see any visible change with the brass (wasn't expecting to either). I still need to trim so we'll see how that goes. I can usually feed a difference with the brass hardness when trimming so I'm interested to see if I can detect anything unusual.

I use some nickle plated brass. I full length size my brass to just past a slight crush fit in the chamber
of my guns (mostly bolts and a couple single action).

With the nickle brass I have to set my sizer die down just a bit from the setting with straight brass to
get the right fit.
I just cut the neck thickness of some 300 WSM nickle brass down a bit and did not have any issues with the cutter.

Nickle brass does not show a pressure ring at the web very well if you are getting up there in pressure.
I have not used nickle brass for a lot of extended firings, but do use it some for hunting loads.
It looks sooooo cool with white tipped ABs.

I prep mine the same as plain brass

Like most other respondents, I see no differences.

YUP !! WHAT THEY SAID !