Polishing the inside of necks on new brass

[LVLAaron]

Is there any fancy tool/abrasive I can use to polish the inside of case necks? Steel wool is messy and doesnt last long. I could use sandpaper but fine grit stuff doesnt last long either.


Specifically... Im trying, in bulk, to clean up the necks of Primed Wolf 223 brass. I cleaned up a batch of 1000... very slowly and it produced great results... Im just looking for a better tool to do the job.

If it were unprimed a good wet tumble would do the job. But this wolf stuff is great stuff that I want to keep using.

 

[mikecr]

A spinning nylon brush should knock out anything loose.
No reason to 'polish' anything.

 

[LVLAaron]

Respectfully disagree. Seating "feeling" is a ton smoother when I polish them vs clean them. 2 seconds with steel wool around a brush does the trick... Its just messy.

AR15 groups pics for clicks attached

 

[bigstick6017555]

What you are describing is not polishing it is called removing carbon from the neck. Is it needed ? Many will argue no, many will argue yes. A stainless steel brush will do the trick for you.

 

[JFrank]

Perhaps a spinning bronze brush would do the trick

 

[swd]

Respectfully disagree. Seating "feeling" is a ton smoother when I polish them vs clean them. 2 seconds with steel wool around a brush does the trick... Its just messy.

AR15 groups pics for clicks attached

And how big does it shoot without polishing?

 

[group therapy]

Respectfully disagree. Seating "feeling" is a ton smoother when I polish them vs clean them. 2 seconds with steel wool around a brush does the trick... Its just messy.

AR15 groups pics for clicks attached

if you are shooting groups like that at 100 or ANY farther, with an AR especially, I wouldn't change anything!!! just keep doing it, messy or not!!

 

[rsmithsr50]

was that 25 or 10 yards ?
I think you need to explain more about the brass and what you are doing.
new unfired primed brass ??
why the desire to polish...just seating ease ?
resize to get the same

 

[D-4297]

Try some "Never Dull" wadding in a split mandrel in a Dremel . Take about 15 - 20 seconds per case , but you'll probably have to wipe it out when done . But it will be smooth as a baby's butt , and shiny .
Friend gave me some really tarnished , but brand new Lapua cases , and it worked like a charm on them . On the outside ....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Rub a piece of glass flat on another piece then put sand between them and try it. Polished surfaces together have too much surface tension thus friction

 

[Rich S]

You could get a small hone. MSC sells them.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/91860445

 

[LVLAaron]

And how big does it shoot without polishing?

Bigger.

if you are shooting groups like that at 100 or ANY farther, with an AR especially, I wouldn't change anything!!! just keep doing it, messy or not!!

Thats 100 yards on a not calm day. Day after Christmas in the midwest

I think you need to explain more about the brass and what you are doing.
new unfired primed brass ??
why the desire to polish...just seating ease ?

Yes, I am using new, primed, unfired brass. So its not a carbon as someone else mentioned, its just rough virgin brass.
Why? Consistent seating pressure.

Rub a piece of glass flat on another piece then put sand between them and try it. Polished surfaces together have too much surface tension thus friction

I seat with a small amount of graphite.

 

[Oso]

Please clarify - are these bulk surplus cases that came already primed (i.e. were loaded rounds that the bullets were pulled from)? Other than polishing the inside of case necks, what other case preparation are you doing before loading these cases, such as running an expander ball (remove the depriving pin)? What are you trying to remove or polish in the neck?

1. Do you see some form of substance or residue inside the case neck that you are trying to remove?
If these are new cases (virgin brass) then it isn't carbon build-up. It may be a water proof sealant that is used sometimes for military ammo, and if so then Qtip with lacquer thinner or acetone will do the trick.

2. Are you polishing the case neck to remove a bur at the mouth or scratches/grooves in the neck?

3. Are you polishing the necks so that your bullet loads easier? If this a neck tension issue because case necks haven't been expanded after bullets were pulled by reseller?

Edit: Sorry for redundant post as other above... typing at same time...I was slower on the draw while getting my coffee.

I agree that having uniform neck tension will improve performance. If these are "pulled" cases then you'll want to run an expander ball to remove any crimping, which should also make neck tension more uniform. then polish if cases still need it.

 

[LVLAaron]

They are brand new virgin brass. Not pulldowns.

https://ammunitionstore.com/products/223-rem-primed-brass-wolf-performance-1000-piece-case.html

The necks come tight. I run a carbide mandrel through them. I do not use any expander balls. I deburr and chamfer the necks. I polish the inside of the neck walls because they have small scratches/imperfections in them.

I guess I'll have to buy a new batch and publish some before/after photos.

 

[hogpatrol]

Considering the extra time and effort with that brand of brass, would it be better to just use another brand that doesn't need that additional prep? Not disparaging your methods here, just throwing out another option.

 

[boltfluter]

Kratex should work great for this. Basically rubber impregnated with diamond dust I believe. Be sure and cover the ways of your lathe.

Paul

 

[LVLAaron]

Considering the extra time and effort with that brand of brass, would it be better to just use another brand that doesn't need that additional prep? Not disparaging your methods here, just throwing out another option.

I dont disagree. The Wolf brass and primers are excellent though. The h20 capacity if them is incredibly consistent.

 

[bobm]

Time for a Teslong moment.....

I grabbed a couple of scrap WW 7-08's for some pictures. These have 20 firings with no internal prepping ever. Upon each firing, during consumption, the high velocity high pressure burning powder kernels scrub, abrade and remove most carbon buildup in the neck from the previous shot. You can still see brass after 20 firings in the first photo. My bullet pull remains consistent through out the case life.

Photo #2 is RCBS case lube normally applied with a nylon neck brush. It was then neck sized and pulled over the Redding button. All that changed visibly was it got shiny.

Photo #3 was several in-out passes of a .30 cal. bronze brush. Carbon gone.

Photo #4 was a dozen turns of the same .30 cal. bronze brush in a drill motor. Carbon gone.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Is there any fancy tool/abrasive I can use to polish the inside of case necks? Steel wool is messy and doesnt last long. I could use sandpaper but fine grit stuff doesnt last long either.


Specifically... Im trying, in bulk, to clean up the necks of Primed Wolf 223 brass. I cleaned up a batch of 1000... very slowly and it produced great results... Im just looking for a better tool to do the job.

If it were unprimed a good wet tumble would do the job. But this wolf stuff is great stuff that I want to keep using.

Bronze bore brush on a handle , just stroke it in and out. It

Is there any fancy tool/abrasive I can use to polish the inside of case necks? Steel wool is messy and doesnt last long. I could use sandpaper but fine grit stuff doesnt last long either.


Specifically... Im trying, in bulk, to clean up the necks of Primed Wolf 223 brass. I cleaned up a batch of 1000... very slowly and it produced great results... Im just looking for a better tool to do the job.

If it were unprimed a good wet tumble would do the job. But this wolf stuff is great stuff that I want to keep using.

Bronze bore brush on a handle, just stroke it in and out . it works great but don't let your girlfriend see you doing it. Ha!

 

[Texas10]

I tried this at one time, it was indeed a lot of work and I was not able to conclude that it helps. That's not to say you'd come away with the same results. So give it a try.

VFG aggressive grade pellets and bore polish or Flitz, spun in a drill press or electric drill.

Virgil King, focus of The Secrets Of The Houston Warehouse fame certainly believed in it. He turned the inside of the necks on a lath using a special fixture, then the outside to get perfectly smooth, even thickness wall in his 22 PPC brass. His technique also incorporated 400 grit sandpaper to further smooth the interior walls of the neck after machining.

He was able to put 5 bullets into groups as small as .025 CTC consistently, with some in the high teens (.017).

Let us know what you discover. Inquiring minds tend to be forever curious.