Case cleaning importance........

[4xforfun]

I anneal every time. The only brass cleaning I do is after I have FL sized the case and want to remove the lube. I tumble them for a few hours in dry untreated corn cob media. I do give each case a spin on my Sinclair PP tool before I prime them to clean them out. I am way past the shiny brass thing!!

Tod

 

[JimPag]

I was told by Jim Borden that in a benchrest rifle shiny cases are a negative thing. He told me that it is better that they are just wiped clean on the outside and not very shiny because you want the case to grip the inside of the chamber walls and not move forward. This is what he told me.

 

[dmoran]

I like nice shiny cases as much as the next guy but also wonder sometimes just how important it is. (And I'm lazy; I know, shame on me..) How often do you guys do a complete cleaning on your brass?? I'm into cleaning the primer pockets and touch the inside of the case necks up with a nylon bore brush and load again for 4 or 5 firings while my buddy likes to do a complete cleaning with steel media after each loading. Was just wondering what some of you have found to work...???

When I clean my cases, the internal fouling is my primary focus and concern. While media tumbling works well on exterior case finish, it typically does a very poor and/or spotty job at internal cleaning - IME. So when I do clean cases I want the internal spotless, or I consider it contour productive. I am setup for ultra-sonic cleaning, with focus on internal cleaning from the solutions I use with it. The exterior is kind of hypothetical to me.
Donovan

 

[Brians356]

I own a vibratory tumbler [sic] and an ultrasonic bath cleaner, but have never used them on my brass (I inherited the tools from my deceased shooting buddy.) I only ever brush out neck and wipe off the outside of the case with a rag. Any carbon on the outside of the neck I might use 0000 steel wool on.

Cases are not jewelry. Making cases dazzling pristine has become a hobby apart for some fellas. Makes no sense to me, but then I don't wear any jewelry, either, unlike some chaps.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Like donovan i could care less about the outside and vibratory cleaning does absolutely nothing for the inside which is where case volume consistency comes from. Im a ss pin fan but simple green in an ultrasonic will get the job done too

 

[Dos XX]

I use SS pins.

Some of the preferences stated may have to do with volume. When you have 300 or 400 cases to process, spinning the outside with 0000 steel wool isn't really an option, IMO. If you are processing a dozen or two, might approach differently.

 

[waldo1979]

I stopped cleaning my cases all together

Im with you, cleaning seems to degrade accuracy more than it helps. I'd be interested in hearing your reloading steps.

 

[CH Luke]

Interesting range of answers. My practice reflects my perspective that some a few heard here noted and works well for me.

Small (max 50-60 max) batches in stainless. Hate cleaning pockets by far more than any other task and this does it. Consistent brass volume and neck tension seems to be supported by this practice. Also keeps my dies cleaner and lessens scratching.

This along with a range of other consistent prep and loading practices that most here probably practice religiously - and differently - helps keep both my velocity's SD's and ES firmly in the single digits for both weight bullets that I have match loads for.

 

[Brians356]

Like donovan i could care less about the outside and vibratory cleaning does absolutely nothing for the inside which is where case volume consistency comes from.

How much volume change have you noted between cleaned and fired cases? And volume variance increase between a lot unfired cases, and the same lot fired? I'm looking for documentation that justifies cleaning the inside of cases to pristine.

E.g. suppose you had an imaginary batch of cleaned cases which all have identical measured volumes, i.e. zero volume variance. After firing them all, how much volume variance within the batch will have been introduced (presumably the source of your inconsistency)?

 

[dmoran]

Brian356 -
Depends what the case size is, I have seen a .5 to 1-gr case weight variance in 243 cases from clean to spent.
Donovan

 

[Brians356]

Brian356 -
Depends what the case size is, I have seen a .5 to 1-gr case weight variance in 243 cases from clean to spent.
Donovan

So you mean you see .5 to 1.0-gr increase in case-to-case (in the batch) weight variance with the fired cases, compared to clean? How about volume variance?

 

[dmoran]

Brian -
From 1 and the same case, clean verses spent, in volume.
Donovan

 

[Brians356]

What I'm getting at is this: If every case in a batch had the same reduction in volume after firing, it wouldn't introduce variance or inconsistency. So one would need to monitor volume variance within a batch of cases, both before and after firing, to conclude variance and, presumably, inconsistency had increased.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

They are all different. .4 to .8 gr from case to case is common with 4350 or varget.

 

[ireload2]

If I have nice cases I keep them clean so they do not need anything but a washing after trimming.

If I happen to get a large lot of once fired brass that needs major rehab and cleaning I chemically clean, rinse and wash and then they are kept clean like the rest. The chemistry of the Birchwood Casey cleaner makes the brass stay bright for 5 to 10 years.
FWIW
http://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/a1349.pdf
>>>Benzotriazole<<<

 

[Brians356]

They are all different. .4 to .8 gr from case to case is common with 4350 or varget.

Ok, whatever that means. Reticence can be a virtue of course, but feel free to elaborate. Because if you cannot demonstrate an increase in case-to-case volume variance, then you cannot justify only loading perfectly clean cases on grounds of improving consistency.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

Im with you, cleaning seems to degrade accuracy more than it helps. I'd be interested in hearing your reloading steps.

This is for 308:

1. Anneal
2. Deprime
3. FL size - redding body die
4. Neck size - redding bushing die
5. Trim - if needed

If the necks look really bad I will give each neck a spin in steel wool, so technically I do occasionally clean the cases.

Depriming as a separate step only because I am having ongoing issues with the consistency with the body die so I want the primers out to be able to measure the cases correctly.

I will probably get a whidden FL size die to combine 2-4 to a single step. When I bought the redding set I was not FL sizing every time so I figured having the different dies would be beneficial but now I'm more than ready for a single step solution.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Ok, whatever that means. Reticence can be a virtue of course, but feel free to elaborate. Because if you cannot demonstrate an increase in case-to-case volume variance, then you cannot justify only loading perfectly clean cases on grounds of improving consistency.

It means that cases lose .4 to .8gr capacity. If you have a set of cases sorted when new that hold exactly the same capacity that after firing they dont. The next firing they dont match capacity. you should test it out and see what you get and see if that even makes a difference to you

 

[jimbires]

Dusty , you say you loose .4 - .8 after the first shot . does each additional shot lower case capacity more ? I'm not nit- picking , I'm trying to learn something . I'll have to run a few cases from new and watch this . this is something I've never given much thought . thanks Jim

 

[msinc]

Just about all my brass is once fired range brass. I get it by the 5 gallon bucket, sort it out and STS clean the first time. After that when I fire it I punch the primers and clean it with 409 or Purple Power. Give it a good rinse, let it dry and proceed. I don't think cases that are dirty are good for my equipment. Dies or barrels, I don't want range sand or dirt near either one. A little carbon in the case or primer pocket don't hurt.
I will say that bullets seat with a way different feel in STS cleaned bright brass.