Best way to clean .357 brass on a budget?

Newreloader86 · April 16, 2008, 10:55 PM

I've been wondering what is the most economical way to clean my .357 brass lately-heard from a guy that for the first reloading, a spray of one shot lube will do, but have a feeling i either misunderstood or was misinformed. It worked nonetheless (all but one, a misfire the first time the primer was hit) but i know that i need to come up with some way of cleaning my cases thoroughly. Don't have much money to spend as im about to graduate college, and i was wondering if there's an economical way to clean the cases without buying a tumbler. If not, what's the cheapest tumbler that you guys would recommend?

freakshow10mm · April 16, 2008, 11:11 PM

For a tumbler, it's hard to beat the Cabela's one. It's made by Berry's Mfg (good company) for Cabela's.

For a cheap cleaning, water and Dawn dish soap. Put brass in the mix. Let it soak a good half hour, swirl it around, then rinse good in water. Let air dry overnight. I used this method before I got a tumbler.

Darkstar7 · April 16, 2008, 11:22 PM

Have a look at the Lyman Turbo Pro 1200, less than $55 at Midway USA.

Sport45 · April 17, 2008, 04:22 AM

For a revolver?

Dump the fired brass from the cylinder onto the bench or into a bucket. When done take the brass home, wipe with rag, and reload.

If it's not dirty you don't "need" to clean it. Vibratory tumblers aren't too expensive and I use a Lyman 1200. But it really isn't necessary to polish the brass all you have to do is get the dirt off and make sure there's no debris inside. Before I got my tumbler I used to dump range brass in the clothes washer with a load of rags. I'd shake it out and dry it in the oven at 215° for about an hour.

farnorthdan · April 17, 2008, 11:44 AM

A tumbler is the way to go.....but if your only going to be doing a small amount, I'd wash it in the sink with soap and water then dry. I dry my washed cases (after tumbling) in a caulander placed on a rack in my clothes dryer, it works great.

Newreloader86 · April 17, 2008, 03:34 PM

Thanks to all for the recommendations-they were very helpful

Inspector3711 · April 17, 2008, 04:09 PM

Harbor freight has a two drum rock tumbler for $29. Each drum has a 3lb capacity. I'm on a tight budget and thats my plan. they also sell a vibrating tumbler made for reloading for a little more. I've been hand polishing with Mothers but I'm about tired of that. I know a guy that uses one of the rock tumblers for brass and swears by it.

rantingredneck · April 17, 2008, 04:11 PM

I have a Frankford Arsenal tumbler I got for about 40 bucks.

NavyLT · April 17, 2008, 04:57 PM

Crushed walnut pet bedding from the pet store in a zippered pillow case in the dryer with whatever else you are drying at the moment

I won't tell you to put a couple teaspoons of brasso in there because a lot of people will come back and talk about the chemical reaction of ammonia with brass. But what I do with my .460 S&W brass is my business, I know the reaction as I am a trained chemist, and haven't seen any ill effects after 20+ reloadings on some brass with hot .460 S&W loads.

The Lovemaster · April 17, 2008, 05:41 PM

I've heard of the media/pillow case/dryer trick myself, but never tried it. I'm thinking my wife might object.

I use a nice Dillon tumbler I got at a gun show. I'd suggest looking there for one or whatever other equipment you need. I've picked up some great stuff at good prices over the years at the Crossroads shows here.

Scott

tom234 · April 17, 2008, 07:35 PM

What did we ever do in the 60's when we had no idea what a tumbler was ? I think all I did was shake the brass in a bucket to knock the dirt off and then start reloading.

NavyLT · April 18, 2008, 09:34 AM

I don't know. I just told my wife one day I was getting myself a vibrator from Sportsmans Warehouse and she just shrugged and said "Whatever floats your boat!"

If you reload at all, though, I think you will ever wonder how you got by without a tumbler.

I've never actually used the pillow case, but I have heard it suggested.

SL1 · April 18, 2008, 09:52 AM

I don't think I would put dirty fired brass in my dryer or dishwasher! There is a lot of toxic metal residue on that brass, and I don't want it on my sheets, towels, clothes or dishes.

Drying already cleaned brass in a colander in the dryer or on a cookie sheet in the oven should not be a health problem, though. Just make sure the temperture stays low to protect the strength of the brass.

SL1

DR. Furlicker · April 18, 2008, 10:52 AM

Try this old springfield recipe
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1 tbs salt
Put brass in and swish it around a little to get it all coated, let it set about ten minutes then wash in clean water (can add a small amount of dish soap)and, dry it. Brass gets very clean but has a dull finish, I still do this even though I tumble ; the combination produces some really good almost new looking brass.
DR. Furlicker is online now Report Post

Hook686 · April 18, 2008, 06:44 PM

Cheap ? I bought a Harbor Freight rock tumbler for $22 on sale. I use cut up green scrb pad, a dash of low suds detergent and a couple of cups of water. About 4 hours gets the brass reasonably clean and adds a pleasant satin sheen to the brass. I don't think it gets much cheaper, unless you hand scrub them.

tomh1426 · April 18, 2008, 06:54 PM

Im a cheap person and I got the cabelas kit, it was $56. but its a real tumbler and it comes with all the stuff you need.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...853&hasJS=true

April 16, 2008, 10:55 PM	#1
Newreloader86 Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2008 Posts: 10	Best way to clean .357 brass on a budget? I've been wondering what is the most economical way to clean my .357 brass lately-heard from a guy that for the first reloading, a spray of one shot lube will do, but have a feeling i either misunderstood or was misinformed. It worked nonetheless (all but one, a misfire the first time the primer was hit) but i know that i need to come up with some way of cleaning my cases thoroughly. Don't have much money to spend as im about to graduate college, and i was wondering if there's an economical way to clean the cases without buying a tumbler. If not, what's the cheapest tumbler that you guys would recommend?

April 17, 2008, 04:22 AM	#4
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	For a revolver? Dump the fired brass from the cylinder onto the bench or into a bucket. When done take the brass home, wipe with rag, and reload. If it's not dirty you don't "need" to clean it. Vibratory tumblers aren't too expensive and I use a Lyman 1200. But it really isn't necessary to polish the brass all you have to do is get the dirt off and make sure there's no debris inside. Before I got my tumbler I used to dump range brass in the clothes washer with a load of rags. I'd shake it out and dry it in the oven at 215° for about an hour. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

April 17, 2008, 11:44 AM	#5
farnorthdan Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2007 Posts: 371	soap and water A tumbler is the way to go.....but if your only going to be doing a small amount, I'd wash it in the sink with soap and water then dry. I dry my washed cases (after tumbling) in a caulander placed on a rack in my clothes dryer, it works great. __________________ Believe NONE of what you hear; HALF of what you see and ALL you believe Accuracy is king,penatration is queen but why not jack'em in the process if you can.

April 17, 2008, 04:09 PM	#7
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Harbor freight has a two drum rock tumbler for $29. Each drum has a 3lb capacity. I'm on a tight budget and thats my plan. they also sell a vibrating tumbler made for reloading for a little more. I've been hand polishing with Mothers but I'm about tired of that. I know a guy that uses one of the rock tumblers for brass and swears by it. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

April 18, 2008, 06:44 PM	#15
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	Cheap ? I bought a Harbor Freight rock tumbler for $22 on sale. I use cut up green scrb pad, a dash of low suds detergent and a couple of cups of water. About 4 hours gets the brass reasonably clean and adds a pleasant satin sheen to the brass. I don't think it gets much cheaper, unless you hand scrub them. __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.

April 16, 2008, 11:11 PM	#2
freakshow10mm Junior member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Location: MI Posts: 1,398	For a tumbler, it's hard to beat the Cabela's one. It's made by Berry's Mfg (good company) for Cabela's. For a cheap cleaning, water and Dawn dish soap. Put brass in the mix. Let it soak a good half hour, swirl it around, then rinse good in water. Let air dry overnight. I used this method before I got a tumbler.

April 16, 2008, 11:22 PM	#3
Darkstar7 Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Western Washington Posts: 48	Have a look at the Lyman Turbo Pro 1200, less than $55 at Midway USA.

April 17, 2008, 03:34 PM	#6
Newreloader86 Junior Member Join Date: March 27, 2008 Posts: 10	Thanks to all for the recommendations-they were very helpful

April 17, 2008, 04:11 PM	#8
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	I have a Frankford Arsenal tumbler I got for about 40 bucks.

April 17, 2008, 04:57 PM	#9
NavyLT Junior member Join Date: January 25, 2006 Location: Oak Harbor, WA Posts: 1,719	Crushed walnut pet bedding from the pet store in a zippered pillow case in the dryer with whatever else you are drying at the moment I won't tell you to put a couple teaspoons of brasso in there because a lot of people will come back and talk about the chemical reaction of ammonia with brass. But what I do with my .460 S&W brass is my business, I know the reaction as I am a trained chemist, and haven't seen any ill effects after 20+ reloadings on some brass with hot .460 S&W loads.

April 17, 2008, 05:41 PM	#10
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	I've heard of the media/pillow case/dryer trick myself, but never tried it. I'm thinking my wife might object. I use a nice Dillon tumbler I got at a gun show. I'd suggest looking there for one or whatever other equipment you need. I've picked up some great stuff at good prices over the years at the Crossroads shows here. Scott

April 17, 2008, 07:35 PM	#11
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	What did we ever do in the 60's when we had no idea what a tumbler was ? I think all I did was shake the brass in a bucket to knock the dirt off and then start reloading.

April 18, 2008, 09:34 AM	#12
NavyLT Junior member Join Date: January 25, 2006 Location: Oak Harbor, WA Posts: 1,719	I don't know. I just told my wife one day I was getting myself a vibrator from Sportsmans Warehouse and she just shrugged and said "Whatever floats your boat!" If you reload at all, though, I think you will ever wonder how you got by without a tumbler. I've never actually used the pillow case, but I have heard it suggested.

April 18, 2008, 09:52 AM	#13
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	I don't think I would put dirty fired brass in my dryer or dishwasher! There is a lot of toxic metal residue on that brass, and I don't want it on my sheets, towels, clothes or dishes. Drying already cleaned brass in a colander in the dryer or on a cookie sheet in the oven should not be a health problem, though. Just make sure the temperture stays low to protect the strength of the brass. SL1

April 18, 2008, 10:52 AM	#14
DR. Furlicker Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Posts: 33	Try this old springfield recipe 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water 1 tbs salt Put brass in and swish it around a little to get it all coated, let it set about ten minutes then wash in clean water (can add a small amount of dish soap)and, dry it. Brass gets very clean but has a dull finish, I still do this even though I tumble ; the combination produces some really good almost new looking brass. DR. Furlicker is online now Report Post

April 18, 2008, 06:54 PM	#16
tomh1426 Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2005 Location: Youngtown Arizona Posts: 1,135	Im a cheap person and I got the cabelas kit, it was $56. but its a real tumbler and it comes with all the stuff you need. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...853&hasJS=true