Brass or Nickel

[PT7]

The main stat I need to pay attention to when looking for .45LC ammo to shoot out of my Uberti Russian is FPS. Uberti recommends manufactured ammo be under 875 FPS.

Found a couple of manufacturers on GunBot that have an XTP JHP bullet in .45LC available, as I'd like to try those. I ordered 50 rounds from S&B yesterday, which is 230gr JHP running at 830 FPS. Here is the second manufacturer I found with a slower FPS.

~MANUFACTURER: FREEDOM MUNITIONS
~CALIBER: 45 LONG COLT
~BULLET PROFILE: EXTREME TERMINAL PERFORMANCE (XTP®)
~BULLET WEIGHT: 250 GR
~CASING TYPE: NICKEL AND/OR BRASS
~VELOCITY AVG: 805 FPS

I went with the S&B brand this time because they use brass casings, which is all I've ever used.

Are there any differences in nickel vs. brass when buying manufactured ammo? I know that I've read on some manufactured ammo descriptions that nickel casings do not work well for reloading. Is that the primary difference? Or are there other considerations, too?

Thanks.
PT7

[wingnut]

Check to see what barrel length the speeds are quoted for. 4" v 20" can make a big difference.

Did Uberti give you a bullet weight to go with that speed? 300g+ vice 250-255g might be good-to-go.

The only diff in brass v nickel is the cost. Nickeled cost more. It seldom flakes during reloading and is easy to spot if it does.

[CT_Shooter]

Are there any differences in nickel vs. brass when buying manufactured ammo? I know that I've read on some manufactured ammo descriptions that nickel casings do not work well for reloading. Is that the primary difference? Or are there other considerations, too?

Nickle plated cases are brass, too. The nickle plating came about because brass tended to turn green when left in leather belt loops for too long. The nickel prevented that. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

If the nickel plated brass casings are not stretched excessively by flaring and crimping, they are perfectly good for reloading. They can be more brittle than unplated brass, though, and can split if the flare and crimping processes are too severe. At least, that's my experience. I have boxes of .357 nickel plated brass casings from Remington factory ammo and (while I am very careful about checking for metal fatigue, like I do for all of my brass) they are just fine for reloading.

[BigAl52]

PT
Buy whatever you can get the cheapest. Nickel cases are just plated anyway. I use them all the time in with my brass there fine for just plinkin ammo.

[PT7]

Check to see what barrel length the speeds are quoted for. 4" v 20" can make a big difference.

Did Uberti give you a bullet weight to go with that speed? 300g+ vice 250-255g might be good-to-go.

The only diff in brass v nickel is the cost. Nickeled cost more. It seldom flakes during reloading and is easy to spot if it does.

Wingnut -- The S&B stat shows FPS out of a 4" barrel. My revolver has a 6.5" barrel. No barrel length indicated for the Freedom Munitions ammo, although it is marketed as handgun ammo. No, the T&C Uberti tech did not give me a bullet weight. Guess I'd need to call and check on that. Appreciate your comments.

Nickle plated cases are brass, too. The nickle plating came about because brass tended to turn green when left in leather belt loops for too long. The nickel prevented that. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

Stan -- Well, Duh. Makes sense; brass plated with nickel. Glad to know there is no significant difference...thanks.

PT
Buy whatever you can get the cheapest. Nickel cases are just plated anyway. I use them all the time in with my brass there fine for just plinkin ammo.

Al -- I like your recommendation, and definitely needed based on the cost of .45 Colt ammo. RR knows that, too. The cost factor is probably why he is looking at reloading for his two .45 firearms. Thanks to you, too.

PT7

[North Country Gal]

PT, the bullet weight for the traditional 45 Colt load is 230-255 grains, being pushed at 850-900 fps. It's not really the velocity, per se, that is the issue, it's the pressure developed by some of the 45 Colt +P loads, but the Uberti tech was correct in keeping it simple by using velocity to keep things safe for use in Colt/Russian/Scofield clones. The little bit of difference between the 4/12", 5 1/2" and 7 1/2" barrel Colt revolvers will be insignificant as far as velocity/pressure, so no need to get too strict on that 875 fps limit. A 900 fps rated ammo, for instance, won't really be a problem as far as wear and tear. A 1000 fps rated ammo, though, I would avoid, though your Uberti could still handle it without blowing up. Remember, these guns are proof tested at far higher pressures.

As far as the velocity ratings of 45 Colt factory ammo, these are always in terms of revolvers, unless otherwise stated. Interestingly, shooting the 45 Colt in rifles is actually a modern day phenomenon, dating only back to the 60s when Marlin and Winchester started chambering the 45 Colt in their lever guns. Colt never allowed any rifle to be chambered in 45 colt under their patent rights. For the first 100 years, the 45 Colt was a revolver cartridge, only. No one was shooting 45 Colt rifles, back in the old West (sorry, RR). When those cowboys wanted a cartridge to shoot in both their rifle and their Colt, they went with the 44-40, which was an immensely popular cartridge in its day, as both a rifle and revolver cartridge, but it now lags far behind the 45 Colt in popularity.

[markiver54]

Amazing NCG. Your knowledge and help is extraordinary . Never ceases to amaze me...sorry, just had to express once again how lucky we all are for an encyclopedia brain member!

[Jdl447]

Pressures do not change with barrel length only velocity.

[PT7]

Appreciate the helpful info, NCG.

Very glad to learn the standard, traditional grains load and FPS for .45 Colt. That will be a good guide as I dig into different manufacturers stats on the ammo they offer.

One thing I never knew to remember, is that "these revolvers are proof-tested at far higher pressures." That is good to know. Probably would be someone like me that would unknowingly go beyond a much lower safety level. Early on in one order I made of Choice Ammo CAS loads, I "goofed" and purchased a higher FPS-rated cartridge than Uberti recommends. I have 70 rounds left of 200gr RNFP, which is rated at 950 FPS. To use up that ammo, I only shoot 5-10 rounds per range visit. Would hate to just pitch it....

All this ammo hooey (a gentle term used by Jimmy Stewart) I've asked about in this thread and other threads is related to manufactured ammo. Had no idea there were so many variables attached to ammo, almost like the overwhelming details about reloading. Keeps everyone interested, to say the least. You've been a good help checking/advising me on what I need to know to keep my Russian from "blowing up!"

PT7

PT, the bullet weight for the traditional 45 Colt load is 230-255 grains, being pushed at 850-900 fps. It's not really the velocity, per se, that is the issue, it's the pressure developed by some of the 45 Colt +P loads, but the Uberti tech was correct in keeping it simple by using velocity to keep things safe for use in Colt/Russian/Scofield clones. The little bit of difference between the 4/12", 5 1/2" and 7 1/2" barrel Colt revolvers will be insignificant as far as velocity/pressure, so no need to get too strict on that 875 fps limit. A 900 fps rated ammo, for instance, won't really be a problem as far as wear and tear. A 1000 fps rated ammo, though, I would avoid, though your Uberti could still handle it without blowing up. Remember, these guns are proof tested at far higher pressures.

As far as the velocity ratings of 45 Colt factory ammo, these are always in terms of revolvers, unless otherwise stated. Interestingly, shooting the 45 Colt in rifles is actually a modern day phenomenon, dating only back to the 60s when Marlin and Winchester started chambering the 45 Colt in their lever guns. Colt never allowed any rifle to be chambered in 45 colt under their patent rights. For the first 100 years, the 45 Colt was a revolver cartridge, only. No one was shooting 45 Colt rifles, back in the old West (sorry, RR). When those cowboys wanted a cartridge to shoot in both their rifle and their Colt, they went with the 44-40, which was an immensely popular cartridge in its day, as both a rifle and revolver cartridge, but it now lags far behind the 45 Colt in popularity.

[RanchRoper]

Try some Black Hills if you get a chance.