At Shell Shock Technologies, we’re often asked: Why nickel alloy? Why not carbon steel for your cases? It’s a fair question—after all, carbon steel has been a workhorse material across many industries for decades. But when it comes to high-performance ammunition casings, not all materials are created equal.
Let’s break down the key differences and explain why we chose a proprietary nickel alloy for our NAS3 cases over traditional materials, like carbon steel.
One of the most immediate advantages of our nickel alloy cases is corrosion resistance. Carbon steel, while tough, is prone to rust without a protective coating. That’s not good news for ammunition stored long-term or exposed to humidity, moisture, or sweat.
Our nickel alloy, on the other hand, naturally resists corrosion, even in harsh conditions. Whether you’re operating in the field, storing ammo for an extended period, or shooting in unpredictable weather, you can count on our cases to hold up without degradation. That’s peace of mind you can’t put a price on.
Carbon steel is strong, no doubt, but when it’s exposed to high temperatures, like those generated in a semi-auto or full-auto firearm, it starts to lose integrity. Nickel alloys are engineered for environments that demand high heat tolerance. They maintain strength and structure when things heat up, literally.
That means our cases don’t expand excessively in the chamber or risk extraction issues. They stay consistent, round after round, even under rapid fire.
Our proprietary nickel alloy isn’t just stronger, it’s also lighter. Compared to brass or carbon steel, our NAS3 cases weigh up to 50% less. That’s less weight in your gear and less felt recoil. It’s a subtle change, but one you’ll notice, especially after long range sessions or in competition settings where every millisecond counts.
Unlike traditional carbon steel cases—which are typically single-use and known to be hard on extractors—Shell Tech’s nickel alloy stainless steel pistol cases are significantly slicker than standard steel. This ultra-smooth surface ensures clean, reliable ejection, reduces wear on the weapon, and allows the pistol cases to be reloaded multiple times, delivering better value for shooters and less waste for the environment.
Another major benefit? Our ejected cases cool faster than brass and don’t pick up fouling the way carbon steel or even brass does. That keeps your gun cleaner and improves cycling reliability. And thanks to our two-piece case design (nickel alloy body and aluminum base), NAS3 cases are strong enough to handle multiple reloads with no loss of performance.
Carbon steel has its place, but in the world of ammunition casings, it simply can’t compete with the advanced properties of our nickel alloy technology. At Shell Shock Technologies, we’re not interested in doing things the way they’ve always been done. We’re here to push boundaries, raise standards, and deliver products that outperform the status quo.
Nickel alloy isn’t just different, it’s better. And once you shoot NAS3 cases, you’ll see exactly why we use it.
Discover more about our NAS3 cases and experience the difference for yourself.
