Gett'n Busy Now! Clean brass is nice!

[posigian]

Ok, just a little excited here :) I just got finished cleaning & tumbling my very first batch of brass.

I’ve been waiting to get started with reloading for almost 3 years and during that time I have read everything I could get my hands on to study. I’ve gathered a good amount of brass and been busy gathering up the different tools & supplies I needed or just plain wanted.

So it’s been a slow going process and I didn’t make this decision lightly. I didn’t want to rush it!

But now the ball is rolling! My first batch of clean brass :) Now the juices are rolling and I can’t wait until that final climactic point when I pull the trigger :)

After lots of reading, asking questions, & listening here is how I handled this batch of brass. First I took out the primers using a universal deprimer. I didn’t think I would end up with a tumbler at first so this was so I could wash them with water. I then washed them in a bucket with soap & water. I let them dry on the bench for almost 24 hrs and then dropped them into the tumbler. I used the corncob media you find in the pet section of Wal-Mart because it’s more bang for your buck. I then added to that some Armorall liquid car wax (contains no ammonia) as a polishing agent. This was suggested on another board by several people and being new to reloading I figured I would try it. Besides it too seemed like more bang for your buck.

Looks good, but now I have to see how well it’ll work on the more tarnished brass.

Questions:

1) Should the primer pocket be just as clean as the rest of the brass?

2) Can some brass be tarnished too much that it shouldn't be used?

New to reloading and just getting started! So stay tuned to this station becuse I am sure there will be more questions to come :)

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Posigian
I AM THE NRA

[This message has been edited by posigian (edited 02-07-2001).]

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Posigian;
In response to your questions:

1.) Your primer pockets should be clean, but I would recommend that you use a pocket cleaning tool, such as those made by LEE or RCBS. Very basic--all you do is place these in the primer pocket after decapping and give a couple of twists, and the residue comes out. One of the problems with the corn cob media is that it tends to plug up in the primer pockets during tumbling, and isn't a very effective way to clean out this small space. It may be a little darker than the rest of the case--this is o.k.

2.) I don't know of any reason why heavily tarnished brass cannot be used, provided it is clean and still chambers easily. I have a friend who is still reloading the same batch of 30-06 cases from the 60's, and some of these cases are almost brown! Usually, you will get neck splits, ect and the brass will wear out that way.

As for case cleaning, everyone has there own routine. I prefer to decapp, trim, and chamfer all my brass prior to tumbling. I have never heard of the "Armorall" technique, and my only concern with it is will it affect the powder charge in any way (I don't know, I am just playing devil's advocate here). I use a mixture of 50/50 treated media (Lymans) and regular ground corncob media--the finer ground the better. I then take and resize all my cases through the die. The final step is to wash the cases thoroughly in Birchwood-casy case cleaner. Mix this with hot water, dip the cases in (so that they are totally immersed) for a few minutes, then take them out and rinse in scaulding hot water. Save the case cleaner, as it can be reused. I then lay them out on a terry cloth towel to dry, with the mouths up so that the water can drain. I usually prefer to do this during the winter months when the humidity is low, as the cases dry out faster. The cases are now free of any grit from the tumbling media, case lube, ect. I then put them away until I am ready to load up some loads; all I have to do then is prime, put in the powder, and seat the bullet, and I am all set.
Good luck, and once again, welcome to the forum!

[posigian]

Originally posted by Mr. 16 gauge:
2.) I don't know of any reason why heavily tarnished brass cannot be used, provided it is clean and still chambers easily.

I cleaned some of that tarnished stuff tonight. It cleaned up ok?, but it didn't work so well around the mouth. About 1/4 inch or less down from the mouth is still a little tarnished.

I am sure its clean enough to reload but if I wanted it any cleaner what are some options?



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Posigian
I AM THE NRA

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Posigian;
you might try polishing the brass with a little steel wool, but really, the effect is only cosmetic.

[Hunt4Ever]

First, I love the look of nice polished brass.

Second, try some of the "Media Bright" type products. they seem to work good on the neck areas.

Third, I like to tumble first, then deprime and do the primer pockets. It you do the primer pockets first, when you tumble you will get media stuck in the primer pockets, and even in the flash holes. This really slows you down when you start seating primers.

Have fun!

[Hunter333]

I too like the look of clean brass. Since I have not gotten a tumbler yet, I clean all of my brass by hand. I havent figure out how to clean the inside yet though :( Anyway, I have a shell holder in my drill so that I can spin it while holding steel wool around it. I also have a cordless drill with the primer pocket tool in it so once I am done resizing, chamfering etc, I put the shells (primer pocket up) in a tray and run the tool a few times into the pocket. It takes a while but it sure is nice to shoot those little suckers that I took so much time to produce!! Welcome and enjoy, this is a great site!!

[Al, L]

I resize & deprime all my cases, I do like the bichwood casey case cleaner so I give them a bath. Set them in the sun or in the furnes room to dry after a clean rinse. I then put them in the tumbler with plan old white rice (no name brand). Ya it gets in the flash hole, I haven't found any thing yet that don't. I trim to lenght, clean flash hole all at end.

AL

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Al,
Thanks for the tip about the rice; I think I might go and try that next time. Certainly sounds cheaper than buying media, and yes, that does get in the flashholes also.
I use the birchwood casey case cleaner myself, but I reverse your process; I clean my cases in the tumbler, then size them. Then I clean them with the birchwood casey liquid, and rinse in scaulding water. This washes away the case lube and seems to help the brass stay "shinier" longer. A good tip with regards to putting them out in the sun or furnace room....if they don't dry quickly, then they tend to rust. That is why I use the scaulding water.
Take care.

[Al, L]

The reason I use the b-casey cleaner before I tumble is to get the case lube off. I still use rcbs stuff that comes in a tube to squirt on the pad, real sticky stuff. I bought a lot a few years ago before I tried anything else. I tried to stock up on the non parishable stuff I use before I retired. I also don't care for the gun shop that has reloading supplys in this area. I did just take the trip to Dundee where I got a Cabala ditgal scale. Looks Just like a pact, rcbs, lyman and another one, Just 4 differnt colors and 3 differnt prices. Won't make that trip again on a week end. Still learning this retirement stuff. I also like the store in Minn. better. I like to drool on their $30,000 plus guns.


Al