Just got back from shooting the rest of my 45 colt ammo. The casings have the black residue from the powder on them. Do I need to wipe it off before running them through my sizing die (carbide) or did I just waste my time? Not gonna use a tumbler, chemical cleaning for me so I need to de-cap first, and from my reading (again) it looks like the spent primers should be removed before washing the brass.
clean off the residue?
- Thread starter halfded
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Absolutely. The brass needs to be clean before you run them through your dies. Tumbling is easiest, but hand cleaning works fine to. I loaded a year or so without a tumbler, but once you have one, you'll never go back.
that happens to my .45LC also.I always tumble with corn cob before reloading. Just curious,which powder are you using. I have used several different powders and always get the black residue. I'm pretty sure the black stuff is from the lube on the cast bullets.
ReloaderFred
Member
The residue on the case walls is caused by not having enough pressure in the load for the brass to expand and create a good gas seal. This is common with less than maximum loads in the .45 Colt, since the case walls are pretty thick. A full power load generally won't smoke up the case like that.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hope this helps.
Fred
jcwit
member
+ 1 for Freds answer regarding pressure.
+ 1 for Walkalong's answer regarding tumbling the brass.
Plus it makes the brass look nice.
I doubt you would ever wear out carbide dies with dirty cases but thats just an opion. In my case I'm to old to wear out the carbide dies, dirty or not, crack or break maybe, but not wear out.
Go ahead and clean the brass, can't hurt anything. I did notice you mentioned chemical cleaning, be sure you use nothing with ammonia, it weakens the brass.
+ 1 for Walkalong's answer regarding tumbling the brass.
Plus it makes the brass look nice.
I doubt you would ever wear out carbide dies with dirty cases but thats just an opion. In my case I'm to old to wear out the carbide dies, dirty or not, crack or break maybe, but not wear out.
Go ahead and clean the brass, can't hurt anything. I did notice you mentioned chemical cleaning, be sure you use nothing with ammonia, it weakens the brass.
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The black residue I was getting was from factory loads; winchester cowboy action, 250 grain lead. Getting the necessaries for my setup together now, a lot is already in transit. Needed to empty out the factory stuff to fill up my own. 
The Bushmaster
Member
Always tumble(read "clean") any fired brass before you run it through the resizing/decapping die.
1SOW
Member
halfded: I used to just chemically clean also. I bought a Cabellas tumbler and like it a lot!
I still give a quick 'wash' to range brass in a solution of liquid laundry soap, drain & dry, then deprime, then tumble in corn cob laced with polish to that puuurrty sparkling brass. My brass wash is cheap, easy, effective and fast.
P.S. with my 9mm, Win 231 loaded light leaves dirty brass and a very sooty ramp. Up the load/pressure a little and it gets much cleaner.
Type of powder has big effect. Same 9mm load PF with n320 is much cleaner.
I still give a quick 'wash' to range brass in a solution of liquid laundry soap, drain & dry, then deprime, then tumble in corn cob laced with polish to that puuurrty sparkling brass. My brass wash is cheap, easy, effective and fast.
P.S. with my 9mm, Win 231 loaded light leaves dirty brass and a very sooty ramp. Up the load/pressure a little and it gets much cleaner.
Type of powder has big effect. Same 9mm load PF with n320 is much cleaner.
1SOW
Member
Y Larry: +1
If I come up with used simple press, I plan to follow your example.
If I come up with used simple press, I plan to follow your example.
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