Washing Cartridges

Uncle Buck · August 8, 2010, 09:29 PM

Do you have to wash cartridges that have been fired with black powder in them?

I thoroughly clean my guns after shooting, but usually just throw the brass into the tumbler and when I get a load of brass I turn it on.

Today I turned it on and I saw some of the empty cases look as if they have some sort of corrosion on them. The brass is not nice and shiny.

I went ahead and resized the brass and it looks good as far as integrity, but the discoloration has me wondering if these were from the black powder. (Goex FFFg)

TomADC · August 8, 2010, 10:15 PM

I do a little dishwashing soap & hot water, a good rinse then I set them out to dry and into the tumbler.

davem · August 8, 2010, 10:17 PM

I don't know if it is required but I do the same thing, hot soapy water. Just a habit.

Jim Watson · August 8, 2010, 10:20 PM

Before I got my ceramic media tumbling setup, I washed my BPCR brass with Dawn dish soap and a testtube brush. They were still tarnished looking, but clean and sound. I still decap at the range and take my empties home in soapy water so the fouling doesn't cake on and start to corrode the brass.

**Mike Irwin** · August 9, 2010, 08:57 AM

The fouling is hygroscopic, which can really contribute to corrosion.

Even a good sluicing with hot water to dissolve the hygroscopic component can be enough.

Hardcase · August 9, 2010, 08:58 AM

^^What Jim said^^

Before I go shooting, I just put some water and dish soap in a tupperware container and drop the empties in as I shoot. Oh, but I don't decap. I just give it a good shake every so often to get the air bubbles out of the cases.

CajunPowder · August 9, 2010, 06:19 PM

Let's invent a coin operated case washer for firing ranges !

August 8, 2010, 09:29 PM	#1
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	Washing Cartridges Do you have to wash cartridges that have been fired with black powder in them? I thoroughly clean my guns after shooting, but usually just throw the brass into the tumbler and when I get a load of brass I turn it on. Today I turned it on and I saw some of the empty cases look as if they have some sort of corrosion on them. The brass is not nice and shiny. I went ahead and resized the brass and it looks good as far as integrity, but the discoloration has me wondering if these were from the black powder. (Goex FFFg) __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

August 8, 2010, 10:15 PM	#2
TomADC Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: San Diego County Posts: 795	I do a little dishwashing soap & hot water, a good rinse then I set them out to dry and into the tumbler. __________________ US Navy Retired,NRA Life Member,SASS member, Time magazine's Person of the Year 2006!

August 9, 2010, 08:57 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	The fouling is hygroscopic, which can really contribute to corrosion. Even a good sluicing with hot water to dissolve the hygroscopic component can be enough. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 9, 2010, 08:58 AM	#6
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	^^What Jim said^^ Before I go shooting, I just put some water and dish soap in a tupperware container and drop the empties in as I shoot. Oh, but I don't decap. I just give it a good shake every so often to get the air bubbles out of the cases. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

August 8, 2010, 10:17 PM	#3
davem Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2004 Posts: 458	I don't know if it is required but I do the same thing, hot soapy water. Just a habit.

August 8, 2010, 10:20 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	Before I got my ceramic media tumbling setup, I washed my BPCR brass with Dawn dish soap and a testtube brush. They were still tarnished looking, but clean and sound. I still decap at the range and take my empties home in soapy water so the fouling doesn't cake on and start to corrode the brass.

August 9, 2010, 06:19 PM	#7
CajunPowder Junior member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Louisiana - Cajun Triangle Posts: 223	Let's invent a coin operated case washer for firing ranges !