Cleaning loaded brass
- Thread starter 782bird
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CQB45ACP
Member
Why sure! How much effort are you prepared to exert?
Low effort—dry tumble in corn cob
High effort—Flitz liquid hand polished
I do both depending on mood.
jmorris
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Yes, it can. I often find it easier to just shoot them and chunk them in a tumbler.
I post load tumble to remove lube but I’d have to do some more testing before I would leave any in there for the amount of time it would take to polish those up.
Some super fine steel wool will make them look better without too much work.
I post load tumble to remove lube but I’d have to do some more testing before I would leave any in there for the amount of time it would take to polish those up.
Some super fine steel wool will make them look better without too much work.
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rdnktrkr
Member
I put loaded ammo into walnut hulls and polish to remove sizing lube and finger prints, so far no issues
lightman
Member
Whatever method I chose would depend on how many rounds like that I had. If only a few I probably would chuck them up in a drill and polish them with either some steel wool or something like Flitz. If there were more than I wanted to do by hand I would dry tumble them in some treated media.
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GeoDudeFlorida
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I’d be curious what caused it before I started going after it with cleaning products. Is it possible that staining is working its way OUT from inside the case? Did something with a high ammonia content spill on it?
I suggest a little more investigation first. Unless you already know it’s not anything that is going to compromise the integrity of the brass.
Bazoo
Member
I agree with Geo,
I'd be inclined to shoot them the way they are though if they didn't show internal corrosion.
I've tumbled loaded rounds like that before without any issues. I once had about 300 rounds of 7.62×39 given to me that were steel cased and rusty due to having been in a flood. I tumbled them for about 3 days to get them cleaned up. They turned out pretty good. I gave them to a buddy with an AK, since I didn't have anything chambered for the Russian Short at the time.
I'd be inclined to shoot them the way they are though if they didn't show internal corrosion.
I've tumbled loaded rounds like that before without any issues. I once had about 300 rounds of 7.62×39 given to me that were steel cased and rusty due to having been in a flood. I tumbled them for about 3 days to get them cleaned up. They turned out pretty good. I gave them to a buddy with an AK, since I didn't have anything chambered for the Russian Short at the time.
JohnMc
Member
Make that two who agree with Geo.
You can wash properly loaded ammo in dish soap and water. The neck tension on the bullet and spring tension on the primer, much like a compression fitting on old school copper pipe plumbing, make a water tight seal.
You can wash properly loaded ammo in dish soap and water. The neck tension on the bullet and spring tension on the primer, much like a compression fitting on old school copper pipe plumbing, make a water tight seal.
^^^^ THIS ^^^
Anchorite
Member
I believe most (if not all) powder has a coating on it, makes me wonder how much vibratory action would degrade a powder within a loaded round?
Bazoo
Member
I saw a test some years back where a person loaded a batch of ammo and then they put half aside and the other half in the tumbler. Ran it for a week I think, and tested the loads over a chronograph. At least with that, there was no discernable difference. Best I recall it was some pistol ammo. I wish I could find that thread or report again.
Anchorite
Member
Interesting. I really never thought about tumbling loaded ammo before.
AJC1
Member
I agree with your method as I do something simular. I use a 21st century turning base, a lot like the Lee trimming holder and hit the case with a dish greenie (scotch bright). Few seconds and it looks perfect except the head in the holder. If there is corrosion on the head and primer I'm pulling them down....
lightman
Member
I think my shell holder is a Sinclair that I use for neck turning. I also have some of those Scotch Bright pads. Like minds.............
Anchorite
Member
Never Dull for the win.
AJC1
Member
Chemical action is not first choice for me.... I am guilty of using some citric acid, but that's to combat the stupid hard swamp water here on the Florida Georgia border. I do use it on my polished aluminum rims for the bike though... just not subjecting those to 50-60kpsi. I'm not saying it's bad, just not my thing. It does give an incredible finish....
AJC1
Member
It does work, don't do it with cast loads, the boolits look like golf balls after... sometimes one has to do things to know their wrong.... why am I always that guy.......
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Cleaning loaded brass
Several years ago we had a forum member who placed considerable time and effort into this subject. The resultant thread was very good and informative. The focus here is vibratory tumbling. The guys making the tumblers will strongly advise against this practice and for the most part that is attributed to lawyer speak and liability fears. I had a friend who ignored the warnings and he is no longer with us. This is an image of what happened tumbling loaded ammunition.
OK obviously an attempt at humor. So moving along this forum member loaded ammunition with I believe was a stick powder. He then vibrated the ammunition for something like a day. Then pulled the bullets and photographed the powder. No visible change. This went on for maybe 5 or 6 cycles. No change, the powder was not breaking down so we can assume the burn rate was unchanged. Been some years but I want to believe he eventually shot the ammunition over a chronograph and it yielded the same velocities as the loads never tumbled. I just can't recall who it was.
For the posted image yes, using flitz or similar you can clean the case off. Personally I would just shoot it but your call on that.
Ron
GeoDudeFlorida
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It was none other than @Walkalong , our humble moderator.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Are you sure? I remember Walkalong being real active in the thread (surprise
) but want to believe it was another member. Been years and I am lucky if I can remember post from yesterday. Think I need some of that Prevegen I see on TV.Ron
AJC1
Member
A clear and decisive line need be drawn between vibratory cleaning and tumbling.... in this case there is a huge difference.Are you sure? I remember Walkalong being real active in the thread (surprise
Ron
GeoDudeFlorida
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Well, I’m not 4Imprint sure. But pretty sure?Are you sure? I remember Walkalong being real active in the thread (surprise
Ron
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