better way to clean off brass

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poker2112

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ok i tumbled ,trimmed, and sized .......but i forgot about the lube on the brass for about 2months ...... im thinking about soap and hot water will do the trick .anyone got a better way?
 
Hey Poker2112,

I clean my lubed cases, loaded or unloaded, in gasoline and then let them dry. If I have a lot to do, I usually dip and swish them around in a coffee can half full of gas and then let them dry on a towell. If I only have a dozen or so, I put gas on a rag, wipe the lube off, and let them dry for ten or fifteen minutes.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
That is the second time I have heard of people using gasoline to clean the lube off loaded rounds. Not just the volitility of the vapors and breathing those same vapors which are not good, but gasoline is quite capable of entering the case and fouling the powder. Gasoline is a great penatrent while it's still liquid...I would tend to stay away from the use of gasoline in the reloading process...There are just too many better and safer ways to clean dirty,oily or greasy brass. For one...Just wipe them as best you can then tumble them...
 
+1

If you just have to use solvent, at least use mineral spirits paint thinner.

The fumes won't blow your house off it's foundation quite as far as gasoline vapor!

rcmodel
 
I usually just put the resized and lubed rounds in a can full of 91% Isopropyl alcohol and slosh it around. Pull them out, dry them by hand. While doing so, it gives you a chance to inspect for case mouth irregularities or other things.
By the time you've cleaned the 100th case, the first 20 should be dry. If not sure, set them in the sun on a warm day for 20 minutes.
 
I just load'em and re-tumble them. I re-tumble all of my loaded rifle cartridges to get the lube off.
 
Hey folks,

Gasoline, mineral spirits, and alcohol are all highly flammable solvents and should be recognized as such. I am not suggesting one should smoke while using any of these solvents to clean cases, but let's face it, we do safely use gasoline, mineral spirits, and alcohol in many different applications without killing ourselves. We simply need to use them in a safe manner. As far as any of these solvents entering the cartridge and fouling the powder, I have never had it happen, and if it can happen with gas, mineral spirits, or alcohol, it could also happen with soap and water. I think if ammo is loaded properly, a quick dip in water or other solvent is not likely to contaminate the primer or the powder.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
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