Very small batch case cleaning.

[kidneyboy]

Or, what to do with that empty Rem Golden Bullets bucket.
From left to right
Dirty brass
Hot water
Couple drops of Dawn
A little shake of LemiShine
Lid on. Shake it up once in a while.
An hour or 2 later (or when the water gets cold, or when you remember) rinse well and let dry.

I've been doing this for a couple of months now. Works well and can be done in the laundry room. Plus the inside of the cases are a little cleaner than when dry tumbling.

 

[FROGO207]

Well I am kinda lazy--- well a LOT lazy so I save up my brass for a tumbler full mostly. For rifle brass if I only have ten or less I will use the 000 steel wool and do them by hand, that is if I am not too lazy that day.

Never thought of doing it that way so thanks for the idea.

 

[sparkyv]

Been there, done that. Works fine, but like FROGO207, I'd rather wait to clean a larger batch.

In the myth busting thread where we measured case wall thickness .100" and .200" below case mouth, Blazer brass was measured with thinnest case wall averages (.104" and .110") with subsequent bullet setback greater than other headstamp brass - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...neck-tension-and-bullet-setback.830072/page-4

For general purpose range blasting ammo I won't mind losing, Blazer brass is fine but for accuracy testing, I prefer to use WIN/RP and other headstamp brass that won't produce bullet setback.

 

[Rule3]

When I used to clean range buckets of brass. Then the "acid" test" (all acids work the same)Subject to advanced scientific research!

 

[mdi]

The first cases I "processed/cleaned" was in '86 with citric acid, dish soap and water (not necessarily hot, just out of the tap). Although I had known about the method, I normally just wiped each case with a shop rag as I was inspecting it, the first step on my reloading method. As I added equipment (often unnecessary or seldom used equipment) I got a small rotary rock tumbler and used that for several years. After a move with still a lot of my stuff packed I used the "old school", citric acid/soap/water method a few times and it still worked quite well. The only down side of cleaning brass in an acid solution (too clean!) is it will soon tarnish. No big deal as brown brass reloads and shoots just as well as pristine, ultra glossy brass does...

 

[kidneyboy]

This started out as an experiment in wet tumbling without pins or a sealed rotating device. Lots of threads here on THR about that. Turns out if I don't have more than a hundred or so cases it's pretty easy to get this ready to go while I'm putting gear away when I get home from the range.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

After reading this today, I decided to try it; except I used a cool whip bowl. It was working ok, I guess, but I got impatient and poured the whole batch into a small rock tumbler and ran it for about 30 min. Poured it out, rinsed a couple times, and put it back in the tumbler with 2 sheets of paper towel torn into strips. Tumbled 5 min, set the clean cases on my bench, and in 15 min they were dry. I think I’ve found my new cleaning method.

 

[GT1]

I have tumblers, but I started loading in a tiny apt years ago.
2 gallon plastic bucket, big plastic spoon. Half full bucket of warm water and a few drops of dish soap, I usually dump in and soak 500 cases for about ten minutes, stir for a minute or so with spoon. Rinse off, shake out excess water in a towel, dry for 20 minutes in lowest temp oven on a cookie sheet.
I can have 1000 cases ready to go in around 45 minutes of very little effort for basically no cost.
Brass only needs to be clean and grit free.
It is hands down the fastest method I have used.