How do you clean your cases?

[MtTom]

I am curious as to what methods are used to clean brass. I have a ss tumbler and I use it for my 308 rounds and in an hour the brass comes out brand new, even the primer pockets and the inside. I now have 100+ cases of 6.5 x47 lapua brass but I have read on some posts (mainly benchrest shooters) that don't wet tumble. Usually referring to overworking the cases. I am not opposed to a different method but how do you get the inside of your cases and primer pockets back to pristine condition otherwise. My usual workflow is:
1. quick tumble with "detergent" to remove grime no media.
2. deprime
3. heavier cleaning to remove all residue inside and out with media
4. size, trim, champhur and debur.
5. quick wash to remove lube.
6. dry..usually in the dryer on the shoe rack or in the sun in the summer when it's a 100 out.

 

[357Mag]

MtTom -

Howdy !

In recent years, have discovered the joys & ease of using a " wheel bright " type product; to clean my brass.
I've used a variety, and all seemed to work efficiently, easily; and predictably.

The stuff I most recently used came from Wally World.

Rinse w/ water, and use a blow dryer if acclerated case drying is desired.
Brass is shiny, but not mirror-buffed shiny.

Works for me.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Jason Boersma]

I clean my brass old school, size cases, wipe off excess lube then throw them in a vibratory case cleaner with corn cob media then brush necks and load. In my opinion that's all that needs to be done. A little carbon in the neck still for lube

 

['Freak]

Wipe down the outside with a Krazy Kloth, brush inside the neck using Sinclair’s nylon bristle brush, then after de-capping in a universal de-cap die, the primer pocket gets cleaned and kept uniform using the same primer pocket uniformer tool used previous to make all primer pockets the same.

 

[snert]

Wipe down the outside with a Krazy Kloth, brush inside the neck using Sinclair’s nylon bristle brush, then after de-capping in a universal de-cap die, the primer pocket gets cleaned and kept uniform using the same primer pocket uniformer tool used previous to make all primer pockets the same.

yup!!!

 

[waynemac]

I've found that tumbling in corncob media does more than just clean my brass. It helps to make bullet pull more uniform. I've cleaned primer pockets, and then I've let them go for a while with out cleaning them. I just can't find a significant difference, in the two. With that said, if you feel the need, go for it.
Most importantly, clean so that you don't scratch your expensive size dies.
My PPC chambers are from a single very minimum reamer and they don't stretch cases much, so I don't trim but every 6-8 firings. And yet another random thought, I think annealing is key to good brass life and accuracy.
Kind of a round about way of saying focus on the important things...
Wayne

 

[savagedasher]

I've found that tumbling in corncob media does more than just clean my brass. It helps to make bullet pull more uniform. I've cleaned primer pockets, and then I've let them go for a while with out cleaning them. I just can't find a significant difference, in the two. With that said, if you feel the need, go for it.
Most importantly, clean so that you don't scratch your expensive size dies.
My PPC chambers are from a single very minimum reamer and they don't stretch cases much, so I don't trim but every 6-8 firings. And yet another random thought, I think annealing is key to good brass life and accuracy.
Kind of a round about way of saying focus on the important things...
Wayne

Plus one I clean mine before the see my seizing dies Larry

 

[Defty]

The system I've used for years.
My wife helps in reloading.
Deprime in dedicated press using Universal depriming die, with smallll pin. Wife does this.
I size using Imperial wax.
Clean by washing in clothes washer, in canvas bags (6"x9") closed with safety pins or draw string.
Dry in sun in Kitchen (metal) collender. No shortage of it in Bakersfield, Calif.
Tumble in vibrator with corn cob media.
Wife primes with Lachmiller Priming press.
I throw and weigh powder.
Wife seats bullets using Wilson type die and arbor press.

 

[Judd]

Wipe down the outside with a Krazy Kloth, brush inside the neck using Sinclair’s nylon bristle brush, then after de-capping in a universal de-cap die, the primer pocket gets cleaned and kept uniform using the same primer pocket uniformer tool used previous to make all primer pockets the same.

I'm close to this. I use the Krazy Kloth (thanks shootdots) and then size with Hornady One shot lube...then clean primer pockets and run a nylon brush through neck...then I prime and every case is +/- one kernal from the others on powder then seat bullet using 21st Century hydraulic arbor press.

 

[nfhjr62]

Have been using corn cob now going to the steel pin wash rotary drum

 

[Scott Harris]

I've found that tumbling in corncob media does more than just clean my brass. It helps to make bullet pull more uniform. I've cleaned primer pockets, and then I've let them go for a while with out cleaning them. I just can't find a significant difference, in the two. With that said, if you feel the need, go for it.
Most importantly, clean so that you don't scratch your expensive size dies.
My PPC chambers are from a single very minimum reamer and they don't stretch cases much, so I don't trim but every 6-8 firings. And yet another random thought, I think annealing is key to good brass life and accuracy.
Kind of a round about way of saying focus on the important things...
Wayne

Plus one I clean mine before the see my seizing dies Larry

+2
I tumble fired brass for about 6 hours in corncob, deprime and reload it. Spent about 5 years tumbling in stainless media and think the corn cob gets it done with far less effort. It also doesn't damage the case mouths like stainless does.

 

[lawrence97]

After firing I anneal, resize and then stainless tumble (40 min tumble and 20 min dry time in food dehydrator) and chamfer/deburr to remove case mouth peening caused by steel pins.

My brass does not touch the ground so the exterior remains clean and its also why I don't tumble or clean prior to resizing.

 

[Barlow]

I'm not a shooter high volume shooter. I use the Sinclair case holder with a 18 volt drill and spin them against polishing cloth, I use a nylon brush for the case neck while spinning. I never clean the inside of a case, unless I have a hundred or so, then use my vibratory cleaner. I clean primer pocket with a small screwdriver after resizing. Barlow

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I anneal, then use stainless steel pins to clean the cases.
Resize and trim.
Ultrasonic clean.
Store the cases ready for use.

Regards

JCS

 

[bloc]

Wow . . . I guess I'm the lazy guy here.

I dump my brass in about a half gallon of hot water with couple of drops of dishwashing liquid and a generous splash of vinegar in it.

I swish them around a few times to make sure all surfaces are in contact with the liquid, and let everything sit for 10 - 15 minutes.

Then, I dump the liquid out and rinse 2 - 3 times with water, dump everything in a collander and squirt with water, using my hand to swirl the cases around (45 seconds to a minute to remove all the cleaning fluid).

After that, I dump the cases into a colander and shake them to remove most of the water, lay the cases out on an aluminum-covered cookie sheet and place in an oven pre-heated to 150 degrees for a couple of hours.

After the cases are dry, I take 'em to the press.

 

[snert]

Wow . . . I guess I'm the lazy guy here.

I dump my brass in about a half gallon of hot water with couple of drops of dishwashing liquid and a generous splash of vinegar in it.

I swish them around a few times to make sure all surfaces are in contact with the liquid, and let everything sit for 10 - 15 minutes.

Then, I dump the liquid out and rinse 2 - 3 times with water, dump everything in a collander and squirt with water, using my hand to swirl the cases around (45 seconds to a minute to remove all the cleaning fluid).

After that, I dump the cases into a colander and shake them to remove most of the water, lay the cases out on an aluminum-covered cookie sheet and place in an oven pre-heated to 150 degrees for a couple of hours.

After the cases are dry, I take 'em to the press.

That is how I clean piles of filthy range brass.

 

[jonbearman]

Range brass get washed with dawn and hot water in a bucket and rinsed. Then when they dry I tumble in corncob(untreated) and I use nufinish car wax and let them go for overnight to just a couple hours depending on how tarnished they were. I use a dipping solution to clean up heavy tarnish. Cant think of the name who makes it offhand but someone will let you know. You can get it at midway or Sinclair etc.

Update it is Iosso case cleaning kit.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Wipe down the outside with a Krazy Kloth, brush inside the neck using Sinclair’s nylon bristle brush, then after de-capping in a universal de-cap die, the primer pocket gets cleaned and kept uniform using the same primer pocket uniformer tool used previous to make all primer pockets the same.

After reading this i hit up Amazon for some Krazy Kloth......WOW......I have 2 real nice vibrating tumblers I may have to say bye-bye to..