Cleaning brass with primer still in?

[no_agenda]

Is it ok to clean brass with primers still in if using a wet solution, like 50/50 mix of vinegar and water or one of the popular cleaning solutions? I can't find much info, other than someone saying that the spent primers dirty the solution pretty bad. Thanks

 

[bobelk99]

Consider this comparison: If you have jeans with mud caked on them, would you put them in the laundry with the mud still attached?

Leaving the primers in just creates a contaminant, as you addressed in your post.

 

[loadedround]

I have always cleaned my cases(tumbled) with the primers in. Otherwise you end up picking media out of the flashole prior to reloading. If you miss a piece of stuck media, you could end up with a hang fire or worse. I don't really care if the spent primers dirty up my media...media is cheap.

 

[bobelk99]

I agree with Loaded round when tumbling in dry media.

The OP was referring to liquid cleaner, and for that the media/flashole thing is not an issue.

 

[Rule3]

I do not think it matters either way. If i wash really dirty brass say from the sand at the range, they always have spent primers in them. If you deprime really dirty brass that the crud is on your die and press. As mentioned media and vinegar/water is cheap. Not to worry about it.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

50/50 mix of vinegar and water

if the brass is badly tarnished i leave the primers in, then rinse dry and tumble

had some real bad 30 cal , looked to be on the ground for some time, when i got done most looked new,

 

[ScratchnDent]

I give them a quick bath before resizing, to get the loose crud off, then a 24 hour soaking after sizing to make them pretty.

 

[Deus Machina]

I deprime with a universal die, tumble, then size. Leaving the depriming pin in the sizer die knocks the media out of the flash hole.