Cleaning brass shot in an HK.

Ozzieman · October 9, 2012, 07:16 PM

Cleaning brass shot in an HK.
Anyone know a good way to clean brass shot out of an HK.
I have a SL-8 and an MP clone, I find it impossible to remove the chamber lines from the brass. I know this does nothing to the brass and it’s perfectly good to reload but I tend to clean my brass so it looks new.
I use a vibrator and have tried with several different mediums and polishes. It comes out clean but the lines are still there. And I don’t want to use a cleaning chemical, my breathing is bad enough.
I was just wondering if there are any HK fans that have a better way to clean there brass.

**Brian Pfleuger** · October 9, 2012, 07:20 PM

I'm not sure what lines you're referring to, but nothing cleans brass like stainless steel pins with liquid cleaner in a rotary tumbler.

Ozzieman · October 9, 2012, 07:29 PM

I was trying to come up with the proper name for the lines in the chamber of an HK barrel. They run along the length of the case. From the shoulder to the base of the case. They help the extraction with the roller block action of an HK.
In the MP-5 they are about ¾’s the length of the case.
They leave 6 or more black lines along the length of the case after firing. These are just gas marks not actual dents or changes in the brass.

but nothing cleans brass like stainless steel pins with liquid cleaner in a rotary tumbler
I dont have a tumbler but that sounds like a good idea.

mrawesome22 · October 9, 2012, 07:33 PM

Fluted chamber.

sudo passwd root

50 shooter · October 9, 2012, 07:39 PM

Try Iosso liquid cleaner, harmless to you but I still wear gloves to keep fingers from getting dirty.

Ozzieman · October 9, 2012, 07:41 PM

This might help.
The two on the right were shot out of an MP-5 the one on the left out of one of my other 9mm’s.
The HK brass has been through a cleaning process two times (4 hours each) and this is what’s left.

Ozzieman · October 9, 2012, 07:43 PM

Fluted chamber.

DUHA!!!
Some times I can even remember my name.
Thanks mrawesome22

amamnn · October 9, 2012, 09:32 PM

If you MUST have a shiny case try 0000 steel wool on the brass.

serf 'rett · October 10, 2012, 10:40 AM

Brian is right about tumbling with stainless steel pins. A few months ago I picked up some 40S&W brass left by a guy running a H&K full auto model something not available to the general public. Asked him about the lines - fluted chamber.

After tumbling with pins, I couldn't tell which pieces of brass were from the H&K.

serf 'rett · October 10, 2012, 10:42 AM

Side note: The little bit of case staining should have no effect on the shooting.

dwhite · October 10, 2012, 06:22 PM

<quote>
Brian is right about tumbling with stainless steel pins. A few months ago I picked up some 40S&W brass left by a guy running a H&K full auto model something not available to the general public. Asked him about the lines - fluted chamber.

After tumbling with pins, I couldn't tell which pieces of brass were from the H&K.
</quote>.

I've been polishing with stainless pins for a few months. Little more work but well worth it for the results.

All the Best,
D. White

Ozzieman · October 11, 2012, 06:42 PM

Thanks every one for the good suggestions.
One question, has any one used steel pins with a vibrator instead of a tumbler.
I have two vibrating cleaners and no tumbler.

**Brian Pfleuger** · October 11, 2012, 08:55 PM

I think you've got to use a tumbler because it's done wet. In a vibrator type, you don't get the liquid mixing with the pins and brass. Not sure, never tried.

Jim Watson · October 11, 2012, 08:58 PM

I have read of people doing wet tumbling with steel pins or ceramic in a sufficiently heavy duty vibratory. But the extra weight is very hard on a cheap one. I leave the walnut hull in my vibratory and wet tumble in a rotary.

I have H&K brass that has been dry tumbled just enough to clean, not polish, and the stripes from the fluted chamber have absolutely no effect on the reloading.

cheezhed · October 14, 2012, 03:05 AM

just close your eyes when you load the magazine.

Ozzieman · October 14, 2012, 10:08 AM

Yea that’s true, I can just close my eyes and reload and I realize that the lines have no effect on the case, but.
Being an old fart that takes great pride in workmanship, mine or anyone else’s, I want my workmanship to represent the best that I can do, all the time. This I learned from my father.

October 9, 2012, 07:16 PM	#1
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	Cleaning brass shot in an HK. Cleaning brass shot in an HK. Anyone know a good way to clean brass shot out of an HK. I have a SL-8 and an MP clone, I find it impossible to remove the chamber lines from the brass. I know this does nothing to the brass and it’s perfectly good to reload but I tend to clean my brass so it looks new. I use a vibrator and have tried with several different mediums and polishes. It comes out clean but the lines are still there. And I don’t want to use a cleaning chemical, my breathing is bad enough. I was just wondering if there are any HK fans that have a better way to clean there brass. __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

October 9, 2012, 07:20 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,454	I'm not sure what lines you're referring to, but nothing cleans brass like stainless steel pins with liquid cleaner in a rotary tumbler. __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. -C.S. Lewis He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

October 9, 2012, 07:29 PM	#3
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	I was trying to come up with the proper name for the lines in the chamber of an HK barrel. They run along the length of the case. From the shoulder to the base of the case. They help the extraction with the roller block action of an HK. In the MP-5 they are about ¾’s the length of the case. They leave 6 or more black lines along the length of the case after firing. These are just gas marks not actual dents or changes in the brass. but nothing cleans brass like stainless steel pins with liquid cleaner in a rotary tumbler I dont have a tumbler but that sounds like a good idea. __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

October 9, 2012, 07:39 PM	#5
50 shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: SoCal PRK Posts: 528	Try Iosso liquid cleaner, harmless to you but I still wear gloves to keep fingers from getting dirty. __________________ I see the world thru bloodshot eyes Streets filled with blood from distant lies The dogs of war never compromise, No time for rearranging.

October 9, 2012, 07:43 PM	#7
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	Fluted chamber. DUHA!!! Some times I can even remember my name. Thanks mrawesome22 __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

October 9, 2012, 07:33 PM	#4
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Fluted chamber. sudo passwd root

October 9, 2012, 09:32 PM	#8
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	If you MUST have a shiny case try 0000 steel wool on the brass. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

October 10, 2012, 10:40 AM	#9
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart Posts: 1,037	Brian is right about tumbling with stainless steel pins. A few months ago I picked up some 40S&W brass left by a guy running a H&K full auto model something not available to the general public. Asked him about the lines - fluted chamber. After tumbling with pins, I couldn't tell which pieces of brass were from the H&K. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

October 10, 2012, 10:42 AM	#10
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart Posts: 1,037	Side note: The little bit of case staining should have no effect on the shooting. __________________ A lack of planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.

October 10, 2012, 06:22 PM	#11
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 248	<quote> Brian is right about tumbling with stainless steel pins. A few months ago I picked up some 40S&W brass left by a guy running a H&K full auto model something not available to the general public. Asked him about the lines - fluted chamber. After tumbling with pins, I couldn't tell which pieces of brass were from the H&K. </quote>. I've been polishing with stainless pins for a few months. Little more work but well worth it for the results. All the Best, D. White

October 11, 2012, 06:42 PM	#12
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	Thanks every one for the good suggestions. One question, has any one used steel pins with a vibrator instead of a tumbler. I have two vibrating cleaners and no tumbler. __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

October 11, 2012, 08:55 PM	#13
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,454	I think you've got to use a tumbler because it's done wet. In a vibrator type, you don't get the liquid mixing with the pins and brass. Not sure, never tried. __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. -C.S. Lewis He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

October 11, 2012, 08:58 PM	#14
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,663	I have read of people doing wet tumbling with steel pins or ceramic in a sufficiently heavy duty vibratory. But the extra weight is very hard on a cheap one. I leave the walnut hull in my vibratory and wet tumble in a rotary. I have H&K brass that has been dry tumbled just enough to clean, not polish, and the stripes from the fluted chamber have absolutely no effect on the reloading.

October 14, 2012, 03:05 AM	#15
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 218	just close your eyes when you load the magazine.

October 14, 2012, 10:08 AM	#16
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 4,312	Yea that’s true, I can just close my eyes and reload and I realize that the lines have no effect on the case, but. Being an old fart that takes great pride in workmanship, mine or anyone else’s, I want my workmanship to represent the best that I can do, all the time. This I learned from my father. __________________ “Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.” – Thomas Jefferson. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid, NONSENSE! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? Guns have only two enemies: Rust and Politicians.