Cleaning brass

[5698k]

I realize there’s no set rules, but why did you clean before removing the old primers?

 

[D-4297]

I've always wondered that , too . ......You guys do know that you can get your brass to shiny ( slick ) and it can have a negative effect on your score , right ? Opps . Maybe I should have kept that to myself .

 

[cw308]

My order of Brass Juice should be delivered today , tomorrow is my range day so the timing is perfect , should be cleaning my fired brass tomorrow and will let you know how it cleans . I pop my primers first ,
using the pins and detergent my pockets came out clean . Will so how the new stuff works.

 

[ebb]

What happens if you use SS pins in the ultrasonic?

 

[stosh]

Stosh, How well does it clean the primer pockets? I hate doing them and with the SS media I don’t.

Havn't cleaned any without primers yet will let you know when I do.

 

[stosh]

I realize there’s no set rules, but why did you clean before removing the old primers?

To keep the dies clean,this brass was really dirty and I didn't want to run the dirt through my dies. I will clean primer pockets on the trimming tool or I may run them through wash again after resizing to remove lube.

 

[tstowater]

If I want to clean the primer pockets on the first time through the wash, I will generally use the Lee Universal decapper on a cheap Lee 'C" press. Quick and cheap
https://leeprecision.com/decapping-die.html

 

[stosh]

If I want to clean the primer pockets on the first time through the wash, I will generally use the Lee Universal decapper on a cheap Lee 'C" press. Quick and cheap
https://leeprecision.com/decapping-die.html

Good idea I may try that.

 

[M-61]

being the odd man out, I still stick to dry tumbling and am happy

Me too. I have tried most methods and nothing has made my groups smaller. I've been back to the dry vibrating for quite some time. The super shiny brass looks wonderful and if there were a 'shiny brass' contest I'd be in.
I do punch every primer out by hand as my FIRST step. I like to handle (inspect) the fired case and I don't want the dirt in my dies. And in the end the brass looks pretty good. But nothing like the other methods. Then as I said my concern (or object) is small groups.

 

[XL105]

I use decapping die also.
As for SS pins I Hate them! I don’t use the anymore, always seem to be a few that get stuck in case and if your not careful you break your decapping pin off (if not using decapping die prior to cleaning, which I don’t do for large quantities loading on Dillon). Am always afraid I’m going to send some down the barrel if they get stuck inside. I know look inside your cases before loading. That’s fine, but not when you’re loading 500-1000 at a time. Especially .223 case are hard to see them.
I just use lemon shine and soap. Works well, but doesn’t Shine them up as well without using SS pins. I will give brass juice a try.

 

[divingin]

What happens if you use SS pins in the ultrasonic?

The pins get cleaned.

Ultrasonic uses a hydraulic shock wave to "break up" contaminants. Pins clean by mechanical action by bashing into or scraping against contaminants.

 

[lb-ft]

I use wet tumbling for nasty range pick-up brass only. Once it's in my cycle (moves from bulk bin into my MTM 100 round case) and fully prepped for use, it's dry tumbling only.

I don't like the squeaky clean inside necks of wet tumbled brass. I view as beneficial the carbon that lands on the inside of the neck after the first firing, and isn't removed by dry tumbling. I think squeaky clean wet tumbled brass is too grippy when seating bullets.

BUT, i'll take that hassle the first time I load salvaged brass over handling nasty range-picked up brass and the damage it's prone to cause to dies. Dry tumbling just doesn't get range picked brass clean enough.

 

[cw308]

I just finished cleaning my brass I fired today , I did use the pin with the Brass Juice , the brass came out looking like new inside and out , primer pockets also . The brass I cleaned was cleaned by wet tumbling before , the brass was clean but was different colors , shiny , some clean but had a tarnished look and some pinkish. Using the Brass Juice they all came out like brand new brass. I never thought it would shoot better , didn't like the carbon build up inside the case and makes it easier to see any problems with the cases , also much better on the dies when using very clean brass. Dry tumbling never remover the buildup inside the case and hated the dust it creates. If it keeps cleaning like this last batch I will reorder.

 

[divingin]

Pink brass is usually from too much acid in the mix. It removes the zinc from the surface of the brass (not enough to compromise anything, and will self-correct the next time you tumble.)

If you really want to see ugly, leave a steel case in by accident.

For dry tumbling, save the used Bounce sheets from your dryer to cut down on dust. Toss one in with each load of brass. Might help to cut it into strips, depending on your bowl size.

 

[cw308]

divingin
My rainbow looking hrass was sitting for awhile , I gave all my dry system and media to a shooting buddy . I like wet tumbling much better , been using corn and walnut for 25+ years before I changed. Be Well.
Chris

 

[danny]

This post is useless without pictures.......

 

[danny]

They also have case lube, one for rifle and one for pistol cases. Why two? What's the difference?

I think that one of them is sold next to the blinker fluid and the invisible rays that Slicker was selling to the Our Gang for their Robot.

Danny

 

[cw308]

I also have to add , in sizing the cases sized smoother . Not enough to spend the extra money but it does a better job .
Chris

 

[Walt Krafft]

Got my Brass Juice today that I ordered Thursday. Can't get much better service than that. Now off to try it.

 

[Chiquita]

Isn't the carbon on the inside of the neck beneficial?