Brass Case Questions please help

40caliber · September 16, 2010, 02:11 AM

Hello I am very new to handloading, I have a lee breech lock single stage, and I am handloading 40 s&w rounds, and I have a question, I left a bag of about 500 cases in a plastic bag outside, and the bag filled with condensation and now I have brownish spots on outside and inside of case, they dont come off either, I was wondering what this is and if it is safe to load still, will it affect the shelf life or contaminate my powder, thank you very much for any advice you can offer and thank you for your time

Rico567 · September 16, 2010, 06:03 AM

If you don't care about the way the cases look, dry 'em out, load & shoot. You can always tumble the brown off, but I have a suspicion from your post you don't own a tumbler. You can also get that tarnish off a couple of cheap ways. What I would do:

1. Deprime all the cases.

2. Put them in a homer bucket with 1/2 gal of white vinegar and a couple of gallons of water.

3. Leave for 20-30 minutes and check for tarnish removal.

4. Rinse off the vinegar solution with water and spread out to air dry for a few days or dry in a low-temperature oven.

There's also a product called Lemishine (citric acid based, instead of the acetic acid in vinegar) that is highly regarded by some....check for it at Wal-Mart.

There's a commercial product called "Iosso" that's supposed to work well, but I've always found the method above to be effective and cheap.

Uncle Buck · September 16, 2010, 08:48 AM

You should see my .45 LC brass that I use to load black powder. Those cases are of several different colors and look like heck.

Just make sure the cases are clean and dry before you reload them. After you shoot them, inspect them, toss the cracked, split and bulged cases and reload again. I suspect that you will end up losing most of the brass in high grass and gravel before you reach the end of their useful service life.

I shoot black powder out of .45 LC, .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass. I keep a can of soapy water in which to put my spent brass to help clean them up and have noticed the water spots are kinda ugly, but do not affect the brass at all.

demigod · September 16, 2010, 09:07 AM

Clean them and load them. Shiney doesn't equal function for ammo.

**Unclenick** · September 16, 2010, 09:22 AM

The main advantage to shiny cases is the ease of finding them on the ground. The oxide spots won't amount to anything unless they corrode deeply, in which case you'll see verdis gris on the brass. It is highly unlikely you have that problem from your description. Ironically, a modest oxide layer actually protects cases from additional corrosion. This is why military brass is only cleaned but not polished after manufacturing and the neck annealing oxide stain is left in place.

rtpzwms · September 16, 2010, 09:28 AM

Listen to Uncle Buck he speaks the truth on this one. If it bothers you ask for a tumbler as a Christmas gift. Then you can make it shine if you want. Besides after a couple of trips to the range only some of the brass you bring back will be yours. The rest will have belonged to someone else, its all good. I can't say I know much about the solution based cleanings. I've always had a tumbler...

Doodlebugger45 · September 16, 2010, 09:42 AM

You can wash them in the vinegar if you feel like it or just shoot them. Some folks actually like that "patina" look. I tried the vinegar thing once, along with trying some lemon juice and water. I tried soap too, just to see what worked getting the black carbon soot off some of my cases. The various liquids all got the black off and they seemed to look real nice at first, but after they were all dry, the brass looked kind of tarnished with a slight green tint to it. No big deal either way. Much later I broke down and bought a tumbler and it's kind of nice having shiny cases again, but they still shoot the same either way.

beeenbag · September 16, 2010, 10:23 AM

Id say brass is fine as long as it is dry/ and flash hole is clear. Sometimes stained cases make it a little harder to properly inspect cases but just take your time and check them out.

40caliber · September 16, 2010, 10:57 PM

thank you so much all of you for your time, you have been the biggest help in the world, thank you for being so nice

Uncle Buck · September 17, 2010, 08:46 AM

40Caliber, I forgot to add: Welcome to the forums. I just notice you were a newer member here and I hope you come back again frequently.

September 16, 2010, 02:11 AM	#1
40caliber Member Join Date: September 16, 2010 Posts: 16	Brass Case Questions please help Hello I am very new to handloading, I have a lee breech lock single stage, and I am handloading 40 s&w rounds, and I have a question, I left a bag of about 500 cases in a plastic bag outside, and the bag filled with condensation and now I have brownish spots on outside and inside of case, they dont come off either, I was wondering what this is and if it is safe to load still, will it affect the shelf life or contaminate my powder, thank you very much for any advice you can offer and thank you for your time

September 16, 2010, 06:03 AM	#2
Rico567 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Posts: 162	If you don't care about the way the cases look, dry 'em out, load & shoot. You can always tumble the brown off, but I have a suspicion from your post you don't own a tumbler. You can also get that tarnish off a couple of cheap ways. What I would do: 1. Deprime all the cases. 2. Put them in a homer bucket with 1/2 gal of white vinegar and a couple of gallons of water. 3. Leave for 20-30 minutes and check for tarnish removal. 4. Rinse off the vinegar solution with water and spread out to air dry for a few days or dry in a low-temperature oven. There's also a product called Lemishine (citric acid based, instead of the acetic acid in vinegar) that is highly regarded by some....check for it at Wal-Mart. There's a commercial product called "Iosso" that's supposed to work well, but I've always found the method above to be effective and cheap. __________________ "Dear reader, suppose you are a member of Congress. Now, further suppose you are an idiot. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

September 16, 2010, 08:48 AM	#3
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	You should see my .45 LC brass that I use to load black powder. Those cases are of several different colors and look like heck. Just make sure the cases are clean and dry before you reload them. After you shoot them, inspect them, toss the cracked, split and bulged cases and reload again. I suspect that you will end up losing most of the brass in high grass and gravel before you reach the end of their useful service life. I shoot black powder out of .45 LC, .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass. I keep a can of soapy water in which to put my spent brass to help clean them up and have noticed the water spots are kinda ugly, but do not affect the brass at all. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

September 16, 2010, 09:22 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The main advantage to shiny cases is the ease of finding them on the ground. The oxide spots won't amount to anything unless they corrode deeply, in which case you'll see verdis gris on the brass. It is highly unlikely you have that problem from your description. Ironically, a modest oxide layer actually protects cases from additional corrosion. This is why military brass is only cleaned but not polished after manufacturing and the neck annealing oxide stain is left in place. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

September 16, 2010, 09:28 AM	#6
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 1,035	Listen to Uncle Buck he speaks the truth on this one. If it bothers you ask for a tumbler as a Christmas gift. Then you can make it shine if you want. Besides after a couple of trips to the range only some of the brass you bring back will be yours. The rest will have belonged to someone else, its all good. I can't say I know much about the solution based cleanings. I've always had a tumbler... __________________ Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

September 16, 2010, 09:07 AM	#4
demigod Junior member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,129	Clean them and load them. Shiney doesn't equal function for ammo.

September 16, 2010, 09:42 AM	#7
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	You can wash them in the vinegar if you feel like it or just shoot them. Some folks actually like that "patina" look. I tried the vinegar thing once, along with trying some lemon juice and water. I tried soap too, just to see what worked getting the black carbon soot off some of my cases. The various liquids all got the black off and they seemed to look real nice at first, but after they were all dry, the brass looked kind of tarnished with a slight green tint to it. No big deal either way. Much later I broke down and bought a tumbler and it's kind of nice having shiny cases again, but they still shoot the same either way.

September 16, 2010, 10:23 AM	#8
beeenbag Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Posts: 61	Id say brass is fine as long as it is dry/ and flash hole is clear. Sometimes stained cases make it a little harder to properly inspect cases but just take your time and check them out.

September 16, 2010, 10:57 PM	#9
40caliber Member Join Date: September 16, 2010 Posts: 16	much thx thank you so much all of you for your time, you have been the biggest help in the world, thank you for being so nice

September 17, 2010, 08:46 AM	#10
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	40Caliber, I forgot to add: Welcome to the forums. I just notice you were a newer member here and I hope you come back again frequently. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen.