Cleaning/tumbling brass, is it necessary?

[AndyW]

I currently load for 6 different cartridges. After I have done my initial brass prep to new brass all I do to fired brass is FL size enough to bump shoulder, clean the primer pocket, some ultra fine steel wool to remove soot from the neck, and buff off the lube with a micro fiber cloth. I will trim to length after a couple of firings. Removing the lube with a microfibre cloth seems to get the brass clean enough for me. I inspect each case when I am wiping off lube.

I like to eliminate as many unnecessary steps as possible when it comes to reloading that make no, or such a small real world difference with regard to accuracy. My conclusion is that tumbling and cleaning brass to get it as new or better is one of those steps.

Am I missing something in regard to tumbling, ultrasionic cleaning, Stainless steel media, etc?

 

[markm87]

You could just wipe brass off prior to resizing. Tumbling is just a more efficient way to clean a bunch of brass so you don't introduce foreign matter to your sizing die.

 

[2506]

No you don't have to tumble clean brass. I did not do it for years. I do tumble now because I like new looking cases and it helps me see if there are any imperfections in the cases prior to loading them up. I normally size my cases and then dump them in the tumbler on one day and run them a few hours, sometimes 8 or more when I am gone all day. I then take them out and clean primer pockets to make sure there are no blockages from the media. Then on another day when I get time I will trim them and load them up. I always have clean cases ready to load sitting in my boxes.

 

[Scott Harris]

With the stainless technique, I only need to tumble for 1 hour to get it spotless and I like to clean it so my reloading gear stays in pristine condition.

 

[Mickey D]

shiny brass is happy brass

 

[NorCalMikie]

And it's a fact that if the guys see you're shiney brass, they think you "really" know your $hit! 8) 8)
Clean brass makes it easier to see problems in the case, keeps the crap out of your dies and chamber and you get one more chance to handle it and check it out before it gets reloaded.
Don't clean it? No problem. Just nice to know going in that your brass is clean and inspected "real good", considering it's an explosion going on right next to your face. ;D

 

[spclark]

Probably not.

I clean my brass (SS media wet method) only to make things neater down the line, reduce the amount of grit and carbon that potentially gets introduced back into my firearms with later use. I don't think clean cases contribute much to accuracy but I know they contribute to my peace of mind over my ammunition's consistency and the wear and tear on my reloading and shooting equipent.

 

[boltman13]

I clean my HP brass, 223 Rem, after each firing thru any of my AR-15's. It looks like crap. I use corncob and tumble with the primer pockets still in. I get shiney brass that doesn't bother my dies. After resizing I clean the case lube, Hornady One Shot, off with Joy dish degertent and hot water. I let them air dry so the shine dulles a little bit, then I procede with triming and primer pocket and neck cleaning. It's more labor intensive than some but I feel it is worth it.

 

[Larryh128]

One thing that has speeded up my cleaning process is adding a few table spoons of oderless mineral spirits to the corn cob. Cuts the powder redidue inside & out. Doesn't leave them as shiney but definitely cleaner than corn cob alone. I just let them sit for a few hours to evaporate any left in the case.
I haven't seen any negatives since I started using it.