How often do you clean your brass?

sds · November 22, 2008, 02:02 PM

I suppose this question would apply mostly to carbide die users (as dirty brass supposedly wouldn't affect these as much). I'm just starting to look at reloading and have heard various opinions so I thought I'd see what y'all think. Thanks for the input.

zxcvbob · November 22, 2008, 02:27 PM

Semiauto brass, every time. Revolver brass I sometimes shoot 2 or 3 times before I clean it again.

kraigwy · November 22, 2008, 02:34 PM

just because you are using carbide brass is no reason not to clean it.

Whisper 300 · November 22, 2008, 02:36 PM

Everything gets tossed into the vibratory cleaner after shooting.
I have kind of a fetish for shiny brass.

Does not take any effort to pitch it in and just a minute or two to empty out and sort whatever was in the bowl so why not?

Just my .02.

Gary

vranasaurus · November 22, 2008, 03:38 PM

I do it every time. That way the cases are clean for me to inspect. I inspect them as I take them out of the cleaner.

Sevens · November 22, 2008, 03:43 PM

Each different caliber that I load has it's own coffee can or plastic container for dirty brass. When it's got a supply, I tumble it. I don't tend to mix calibers because shells getting stuck inside other shells is a hassle. But yes... they come from the range to home and directly in to their "dirty" container, then cleaned. Each time. Doesn't matter if they look clean, they get run through the tumbler.

Sevens · November 22, 2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

carbide die users

If you take a piece of dirty brass and run it through a carbide die, it smashes and mashes that dirt in to a fine dirt colored polish on the case. Now your brass looks truly awful AND is dirty, too. Does it hurt anything... the die or the chamber? I doubt it. But it looks like hell, no doubt.

hanno · November 22, 2008, 04:30 PM

Everytime - no real problem to do so and I prefer shiney brass.

If I have a lousy shooting day, at least my reloads were "purty."

rn22723 · November 22, 2008, 06:33 PM

Even a bad day shooting is a better then being at work.

rwilson452 · November 22, 2008, 08:39 PM

Guess I must clarify my every time answer. it's every time for my rifle stuff it's never for my pistol stuff ( .45ACP)

That'll Do · November 22, 2008, 09:12 PM

I clean my brass after every firing, even if they're not dirty.

I take pride in my reloading, and I want a good looking product.

sds · November 23, 2008, 12:28 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I totally understand wanting the brass to look nice, but my thinking to start with is that I can deal with a grungy look as long as it will function. Since I will be reloading for a revolver, I don't anticipate issues with chambering...maybe down the road I'll invest in a tumbler but to start with I think I'll try the dirty stuff and see how it goes. Thanks again

zxcvbob · November 23, 2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Since I will be reloading for a revolver, I don't anticipate issues with chambering...maybe down the road I'll invest in a tumbler but to start with I think I'll try the dirty stuff and see how it goes. Thanks again

A revolver doesn't throw your cases in the dirt. If you're using carbide dies (of course you are using carbide) just wipe the dirt off the cases the first time, and go for it. They won't look as pretty as if you polished them, and you'll have to inspect them a little closer for cracks and splits because the defects won't stand out as much.

Once you do have a tumbler, you'll probably use it most of the time whether you need to or not just because the cartridges look so much better.

Dr. Strangelove · November 23, 2008, 03:21 PM

Code:

but to start with I think I'll try the dirty stuff and see how it goes. Thanks again

That's usually the most fun...

I just purchased a tumbler after 20+ years of loading, so I voted 100% of the time. I tumble all kinds of things just because it's a new toy! It sure does make the cases pretty, but I never had any problems when I didn't clean them. I tumble it all now, because it's easy and there's no reason to not. That being said, a tumbler is one of things that can wait. If it's a budget issue, spend the money on something else.

cgaengineer · November 23, 2008, 08:10 PM

You dont need a tumbler to get clean brass....buy some of the Birchwood Casey case cleaner and wash them with water...they wont be polished, but they will be dirt free and have a nice shine to them.

You can also get a cheap Frankfort Arsenal tumbler for about $35-$40 and corn cob or walnut media from Pet Smart. Toss in some Nu Finish car polish and you will have shiny brass.

Cloudpeak · November 24, 2008, 09:49 AM

Tumble = happy sizing dies, happy chamber and much easier to check the case for flaws.

Cloudpeak

WSM MAGNUM · November 24, 2008, 09:53 AM

After every firing. I dump them all in the tumbler right when I get home and unpack my gear. And then start cleaning the guns.

WESHOOT2 · November 24, 2008, 12:19 PM

1) It is easier to inspect clean cases.

2) Dirty cases can ruin dies.

3) Dirty cases can embed dirt in dies that ruins other cases.

4) Dirty cases may not grip the chamber wall fully.

I would not consider for one second using dirty cases; at a minimum I would wipe them off (but since I have two cleaners, I find it more time-productive to use them).

BigJimP · November 24, 2008, 05:52 PM

I use Carbide dies exclusively - but the biggest reason I clean the brass every time is so I can inspect them. Its really hard to inspect dirty brass.

Even revolvers - I still clean the brass every time / it just cycles thru the vibrating cleaner for 8 hours or so ( not like you have to watch it run ).

View Poll Results: How often do you clean your brass
Every time the brass is fired	78	88.64%
Never	3	3.41%
Maybe after 2,3, or more firings	7	7.95%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

November 22, 2008, 02:02 PM	#1
sds Member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 71	How often do you clean your brass? I suppose this question would apply mostly to carbide die users (as dirty brass supposedly wouldn't affect these as much). I'm just starting to look at reloading and have heard various opinions so I thought I'd see what y'all think. Thanks for the input. __________________ I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor.

November 22, 2008, 02:27 PM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Semiauto brass, every time. Revolver brass I sometimes shoot 2 or 3 times before I clean it again. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

November 22, 2008, 02:34 PM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	just because you are using carbide brass is no reason not to clean it. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

November 22, 2008, 03:43 PM	#6
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Each different caliber that I load has it's own coffee can or plastic container for dirty brass. When it's got a supply, I tumble it. I don't tend to mix calibers because shells getting stuck inside other shells is a hassle. But yes... they come from the range to home and directly in to their "dirty" container, then cleaned. Each time. Doesn't matter if they look clean, they get run through the tumbler. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

November 22, 2008, 02:36 PM	#4
Whisper 300 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Posts: 155	Everything gets tossed into the vibratory cleaner after shooting. I have kind of a fetish for shiny brass. Does not take any effort to pitch it in and just a minute or two to empty out and sort whatever was in the bowl so why not? Just my .02. Gary

November 22, 2008, 03:38 PM	#5
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	I do it every time. That way the cases are clean for me to inspect. I inspect them as I take them out of the cleaner.

November 22, 2008, 04:30 PM	#8
hanno Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2008 Posts: 394	Everytime - no real problem to do so and I prefer shiney brass. If I have a lousy shooting day, at least my reloads were "purty."

November 22, 2008, 06:33 PM	#9
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	Even a bad day shooting is a better then being at work.

November 22, 2008, 08:39 PM	#10
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	Guess I must clarify my every time answer. it's every time for my rifle stuff it's never for my pistol stuff ( .45ACP)

November 22, 2008, 09:12 PM	#11
That'll Do Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 546	I clean my brass after every firing, even if they're not dirty. I take pride in my reloading, and I want a good looking product.

November 23, 2008, 12:28 PM	#12
sds Member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 71	Thanks for all the replies. I totally understand wanting the brass to look nice, but my thinking to start with is that I can deal with a grungy look as long as it will function. Since I will be reloading for a revolver, I don't anticipate issues with chambering...maybe down the road I'll invest in a tumbler but to start with I think I'll try the dirty stuff and see how it goes. Thanks again __________________ I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor.

November 23, 2008, 03:21 PM	#14
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	Code: but to start with I think I'll try the dirty stuff and see how it goes. Thanks again That's usually the most fun... I just purchased a tumbler after 20+ years of loading, so I voted 100% of the time. I tumble all kinds of things just because it's a new toy! It sure does make the cases pretty, but I never had any problems when I didn't clean them. I tumble it all now, because it's easy and there's no reason to not. That being said, a tumbler is one of things that can wait. If it's a budget issue, spend the money on something else.

November 23, 2008, 08:10 PM	#15
cgaengineer Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 264	You dont need a tumbler to get clean brass....buy some of the Birchwood Casey case cleaner and wash them with water...they wont be polished, but they will be dirt free and have a nice shine to them. You can also get a cheap Frankfort Arsenal tumbler for about $35-$40 and corn cob or walnut media from Pet Smart. Toss in some Nu Finish car polish and you will have shiny brass.

November 24, 2008, 09:49 AM	#16
Cloudpeak Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 288	Tumble = happy sizing dies, happy chamber and much easier to check the case for flaws. Cloudpeak

November 24, 2008, 09:53 AM	#17
WSM MAGNUM Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 750	After every firing. I dump them all in the tumbler right when I get home and unpack my gear. And then start cleaning the guns. __________________ Henry - Life NRA Member, USCCA Shield Member If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

November 24, 2008, 12:19 PM	#18
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	facts 1) It is easier to inspect clean cases. 2) Dirty cases can ruin dies. 3) Dirty cases can embed dirt in dies that ruins other cases. 4) Dirty cases may not grip the chamber wall fully. I would not consider for one second using dirty cases; at a minimum I would wipe them off (but since I have two cleaners, I find it more time-productive to use them). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 24, 2008, 05:52 PM	#19
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I use Carbide dies exclusively - but the biggest reason I clean the brass every time is so I can inspect them. Its really hard to inspect dirty brass. Even revolvers - I still clean the brass every time / it just cycles thru the vibrating cleaner for 8 hours or so ( not like you have to watch it run ).