Tumbling Brass

[walker2713]

I'm use to tumbling my rifle brass, but in reading info on the Accurate Shooter 6BR page, apparently it's common to not tumble, but to wipe it down.

Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks,

George

 

[Killshot]

In a tight-chambered bolt-gun you should be able to just wipe the cases clean with Isso or something similar if one doesn't have a vibratory tumbler. Gas-guns leave them filthy and need tumbling before sizing.

I run mine through a tumbler with crushed Walnut (Zilla brand lizard bedding) before sizing to clean them and after sizing to remove the lube.
Every 3rd firing they go through a deep cleaning with stainless media in a rotary tumbler and then annealed.

 

[walker2713]

Killshot: thanks.....it's a Savage F Class. I like cleaning brass in the vibratory tumbler, and was questioning whether there was anything wrong with using it to clean the 6BR cases....

George

 

[alf]

I like cleaning brass in the vibratory tumbler, and was questioning whether there was anything wrong with using it to clean the 6BR cases...

I tumble clean all my 1K brass.

 

[Will]

I clean large amounts (250+) using SS media. Otherwise I wipe down either with solvent or a cloth I picked up from Home depot "White Ring remover" ... this is when I am doing just 50 or so cases,
HTH

 

[bozo699]

I am primarily a BR shooter and a hunter so I don't have large volumes of brass except when I go varminting, so I clean all my brass with 0000 steel wool and am very happy with the results but I have a couple of tumblers and I wouldn't hesitate using them if I so chose to.
Wayne.

 

[LRPV]

I use the 0000 steel wool if the necks have carbon build up. I use Hornady one lube to FL size with and then I throw the cases in a vibratory tumbler to get of the lube. My hands cramp up after trying to wipe off about ten cases so I gave that up. I trim and chamfer after they come out of the tumbler. The Ballistol spray lube trick mentioned on the 6br how to pages works rather well too.

 

[in2deep]

Often when you hear about doing case prep entirely by hand it's the short-range ppc benchrest guys that only shoot 5 shots and a few sighters for each relay then they go back to the reloading bench and clean and reload those same cases for the next relay so it goes fast for them but if your shooting 50 or 100 rounds a weekend that would get old fast with 3 or 4 steps for each case.

 

[tenring]

I always wipe the Imperial off with a paper towel, and clean necks only with 0000 steel wool. Bright shiny cases are meaningless to me. I have a tumbler, and have used it to clean cases, but mostly its a waste of time and added expense. If you do tumble, be sure to remove any media flakes from the flash hole.

 

[Hengehold]

in a bolt gun: no, not necessary for performance from ammo or rifle
in an AR15: yes, b/c brass is often thrown into dirt/sand upon ejection

Trevor

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I just started using the wipe off method for my 300 win mag. As I shoot I wipe my cases before putting them back into the case.

 

[SS427]

I have a tumbler but don't often use it. After you wipe the cases down to get all the corn cob/walnut shell dust off, and then pick out the same from the flash hole, it doesn't seem to me I saved all that much time. I like cleaning them by hand, and while shiny cases don't shoot small groups, I still like to shine them up with Krazy Kloth, Nevr Dull or 0000 steel wool. Guess it is a pride thing....kinda like a car doesn't go faster after you wax it but it sure looks better. I shoot about 200 rounds a month on average. If I shot more I would find an alternative to cleaning by hand.

Will - always looking for that magic brass cleaner....did you mean "water ring remover"? I couldn't find a "white ring remover" on the Home Depot website.

 

[bozo699]

Often when you hear about doing case prep entirely by hand it's the short-range ppc benchrest guys that only shoot 5 shots and a few sighters for each relay then they go back to the reloading bench and clean and reload those same cases for the next relay so it goes fast for them but if your shooting 50 or 100 rounds a weekend that would get old fast with 3 or 4 steps for each case.

I clean for three rifles, each box has 100 cases in them, I have no problem cleaning that many nice and shiny with 0000 steel wool, when I said high volume I meant the 1500 -2000 rounds of 22-250 and the 2500 rounds of .223 that amount I wouldn't want to clean by hand and that is what I keep on hand for varmint outings.
Wayne.

 

[amlevin]

I can see those who shoot the same 5 cases all day long not cleaning with much more than a wipe and brush out of case neck/primer pocket.

For me, shooting dirty cases is like eating off a dirty plate or drinking from an old stained coffee cup.

I tumble my brass in SS Media and then sort/process it. I've got several hundred at a time ready to be loaded at any given time.

I just keep each box segregated as the cases are all of same weight. To keep them separate while cleaning I'll put 50 .308 cases, 50 30-06, and a handful of 9mm in the tumbler at the same time. That way I can keep my "matched" cases separate with a simple sort after drying.

 

[killahog]

Tumbling is fine, For those of you using steel wool get ahold of a good quality jewlers lupe and look at all the steel left on cases that your chambering in your rifle. The lupe is also very useful for checking crowns and such.

 

[LHSmith]

I wipe the carbon off the neck O.D. with Never Dull or Krazy Cloth. Brush neck I.D. with nylon brush. Wipe entire case with clean dry cloth. Ready for sizing. Cleaning with steel wool gets little steel hairs inside the neck ( also hands & bench). Can't prove it, but instincts tell me that's not a good thing, especially when working with a $1500 barreled action.

 

[bozo699]

Tumbling is fine, For those of you using steel wool get ahold of a good quality jewlers lupe and look at all the steel left on cases that your chambering in your rifle. The lupe is also very useful for checking crowns and such.

I wipe the carbon off the neck O.D. with Never Dull or Krazy Cloth. Brush neck I.D. with nylon brush. Wipe entire case with clean dry cloth. Ready for sizing. Cleaning with steel wool gets little steel hairs inside the neck ( also hands & bench). Can't prove it, but instincts tell me that's not a good thing, especially when working with a $1500 barreled action.

That's what a air hose and cloth is for Been doing it for over 20 years and my barrels last just as long as the next guy's does,....to each his own.
Wayne.