Steel shot for inside cassse cleaning

MADISON · December 12, 2009, 12:57 PM

Where can WE buy steel shot, in 25 pound bags?
Several people have asked about cleaning the inside of cases.
Steel Shot, small enough to go inside a .223 case mixed with your other media, should do the job.

snuffy · December 12, 2009, 01:40 PM

Who's "WE?" Anybody can buy all the steel shot you'd want @
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/

The question is WHY? The inside of a shell casing is not a concern. The slight amount of carbon left behind by the burning powder is of NO concern.

Smokey Joe · December 12, 2009, 04:04 PM

shot in a tumbler, would be that steel is much harder than your brass cases. I'd expect the cases to be covered with tiny dent marks where the steel shot banged into the brass.

Mebbe it would only make the cases "matte finished" rather than regular "brass shiny."

Wouldn't care to try it myself.

As Snuffy points out, the small amount of crud left inside a case after firing is inconsequential. Ordinary tumbling media clean out any that is loose inside the case.

Use used clothes dryer sheets in with your cases and REGULAR, that is, corncob or walnut, tumbling medium--you will be AMAZED at how much black powdery "stuff" the dryer sheets pick up. Most of this is, I think, burned powder residue from inside the cases. As a plus, your tumbling medium stays cleaner longer.

December 12, 2009, 12:57 PM	#1
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Steel shot for inside cassse cleaning Where can WE buy steel shot, in 25 pound bags? Several people have asked about cleaning the inside of cases. Steel Shot, small enough to go inside a .223 case mixed with your other media, should do the job.

December 12, 2009, 04:04 PM	#3
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Another problem with steel... shot in a tumbler, would be that steel is much harder than your brass cases. I'd expect the cases to be covered with tiny dent marks where the steel shot banged into the brass. Mebbe it would only make the cases "matte finished" rather than regular "brass shiny." Wouldn't care to try it myself. As Snuffy points out, the small amount of crud left inside a case after firing is inconsequential. Ordinary tumbling media clean out any that is loose inside the case. Use used clothes dryer sheets in with your cases and REGULAR, that is, corncob or walnut, tumbling medium--you will be AMAZED at how much black powdery "stuff" the dryer sheets pick up. Most of this is, I think, burned powder residue from inside the cases. As a plus, your tumbling medium stays cleaner longer. Last edited by Smokey Joe; December 12, 2009 at 04:05 PM. Reason: Clumsy wording.

December 12, 2009, 01:40 PM	#2
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Who's "WE?" Anybody can buy all the steel shot you'd want @ http://www.ballisticproducts.com/ The question is WHY? The inside of a shell casing is not a concern. The slight amount of carbon left behind by the burning powder is of NO concern.