Cleaning your brass cartridges? - Page 2

tkglazie · May 31, 2012, 11:39 PM

I do not decap before tumbling handgun cases. Never saw the need. Nor do I clean handgun primer pockets by hand. I decap/size/prime at station 1.

For rifles, its 50-50. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I always check/clean the pockets by hand anyway so it doesnt matter at the volumes I load rifle cartridges.

If you are decapping prior to tumbling, you will need to be aware that flashholes can and do get plugged with media. This is only an issue if you are either handpriming, or are performing a priming step on your press without a decapping rod present.

If you are doing one of these two things, the only way to be sure the hole is clear (aside from a mechanical check) is to look through each one and see light.

As for Brasso- you will get different answers. I dont like the ammonia. Nufinish works great.

marklyftogt · June 1, 2012, 01:42 AM

Do what smokey joe said unless you have lots of time to waste doing things that do not matter in shootablility. A little tarnish won't hurt a thing if it goes through your sizer.

Brasso makes cases brittle and Nufinish works great with corn media.

henry-ctc · June 1, 2012, 05:31 AM

After years of washing brass I came across the citric acid idea a couple weeks ago. I´ve washed about 2k pcs of brass since then with excellent results. Just a tablespoon of citric acid in a bucket of hot water and just an hour... rinsing and drying under the sun... No, I don´t find myself in the need of a tumbler.

LarryFlew · June 1, 2012, 11:56 AM

Plus one for nu-finish with the tumbler media. Even smells the same as the stuff lyman sells for a lot more money.

Garandman3 · June 5, 2012, 08:12 PM

I use a similar cleaning solution. the proprtions are: 1 cup hot tap water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp Dawn dish detergent. I let the resized and deprimed brass soak for an hour or so, rinse them thoroughly under running water and let them air dry. Using the Lee spinner stud with the appropriate shell holder chucked into an 18 volt drill I trim and chamfer each case. Then I spin the case and polish it with 0000 steel wool. Right out of the solution the brass doesn't look very clean but the steel wool makes them look like new.

FiveInADime · June 6, 2012, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garandman3

I use a similar cleaning solution. the proprtions are: 1 cup hot tap water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp Dawn dish detergent. I let the resized and deprimed brass soak for an hour or so, rinse them thoroughly under running water and let them air dry. Using the Lee spinner stud with the appropriate shell holder chucked into an 18 volt drill I trim and chamfer each case. Then I spin the case and polish it with 0000 steel wool. Right out of the solution the brass doesn't look very clean but the steel wool makes them look like new.

Is there a reason to not just use the steel wool and skip the chemical cleaNing? Does the inside of the case need to be cleaned? This is what i do because i use a Lee trimmer and chamfer tool with the shell holder chucked into an electric screw driver. My cases typically look better than new, but it is a bit of effort over using a tumbler.

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**Unclenick** · June 7, 2012, 01:23 PM

On another board a former Aberdeen Proving Grounds Test Director and accomplished competitive shooter says tests they did at Aberdeen convinced him the hardened carbon in primer residue and sometimes accumulating in cases, particularly near the breech, are a significant factor in barrel and throat wear. You can read one of his first posts on the topic, here.

FiveInADime · June 10, 2012, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unclenick

On another board a former Aberdeen Proving Grounds Test Director and accomplished competitive shooter says tests they did at Aberdeen convinced him the hardened carbon in primer residue and sometimes accumulating in cases, particularly near the breech, are a significant factor in barrel and throat wear. You can read one of his first posts on the topic, here.

Interesting stuff. I clean the primer pockets With the Lee tool. I also use a nylon brush on the necks, but i haven't worried about cleaning the inside of the case. I am newer to reloading and i have put off buying a tumbler or ultrasonic cleaner because i have only gone through about 500 rounds in the past year. I will probably make a tumbler my next purchase.

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June 1, 2012, 05:31 AM	#28
henry-ctc Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 18	Citric acid After years of washing brass I came across the citric acid idea a couple weeks ago. I´ve washed about 2k pcs of brass since then with excellent results. Just a tablespoon of citric acid in a bucket of hot water and just an hour... rinsing and drying under the sun... No, I don´t find myself in the need of a tumbler.

June 5, 2012, 08:12 PM	#30
Garandman3 Member Join Date: June 5, 2012 Posts: 27	My brass cleaning method I use a similar cleaning solution. the proprtions are: 1 cup hot tap water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp Dawn dish detergent. I let the resized and deprimed brass soak for an hour or so, rinse them thoroughly under running water and let them air dry. Using the Lee spinner stud with the appropriate shell holder chucked into an 18 volt drill I trim and chamfer each case. Then I spin the case and polish it with 0000 steel wool. Right out of the solution the brass doesn't look very clean but the steel wool makes them look like new.

June 7, 2012, 01:23 PM	#32
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	On another board a former Aberdeen Proving Grounds Test Director and accomplished competitive shooter says tests they did at Aberdeen convinced him the hardened carbon in primer residue and sometimes accumulating in cases, particularly near the breech, are a significant factor in barrel and throat wear. You can read one of his first posts on the topic, here. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 31, 2012, 11:39 PM	#26
tkglazie Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2011 Posts: 558	I do not decap before tumbling handgun cases. Never saw the need. Nor do I clean handgun primer pockets by hand. I decap/size/prime at station 1. For rifles, its 50-50. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I always check/clean the pockets by hand anyway so it doesnt matter at the volumes I load rifle cartridges. If you are decapping prior to tumbling, you will need to be aware that flashholes can and do get plugged with media. This is only an issue if you are either handpriming, or are performing a priming step on your press without a decapping rod present. If you are doing one of these two things, the only way to be sure the hole is clear (aside from a mechanical check) is to look through each one and see light. As for Brasso- you will get different answers. I dont like the ammonia. Nufinish works great.

June 1, 2012, 01:42 AM	#27
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	Do what smokey joe said unless you have lots of time to waste doing things that do not matter in shootablility. A little tarnish won't hurt a thing if it goes through your sizer. Brasso makes cases brittle and Nufinish works great with corn media.

June 1, 2012, 11:56 AM	#29
LarryFlew Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Minnesota CZ fan Posts: 902	Plus one for nu-finish with the tumbler media. Even smells the same as the stuff lyman sells for a lot more money.