I was at a gun show a couple weekends past, and I was talking to a man who sells handloads. He told me he was hunting for elk in Colorado, and the temperature was 11 degrees below 0. He was using nickle plated brass, and when he took a shot at an elk the nickle seperated from the case and stuck to the chamber. He could not chamber another round, so he had to take the rifle to a gunsmith to ream out the nickle from the chamber. Has anyone run into this problem? [&:] Thanks in advance.

Never heard of that situation but I have heard mixed reviews on reloading nickle brass . I have not experienced any problems I just choose to use regular brass. What brand of brass?

Well, 11 below zero, I guess its possible. I can't figure out what mechanism would cause this nickel to fall off however.

I hate reloading nickel, but would be hard pressed to understand the cause.

First of all @11 degs below my arse would be in the cabin by the fire place
drinking very hot coffee and smoking a Arturo Fuente imported cigar.

Never had that happen while in colorado when it was very cold shooting
nickle plated ammo, but it was'nt 11degs below either.

You would have to be a barbarian to hunt in that kind of weather..Zero and above Ok

I don't like it - the nickel brass I've tried "feels" stickier in the sizing die.

I would be very curious to see if our local gun smith had any hunters come in with the problems with nickel plated brass as mentioned because around here it can get allot colder then -11° or maybe I should wait till it get down to -40° and buy a boxes of shells nickel plated and try them and see if I would have any problems. All kidding aside anything is possible.

OldElkHunter:

I don't know what brand name of brass it was. Good luck.

hehehehe........what a wuss, but I'd be right there with you, window cracked hunting from the livingroom.

I have blackpowder hunted in below zero weather a couple of times...it sucks! But being the "adventurous" soul I am...I figured why not try it?