cleaning brass

[VA Shooter]

When I clean my brass (tumbler) it's looks good on the outside but the inside looks dirty does this matter or do you all clean the inside too if yes how. I have heard that sonic cleaners clean inside and out and primer pockets too should I consider one. I have no issues with my loads so far mybe reloaded them 45 colt 5 times Thanks

 

[Jimbo357mag]

When I first started reloading I was a little more particular (read anal) about cleaning my brass. I would start by washing the cases in a tub of hot soapy water and scrubbing the insides with a scrubber that I made by gluing some pot scrubber material to the sides and end of a small wooden dowel. This worked great but was totally un-necessary. If the brass is going to be tumbled that is enough. A little black on the insides of the brass that is tumbled is just fine. You will never get all the black stain out anyway. Heck I don't even worry about a little black on the outside now. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[Tellico]

I too used to worry about the inside and used to clean primer pockets every time but I don't worry about that much now. I tumble in walnut shell from the pet store (less than 1/2 price of regular reloading shell) and I add a couple teaspoons of flitz and a cut up dryer sheet. Cases come out plenty clean in an hour or so. I clean primer pocket every third loading now. New finish car wax works also in the walnut shell. A sonic cleaner will clean inside and clean the primer pocket but they are a little spendy for me.

 

[revhigh]

Overnight in a tumbler's good enough .... they come out looking like jewels, and who cares about the inside ? Don't deprime before tumbling.

REV

 

[DeletedMember275]

If you want brass that's shiny inside as well as outside, there are two schools of thought: ultrasonic cleaning, and tumbling with stainless steel media (wet). The latter method requires an actual tumbler, as opposed to a vibrator like many of us use. Either one will result in clean, shiny brass - in and out.

 

[44shootist]

No you don't need to worry about having the inside clean, it would look nice but really makes no difference, you do need to make sure the primer pocket is fairly clean but not spotless.
The Sonic cleaner works nice, but it don't clean spotless either, you will still need a tumbler to polish your brass.
I think most of us like me, just skip the sonic cleaner and just tumble.

 

[MidLife]

If you have the time and patience, the ultrasound cleaner may work for you. You DO have to do some prep work beforehand for optimal results. I prep my brass using a RCBS Trim Mate case prep center (Primer Pocket Cleaner, Flash Hole uniformer, case mouth deburr and chamfer, etc and deprime my brass prior to use in the Ultrasound cleaner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJY9UCXqXrA&feature=player_detailpage

 

[Tmyoungjr]

Eh don't worry about the inside. Unless your case is full of crap it's no big deal and you're just going to fill it with power and put a bullet on top anyways - no one will see it!

I leave my tumbler run for however long (anywhere form an hour to a day or two - depending on how soon I need to use the brass) and whatever it looks like when its done is perfect

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Just a little note here about vibratory tumblers. I don't think it is really safe to let them run overnight or for long periods of time unattended. The reason is that I have had one burn-up and almost catch fire. They are designed with cheap electric motors and designed to not run smoothly causing possible failures from stress. I don't hesitate to run mine while I am home but not when I am gone or asleep. My usual tumbling time is about 2 hours. If the cases are not clean after that length of time it is time to change the media or add some polish. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[JohnM]

When I started reloading back in the 60s hardly anyone used tumblers like they do today.
A simple wipe down of handfuls at a time in a rag was all I ever did.

Now I use a rotary tumbler and just stick to walnut.
Usually about 2 hours.
If the case mouth seems to be really dirty a quick pass with a brush is all I do.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Shiny clean brass does not shoot any better than dull brass. Cleaning brass accomplishes two things. It makes the brass run through your dies more easily, and it cleans away any nasty chemicals like lead styphnate residue that may still be on the brass. If you shoot a semi-auto and your empties hit the ground, running it through a tumbler will also clean away any grit than may be on the brass. Grit is very hard particles of sand and can scratch your dies. Shiny brass is also easier to find in the grass than dull brass.

But shiny brass does not shoot any better than dull brass. And the stuff left inside the brass that the tumbler (vibrator) was not able to remove will not affect anything either.

 

[Rclark]

But shiny brass does not shoot any better than dull brass

+1. I usually go several reloads before tumbling. Mine never hit the ground so I don't worry about dirt. Just a quick wipe of a paper towel before inserting into shell holder before resizing. Only time I make sure primer pocket is cleaned is when shooting black powder (substitutes too).

 

[MidLife]

Cleaning brass more closely matches specifications of newly manufactured or assembled ammo. Those that state that cleaning brass serves no purpose, or makes no difference, are incorrect. The degree to which the effects of cleaned or not cleaned brass are subject for discussion.

 

[gunslinger]

I use just old baking soda with my walnut shells in my model b tumbler

 

[Anonymous]

As others have stated ... I use a vibratory tumbler.
Primer pockets get cleaned every 3rd reload.
The inside of the brass will just get dirty again the next time it's shot.
I do like my brass slick on the outside, though, for smoother chambering.

All good advice so far.

 

[GAR]

I like to use a quick soak in citric acid and hot water followed by air drying.
Then it's off to the tumbler for an hour or so.
Clean inside and out!

Tom

 

[federali]

As I've been having problems lately seating my primers to correct depth, I've taken to first decapping using a universal decapper. Then, I soak my brass in Dawn, Lemon Shine and a bit of dishwashing detergent and very hot water. Without tumbling, this formula burns dirt and tarnish off the shells, inside and out. Then they go in the vibratory tumbler. Unfortunately, Walnut media tends to clog in the primer pockets with the result that some get clean and many don't. As for media clogging the flashhole, I understand that primers are capable of generating 5000 PSI pressure on their own. No need to worry about a walnut kernal in the flashhole.

I think current state of the art is wet tumbling with SS media. Shells, inside and out, including the pockets, come out like absolutely new.

 

[volshooter]

Brass freak here. When I go hunting or just shooting, my brass is shinney enough to comb your hair from the reflection.

Just my thing.

 

[mag41vance]

A few years back I started using the Lee hand held system and haven't gone back.
First: I lube the cases then run them through a Body Die.
2nd: I decap them and collet die size the neck.
3rd: Clean primer pockets
4th: I trim them with the Lee trimmer.
5th: I chamfer the case mouth.
6th: I hold the rotating case with extra fine steel wool.
7th: Hold the rotating case with a polishing rag to remove lube.
8th: Run the rotating case into a nylon brush to clean the inside.
9th: INSPECT THE CASE WITH MAGNIFIER BEFORE LOADING.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

A few years back I started using the Lee hand held system and haven't gone back.
First: I lube the cases then run them through a Body Die.
2nd: I decap them and collet die size the neck.
3rd: Clean primer pockets
4th: I trim them with the Lee trimmer.
5th: I chamfer the case mouth.
6th: I hold the rotating case with extra fine steel wool.
7th: Hold the rotating case with a polishing rag to remove lube.
8th: Run the rotating case into a nylon brush to clean the inside.
9th: INSPECT THE CASE WITH MAGNIFIER BEFORE LOADING.

All that so you can dirty it up again. But I totally get it. :roll: :roll: :mrgreen:

...Jimbo

 

[Rugerbilly]

I have never owned a tumbler. We were pretty poor when I first got into shooting and reloading, so I found an inexpensive method.
I've always cleaned up my brass cases by putting them through the sizing die (popping the spent primers), then cleaning the primer cavities with a little 2-sided gizmo (large on one side; small on the other), and finally soaking them in a solution of warm water + Birchwood Casey Brass Cartridge Case Cleaner.
They come out nice and clean, and the solution is reusable. Store it in a glass jar with a screw cap.
After it sits for a few days, a sediment will collect on the bottom of the jar (that's the crud you washed off your cases!) Next time you clean, pour the good solution off, and discard the last little bit of solution/sediment.
Use a non-metallic pot.

 

[volshooter]

+1 Hugh.
The spent cases also give me a very good insight to any feeding problems, (scratches)

 

[powder smoke]

+1 for Jimbo on unattended vibrator tumbler. Taking a chance letting them run overnite. Be carefull. ps