Double Tap nickel plated brass

[FlyingDtnt1]

I've been thinking about picking up some. Has anyone bought brass from Double Tap? How many times were you able to reload it?

[sqlbullet]

I seem to recall that this is just starline brass headstamped with the double-tap headstamp. 

Unfortunately Starline doesn't sell nickel plated brass in quantities reloaders are likely to buy.  Minimum purchase is 8000 pieces at $183.50/K, for a total of $1,468.00, and other restrictions or fees may apply unless you buy three drums (24,000 pieces).

I think at that price you could also get a custom headstamp, but I am not sure. 

MidwayUSA stocks it for $210/K + shipping (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102131809)

Edit - I have reloaded a fair bit of double tap nickel brass over the years.  It holds up the same as my starline 10mm brass.  Nothing about it would make me pay a premium to have either the doubletap headstamp or the nickel finish.

[Graybeard]

I was thinking the same thing. It's Starline nickel plated brass. I've loaded nickel plated Starline brass when it was all that was available. Works fine, but the only real reason to use nickel plated brass is the corrosion resistance. Great for long term storage or use in a really harsh environment. IIRC, it really didn't make any difference as to the number of loadings.

That said, Starline is excellent brass. Unless you're really set on nickel and the Double Tap headstamp, I'd suggest going with the Starline brass. More bangs for your bucks.

[Trapper6L]

Well here's one of those HHHMMMMM posts. I've had 2 bad experiences with nickel plated brass. First was 357 Mag, a common cartridge that you see a lot of nickel brass. Running it thru the carbide sizer, the brass came out as a 16 sided circle, no longer round. I sent the dies and brass, both sized and virgin brass to RCBS. They replaced the dies but told me the nickel plating on the brass was the problem and to read their die warranty. At the time, the warranty stated nickel brass is too brittle to be reliably sized and they did not recommend the use of nickel brass for reloading. Yep, looked at the little info sheet in the die box and that what it said. Haven't bought any RCBS dies in a long time and have no clue if the little pamphlet still states that. Second was a bunch of Remington 223 nickel brass I was using for a 6x 45 AR platform. The neck sizing wasn't the problem, the shell holder was tearing the rims off. A call to RCBS and yep, nickel brass is harder to size due to the brittleness of the nickel coating. Threw all of the nickel away and never had another issue. In my reloading room, you won't find any nickel brass as I throw it away. Life is too short to have to deal it. I know, many have never had any problems loading nickel brass. But many of you don't shoot as often I did- 1500-2000 rounds a week for decades. So I've spent a lot of time cranking on the ol' Rockchucker that many will never get close to. So if you have any issues resizing or the brass won't hold a bullet, if it's nickel plated, throw it away and get some decent brass that isn't nickel. YMMV.

[Kenk]

I have always liked the nickel plated brass, but have not reloaded much of it. I will however take your advise and stick with my tried and true Starline brass. As for the Rock Chucker, I sure like mine. It may be slow, but at the end of the day, it produces some really nice stuff

Ken

[Graybeard]

Trapper, that's not the first time I've heard of issues with nickel plated brass. Interesting that RCBS has such an issue with it. I run various straight walled pistol calibers through my Dillon carbide resizing dies all the time without any issues. It feels the same pulling the handle and my calipers tell me I get the same results. Makes me wonder what's so different with the RCBS dies?

[tommac919]

I've always found the nickle brass is good for less number of reloads...
Maybe not so malleable as plain brass.

In the big picture tho, not much diff.

[The_Shadow]

There was a Group Buy for nickel 10mm brass and it was doable at one time with a quantity.

I inquired  about doing a 9x25 Head Stamp brass run with Starline sometime back and here is how that went;

Star Line Brass

Well I did contact Star Line about the producing brass marked 9x25 just to see how that would go...here is the answer I received!


Quote:
The minimum quantity for a run of 9x25 Dillon with a small primer pocket would be 100,000 pieces. The price would be $136/per 1,000 and there would be a $750 tooling fee for the headstamp (What the headstamp reads would be your choice). This would be straight, un-necked brass.

Regards,

Hunter Pilant
Media Relations/Technical Support


Even trying to do a group buy would be tough to obtain 100 buyers getting 1000 pieces each...

$13,600.00 100K brass
+ $750.00 Tooling for head stamp
$14,300.00 Total cost

I'd do this Only if I win the Lottery! 

[Trapper6L]

The jist of the post was if you are going to buy new brass, I'd avoid nickel due to the problems you MIGHT encounter. Unplated brass eliminates the issue. At one time I thought I could still use it just use a high pressure lube in the carbide dies and it should probably work- it didn't. Still had issues. So it's not a brass that will work at my house.

In regards to the RCBS dies, when it comes to pistol dies, I've pretty much traded off the RCBS dies. Doesn't have anything to do with the nickel plating. I load for so many different pistols for the family that I'm constantly changing them for seating depth, crimp or not, etc and the RCBS dies are a PIA to change. I've switched over to Lee Carbide dies and love the ease at which you can change or adjust a die. I haven't had any issues with the Lee pistol dies at all.

My old Rockchucker is near bulletproof despite its age. I sent it back to RCBS back in the 90's because the ram was rattling around in the base. It was pretty much worn out despite the fact that I keep it well lubed. RCBS offered to replace it but since it was a gift from my deceased mother and it still wears a 1972 die sleeve date I told them to send it back. They instead removed the sleeve in base and resleeved it and put back the dated die sleeve. The unit has well over one million finished rounds thru it. Today, it's getting a little loose again but all things considered, I think I got my moneys worth out of it. Crazy to say but the ammo that has gone thru this press has worn completely out a Colt Trooper which Colt replaced free of charge, and 2 Belgium High Powers. And that's just the pistols. Rifles, would have to say, many. If I ever replace it I'll probably have it gold plated and hang it on the wall. Yeah, it's been slow, no doubt, but I find it relaxing and I've never had one round of ammo be bad. It's all performed function as intended.

[sep]

I bought several hundred pieces of Double Tap nickle plated brass during the last ammo and reloading component shortage. I'm still reloading it. In fact, I shot some again today. I, like other posters, prefer starline brass but I wouldn't hesitate to buy Double Tap brass again. I couldn't tell you how many times I've reloaded it.       

[Mike D]

I've loaded tens of thousands of nickel plated cases with no issues.

I prefer the looks of the nickel plated and it stays cleaner and doesn't tarnish like regular brass does. I buy nickel plated when I can.


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