Cleaning nickel brass with stainless pins?

[DDRanch]

I know you can't clean nickel brass for as long as you do for regular brass. So how long is to long?
I'm thinking 2 to 2 1/2 hours is Max.

 

[Charlie-NY]

That sounds like an extreme amount of time to me. I use a STM SS tumbler and never tumble regular brass for more than 30 minutes.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I know you can't clean nickel brass for as long as you do for regular brass. So how long is to long?
I'm thinking 2 to 2 1/2 hours is Max.

1/2 hr. in hot water is plenty of time, unless the brass is really old and oxidized, certainly good for nickle plated brass. As far as "too long". . . I'd say 1 hr. is too long.

 

[SSL]

I usually only run nickel brass in my tumbler (corncob media) very rarely unless very dirty. I only run it for about a half hour and maybe give the necks a quick twist with 0000 steel wool to clean them up. One of the benefits of the nickel brass is ease of cleaning.

 

[ebb]

^^^^^^^ An hour or two in walnut has always made all my 38 special brass look better than new, and slick as glass. I have no direct knowledge but think that 2 hours in pins would damage rather that help.

 

[Clancy]

I really really wish this method of cleaning cases would die.

It is doing exactly nothing to help and multiple things to hurt precision.

 

[precision1]

I really really wish this method of cleaning cases would die.

It is doing exactly nothing to help and multiple things to hurt precision.

I agree all day

 

[JSH]

I run with any nickel brass to the nearest trash can after it has been smashed with what ever is handy.
Smashing it saves so one from ruining a set of dies when it flakes off and scratches the inside that polishing won’t take out. I was gifted a really nice set of 7BR dies years ago, Redding. They will leave a lot of ugly on nice brass. The fellow that gave them to me used only nickel brass, the stuff looked like he found it in the parking lot. No more for me.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I run with any nickel brass to the nearest trash can after it has been smashed with what ever is handy.
Smashing it saves so one from ruining a set of dies when it flakes off and scratches the inside that polishing won’t take out. I was gifted a really nice set of 7BR dies years ago, Redding. They will leave a lot of ugly on nice brass. The fellow that gave them to me used only nickel brass, the stuff looked like he found it in the parking lot. No more for me.

Yeah, that flaking off of nickel plating can be nasty on one's dies. But. . . so far, I haven't had that issue after 4 firings. I did turn the necks after the 2nd firing and wonder if that helped reduce that risk since I've not seen any flaking so far??? Though I do keep an eye out for that.

 

[Charlie-NY]

The only nickel cases that I use are in 45-70. The cases have been reloaded numerous times without any issues with the brass or dies. Maybe flaking doesn't present itself with straight wall cases. ???

 

[SSL]

.44 Magnum, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .17 Remington, .223 Remington, .243 Winchester and 7 BR...all at least 20 years old and still shooting. Neck turned to clean up inconsistencies. Never have seen a sign of flaking or other issues. Certainly no die damage. Have a few .22-250s around too, just can't find them quick. Get retired when primer pockets get loose. .45 ACP s usually get lost in the grass long before retirement needed.

P.S. - None have ever been cleaned with anything but corncob media and a little liquid cleaner added.

 

[JB10]

Just washed last night for 3 hours in ss pins and water. I pick up a lot of range brass 223 and get a few every now and then. I wash them all mixed together. Never hurt a single one. Most of the brass cases are very dirty sitting in dirt and mud so thats why i clean them longer just because. All the nickel plated ones come out looking like this one.

 

[JSH]

That is great, gives the rest of us more “brass”.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Nickel pistol ok. Nickel rifle, not in my dies. I like it for big game hunting then it's in the trash can.

 

[ruthless11]

Nickel pistol ok. Nickel rifle, not in my dies. I like it for big game hunting then it's in the trash can.

think about the chamber and bore

 

[JEFFPPC]

think about the chamber and bore

Not quite sure I follow please elaborate.

 

[markm87]

I run nickel plated in my Thumlers all the time. 2 hours is generally my batch time. Never noticed anything different about plated brass vs plain.

I may try cutting my run time in half on some brass based on some of the replies.

 

[ruthless11]

Not quite sure I follow please elaborate.

the nickel flakes will get in the chamber and the bore as well as the sizing die