Any tips to cleaning cases used with black powder?

RamSlammer · March 1, 2009, 02:01 AM

Recently came across a batch of nice Starline brass that was used for BP Cowboy loads (with Goex I believe). The things are really cruddy with some green corrosion evident. After 4 hours in the tumbler with #24 grit walnut shells and NuFinish, they're still fairly cruddy looking. Anyone know what to use to get these cleaner?

darkgael · March 1, 2009, 07:12 AM

Did you wash them with soap and water? Discoloration is a common side effect of using BP as a propellant. You can also try 0000 steel wool and polish them that way. Kinda labor intense.
Lee Precision makes a little shellholder for their case trimmer that can be chucked into a drill; that'd be a way to spin the cases if you didn't want to do it the slow way by hand.
Also, what are your plans for the cases? The standard advice is that once the cases have been used for BP, they should not be used for smokeless loads. I'd say that is especially true if these cases are as you have described.
Pete

dlb435 · March 1, 2009, 08:15 AM

Hot soapy water is what they used to clean black powder guns in the past. Try one of those degreasers from the auto parts store.

RamSlammer · March 1, 2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Did you wash them with soap and water? Discoloration is a common side effect of using BP as a propellant. You can also try 0000 steel wool and polish them that way. Kinda labor intense.
Lee Precision makes a little shellholder for their case trimmer that can be chucked into a drill; that'd be a way to spin the cases if you didn't want to do it the slow way by hand.
Also, what are your plans for the cases? The standard advice is that once the cases have been used for BP, they should not be used for smokeless loads. I'd say that is especially true if these cases are as you have described.

Well . . . No, I didn't try soap and water - will do so now however. Hand finishing is a last resort - too many cases (300). What would be harmful about reloading these with smokeless powder now - provided I can get them clean? Does the BP corrosion weaken the brass in some way? They're .45 LC and was going to reload them rather hot for use in a Blackhawk.

RamSlammer · March 1, 2009, 12:34 PM

Found a solution . . . .

Large plastic Folgers coffee container half full of hot water with Dawn dish soap. Throw in brass 100 at a time, shake vigorously in a circular motion for a couple of minutes, rinse in a collander and voila - much, much cleaner. After they dry, I think another tumble in the walnut shells will have 'em looking like new.

RamSlammer · March 1, 2009, 02:48 PM

Well . . . so much for that idea. Doesn't work. After the cases dried, I found much gunk and corrosion still inside. Can see this reacting with any new smokeless powder unfavorably. Only think would be to attach a brass cleaning brush to a drill or something and individually polish up the inside of each case, then do the flash holes as well.

To the trash can they go . . .

rwilson452 · March 1, 2009, 03:15 PM

If the cases had been cleaned immediately after use most of that stuff would come out. after the salt residue gets to working they are toast.

KSpainhour · March 1, 2009, 03:15 PM

Hello,
Came in late on this thread so fogive me if you have tried this, but have you tried soaking them in kool aid? I have been cleaning my cases in citric acid / dish soap for awhile now, and it works great. I just dump them in a ultrasonic cleaner and wait awhile, then rinse. I think the lime kool aide has the most citric acid in it. I have heard 3 or 4 packs in a quart of water (NO SUGAR

.

Take Care,

troy_mclure · March 1, 2009, 03:58 PM

on another site a guy was saying he cleaned his 45/70 bp cases in the dish washer, between 2 colanders. he uses extra jet-dri on them.

RamSlammer · March 1, 2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

If the cases had been cleaned immediately after use most of that stuff would come out. after the salt residue gets to working they are toast

I think that's the problem. These were shot about 3 months ago outdoors and have been in an open container on a porch since. I think the corrosion is just too far gone to reclaim them at this point. I'll just have to be more diligent about collecting them up faster from this group of cowboy shooter friends and cleaning in hot soapy water quickly after being shot.

What a waste of good brass! I've asked why they don't just shoot low powered smokeless loads . . . . They LIKE all the smoke apparently and could give a hoot about reloading.

Jim Watson · March 1, 2009, 05:44 PM

If you have access to a lot of BP brass, it might be worth investing in a rotary tumbler and some ceramic media. That will clean even the primer pockets... if you decap before tumbling. I shoot BPCR and hand washing each case with a test tube brush was getting old.

March 1, 2009, 02:01 AM	#1
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Any tips to cleaning cases used with black powder? Recently came across a batch of nice Starline brass that was used for BP Cowboy loads (with Goex I believe). The things are really cruddy with some green corrosion evident. After 4 hours in the tumbler with #24 grit walnut shells and NuFinish, they're still fairly cruddy looking. Anyone know what to use to get these cleaner?

March 1, 2009, 03:15 PM	#7
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	If the cases had been cleaned immediately after use most of that stuff would come out. after the salt residue gets to working they are toast. __________________ USNRET '61-'81

March 1, 2009, 03:15 PM	#8
KSpainhour Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Posts: 1	Hello, Came in late on this thread so fogive me if you have tried this, but have you tried soaking them in kool aid? I have been cleaning my cases in citric acid / dish soap for awhile now, and it works great. I just dump them in a ultrasonic cleaner and wait awhile, then rinse. I think the lime kool aide has the most citric acid in it. I have heard 3 or 4 packs in a quart of water (NO SUGAR. Take Care,

March 1, 2009, 03:58 PM	#9
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 2,716	on another site a guy was saying he cleaned his 45/70 bp cases in the dish washer, between 2 colanders. he uses extra jet-dri on them. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

March 1, 2009, 07:12 AM	#2
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	BP cases Did you wash them with soap and water? Discoloration is a common side effect of using BP as a propellant. You can also try 0000 steel wool and polish them that way. Kinda labor intense. Lee Precision makes a little shellholder for their case trimmer that can be chucked into a drill; that'd be a way to spin the cases if you didn't want to do it the slow way by hand. Also, what are your plans for the cases? The standard advice is that once the cases have been used for BP, they should not be used for smokeless loads. I'd say that is especially true if these cases are as you have described. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

March 1, 2009, 08:15 AM	#3
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	Hot soapy water is what they used to clean black powder guns in the past. Try one of those degreasers from the auto parts store.

March 1, 2009, 12:34 PM	#5
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Found a solution . . . . Large plastic Folgers coffee container half full of hot water with Dawn dish soap. Throw in brass 100 at a time, shake vigorously in a circular motion for a couple of minutes, rinse in a collander and voila - much, much cleaner. After they dry, I think another tumble in the walnut shells will have 'em looking like new.

March 1, 2009, 02:48 PM	#6
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Well . . . so much for that idea. Doesn't work. After the cases dried, I found much gunk and corrosion still inside. Can see this reacting with any new smokeless powder unfavorably. Only think would be to attach a brass cleaning brush to a drill or something and individually polish up the inside of each case, then do the flash holes as well. To the trash can they go . . .

March 1, 2009, 05:44 PM	#11
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	If you have access to a lot of BP brass, it might be worth investing in a rotary tumbler and some ceramic media. That will clean even the primer pockets... if you decap before tumbling. I shoot BPCR and hand washing each case with a test tube brush was getting old.