Cleaning your Brass

[willieb1989]

What does everyone use to clean the lube off of there brass and what does everyone use to clean the final bullet? New to reloading and need some help on that. And thanks to everyone about all my other question. Reloading now and loving it. Except store sold me .270 instead of .308. Thanks everyone.

[willieb1989]

also what kind of lube should i use for the metal on metal rubbing?

[312shooter]

A brass tumbler sometimes and a final wipe with a rag upon finishing a cartrige. White grease is good on metal on metal parts.

[RustyFN]

The only rifle I reload is 223. Sometimes I will tumble after sizing to clean them and sometimes after they are loaded.

[willieb1989]

what would i use if i dont have a tumbler? or what chemical

[312shooter]

Originally Posted by willieb1989

what would i use if i dont have a tumbler? or what chemical

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=622895

[LDBennett]

willieb1989:

For rifle cartridges I use the RCBS pad moistened with their lube which is water soluble. So after the cartridges fall out of my progressive press I wipe them down with a damp rag and roll them on a towel to remove the moisture. Each cartridge at the end of the reloading session gets the wet wipe down individually and the rolling on the towel is about ten at a time.

There is no lube required for pistol cartridges if you use a Carbide sizing die (or the Hornady equivalent). Today it is very hard to buy a pistol cartridge sizing die that is NOT Carbide.

I resist vibratory cleaning of loaded rounds (I think it unsafe and/or it may cause the powder to fracture, changing its characteristics). Also the lube then contaminates the vibratory cleaner media, making replacement of that media required to be more often. My walnut shell media literally can go for years without replacement if it doesn't get contaminated. Corn Cob media "wears" out prematurely and offers nothing in return except a bit more shine.

LDBennett

[carver]

Long ago when I first started reloading I didn't have any spare money for equipment. I used a common over the counter brass cleaner, and a rag. Everything got lubed, worked, then wiped down with a rag. Back in those days I only had a small amount of brass to work with, and no tumbler of any kind.

[old semperfi]

if your just starting out,lee has a case holder that you can chuck in a drill.you can then polish with lightly applying 0000 steel wool or use a brass cleaner.i do not suggest you use any kind of cleaner that might degrade primers. old semperfi

[Taroman]

Before loading if the brass is dirty I clean it in a Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner with a half cup of white vinegar a couple drops of Dawn and a quart or so water. Neutralize with baking soda, and dry in the oven.

I use RCBS spray lube. After sizing I dump the cases on an old dish towel and spray with alcohol. Bundle it up and rattle them around. Cleans all the lube off and dries quickly.

-jwk-

[Lark07]

If you are using a water based lube, then it will just dry a short while after you are done sizing it. Otherwise I find that wiping the brass off works well. I used to tumble the brass in a tumbler after sizing, but found that the flash holes got clogged with media and required additional effort to clean out. I think cleaning before sizing lowers the risk of scratching the die and ruining it.

I think tumbling the ammo in a tumbler is not a good idea as it can run the unlikely risk of detonating a cartridge in the tumbler or degrading the powder by vibration if left in too long.

I used to use aluminum rim cleaner (phosphoric acid) to clean my brass, but it was very labor intensive compared to a tumbler. I had to rinse and dry it to prevent leaving a residue. A brass tumbler and powder measure are the two single most labor saving reloading tools I have ever purchased. You will thank yourself later after buying them.

I use either graphite in alcohol as a dry lube on metal parts or ATF if it will not come into contact with powder.

[willieb1989]

Ok thank your so much everyone for all the help, i greatly appreciate it. Means alot to me. So happy i have got into reloading. I cant do much with my back and other health problems but i love shooting and hunting now i can add reloading to my list.

Also one more question when i put lube inside the neck to resize it is it ok to leave that lube in there if its dry when i powder and primer and finish the bullet off?


Thanks so much again.

[Lark07]

The Speer reloading manual says that a neck interior lubricated with a small amount of water based lube will not degrade loaded ammo even if it is stored for a long time. I just roll a bore brush that is a loose fit in the neck on a wet lube pad and use that to lube the neck. Just takes a few strokes and the neck will allow the expander to pass through without much effort.

Since modern smokeless powder is not water based, the small amount of lube on the neck does not effect it enough to be noticed.

[willieb1989]

Thanks so much lark helps me alot. Does anyone know if there is a specials price for ordering bullets online? like powder and primers have? and wheres some good sites. Thanks so much.

[Lark07]

Here you go;

Components
http://www.gibrass.com/
http://www.patsreloading.com/patsrel/whatsnew.htm
http://hi-techammo.com/

Reloading gear
http://www.dillonprecision.com/

Everything
http://www.midwayusa.com/
http://www.wideners.com/
http://www.brownells.com/
http://www.cabelas.com/
http://www.grafs.com/
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
http://www.natchezss.com/

The supplies of powder and primers come and go a lot especially since the last election. The people's confidence in the government's ability to protect the RKBA was severely eroded as a result of the irresponsible statements made by the prez, VP and AG. Hense much gun buying and ammo hoarding For several months I was unable to buy primers at all in WA and my supply of 6000 primers turned out to be way inadequate and when they finally came available, they were about $40 per thousand instead of $27.

[willieb1989]

thanks man again, i found the bullets i needed and ordered them. greatly appreciate them.

[bizy]

Te lube used for resizing brass is the reason I punch out the old primer, resize THEN CLEAN.. Makes everything reload easier and looks prettier. It only takes 1 extra step and makes a world of difference..

To each his own..

[Lark07]

What media do you use that does not get stuck in the flash hole? I am using the corn cob media that is sold at pet stores.

[paradox998]

I use lizzard litter from petco or petsmart. It is ground walut shells and is fine enough so that it does not stick in the primer holes. It's pretty cheap and comes in 10lb bags.

[The_Rifleman]

I use Lee Resizing Lubricant, it doesn't degrade the powder so I don't need to clean it off.

I've only cleaned cases that were old military cases and I used 0000 steel wool.
Any other cleaning I do is with my fingers on the neck after firing, and while neck sizing I'll use a q-tip to apply lube to the inside... As well as cleaning the primer pocket with the primer pocket tool.

I have the dirtiest cases this side of the Mississippi. And proud of it!

[fprefect]

I usually just wipe them clean with paper towels, but since I normally only neck size in my 222 and 22PPC bench rifles, it's not a problem and it's something you might want to try if the cartridges are only going to be fired in one specific rifle.

On another topic dealing with brass, if you want bring some of your older brass back to it's original factory shine, try some Wright's Silver Cream. The stuff's amazing.

F. Prefect

[todd51]

I have found Dillon's Rapid Polish 290 to be a great aid to putting that factory appearing shine on the brass. A "little dab" added to the corn cob media does wonders. One 8oz. bottle will be a life time supply to most of us.http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con..._8_oz__Bottle_

[fprefect]

Originally Posted by todd51

I have found Dillon's Rapid Polish 290 to be a great aid to putting that factory appearing shine on the brass. A "little dab" added to the corn cob media does wonders. One 8oz. bottle will be a life time supply to most of us.http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con..._8_oz__Bottle_

I also use a liquid (Wright's is a paste and a bit messy) called Tarn-X that works well also, but if you have the time, Wright's will usually produce a better luster.

I'll try to find some Dillions and give it a try. Nothin' like shinny brass.

F. Prefect

[gandog56]

I use a tumbler, corn cob media, and Flitz. I don't use anything to clean the finished cartridge. They're already slick and shiny. If I am reloading bottle neck cases I tumble them twice. Once before resizing so I don't get dirt and/or grit in my dies, and once after to get rid of the case lube.

[RustyFN]

Originally Posted by Lark07

What media do you use that does not get stuck in the flash hole? I am using the corn cob media that is sold at pet stores.

You can buy a 40 pound bag of 14/20 grit corn cob at Grainger for around $25. That is fine enough not to stick in the flash holes.