cleaning brass, primer pockets,etc.?

[boogershooter]

Hey Shooters, Whats the best method of cleaning my brass,I have a sidewinder, is it OK . Should I use corn cobb media ? Or chemicals,will that tumbler Dent/distort the brass too much ? How particular should I be about soot removal inside the case,and primer area/pocket? My old supervisor used to say,theres no stupid questions, just stupid people)

 

[ReedG]

Booger:

You should get plenty of opinions. By the way, my version of the quote is: "There are no stupid questions, just stupid answers."

I'm not familiar with a Sidewinder. I use a Lyman vibratory cleaner and have found that I like walnut media better than corn cob. I like the "shine" it puts on the brass, but hate getting all the media out of the case and primer pocket. Usually I leave the primers in until after cleaning: this keeps the wear-and-tear down on the dies and keeps the primer pocket from packing in with media.

I also use Iosso liquid case cleaner and it certainly cleans the inside and the outside, if there's any benefit to that. It's fast and does a good job. I had a couple of situations where it was difficult to seat bullets because the inside of the necks were so "squeaky" clean. Lately I've used the Iosso mostly to clean bullets before coating and use the Lyman to clean cases.

 

[treeman]

I used to use a tumbler to clean my brass but now i just use iosso case cleaner. if you think about it your blasting polishing media down the barrell with every shot which does not help barrel life. even if you wash the brass after tumbling there is still some residue in the case. just my honest opinion._____treeman

 

[Winchester69]

Having the SideWinder, you are a candidate to use ceramic media,it's a wet process). The ceramic comes in two sizes; you want the smaller for bottlenecked cases. It comes with a liquid cleaning concentrate. Cabelas has it. NOTHING cleans more easily or better. If it wears out, it won't be in the foreseeable future.

 

[boogershooter]

Thanks,Thats all helpfull,one of my concerns with the chemicals was some sort of breakdown of the brass,but I guess not.Some of them contain salt, and mild acid,The media down the barrel also bugged me,and I wondered if the hot gasses upon ignition would eliminate this residue before it ever created a problem?

 

[1shot]

I have the big Dillon vibratory case cleaner, and I used ground walnut hulls for years, and ground corncob media before that. I use the same process that Reed does and clean the brass before I remove the primers. As of late, I've been using ground apricot hulls, for tumbling media and I hear that it has less oil in it than walnut. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I do know that they look as good or better than new when they come out.
BTW, as an training officer by trade, we tell the students that the only stupid question is the one that you DON'T ask.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[boogershooter]

Thanks 1 shot...I'm going to use my sidewinder,and my walnut media,then rinse the cases thoroughly.

 

[Forum Boss]

Before you spend money on media and special cleaners you might experiment and see if tumbling produces benefits in ES/SD or accuracy.

Carbon and powder residue does build-up inside the case. Theoretically, that WILL change case capacity over time, which could, in turn lead to inconsistencies in velocity.

That said, I have 6mmBR cases with 8+ loadings. After each firing I wipe off the outside with Ballistol, a biodegradable cleaner/lube. This also serves to lubricate the case for sizing. I brush out the neck with a stiff nylon brush and use an RCBS wire brush to clean out the primer pocket.

I've never tumbled or ultra-sonically cleaned the cases and my accuracy hasn't changed, nor has the ES/SD. I do sort my cases by # of firings and try to keep the cases together.

After a dozen loadings the brass goes to the "varmint pile" for annealing and then later use in a 22BR.

This is only one suggestion. I know that Jason swears by ultrasonic cleaning and he's able to clean most of the carbon out of the inside of the case after each firing. My point is that you may find, for your purposes, that tumbling is not necessary.

---

I would be interested in hearing from the short-range shooters, who have the highest standards of accuracy, yet often reload the same cases dozens of times. I wonder how often they tumble or ultrasound their brass.

 

[rstreich]

...After each firing I wipe off the outside with Ballistol, a biodegradable cleaner/lube. This also serves to lubricate the case for sizing....

That Ballistol has to go down as one of the best finds I've made in the last few years. Truly great stuff.

 

[boogershooter]

Thank you Moderator,I had an old friend,who passed on last year,he was like a dad to me...Sold me my first rifle.He was a great credit to our sport,anyway I'm drifting here...he never cleaned his brass either. I thought it was because he didn't take accuracy that seriously.where do I get this Ballistol?

 

[rstreich]

Midsouth Shooter's Supply has it as does Midway. I keep a can of the aerosol and a can of the liquid around.

 

[Forum Boss]

I use Ballistol in the white label aerosol can. I just spray a little on a patch or on my fingertips. It is clear, thin, and very slippery, but the nice thing is that it wipes off very easily and just normal case handling after sizing removes most of the lube.

In addition to the sources mentioned, here is a direct mail-order distributor: http://www.ballistol.com/

 

[bobinpa]

I just looked at the link..... This stuff seems like the best invention since re-fillable lighters.... I have never used it, but I am going to try it. It seems like most of you use it to clean the outside of your cases, does anyone use it to clean the bore of the rifle? According to the people that make it, it works great...

 

[silverback]

I have learned that case preping is more than half the battle. Prep the mouth of your cases and uniform the flash hole to get a better burn. Did you all know you can goto wally world and buy walnut media in the pet isle its called Lizard Litter and it is a hella lot cheaper.