How to remove lead shavings from brass

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msredneck

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Hello All,

I'm fairly new to reloading mainly with jacketed bullets. I've just started reloading some 45 acp with a 200 gr LSWC from precision delta.

I need some advise on a problem that developed.

It seems that I did not flare the case mouth enough before seating the bullet....The result of this is that I have soft shaved lead around the case mouth....

It can sorta be scraped off with a pocket knife....unfortunately I did a good number of these before I really noticed.

The lead residue is a definite hindrance trying to get the rounds to reliably chamber.

So the question is...How can I get the lead off of the brass?

I have read that a mixture of 2 parts household white vinegar and 1 part hydrogen peroxide may remove the lead it it soaks about 10 min.

Have also considered using a dremel tool (while using a face mask) to prevent having to breathe any lead dust that may get stirred up.

Any ideas are appreciated...I'd hate to have to trash these rounds.
 
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Are you sure that little shaving is what's keeping the rounds from feeding correctly? I'd double check your taper crimp (assuming you're crimping). I can't imagine a sliver of lead would keep them from feeding right. When I started loading 200 lswc for 1911's they kept catching the mouths on the ramp. A little more crimp and the problems went away.
 
I'm very sure...evidently the lead in the precison delta 200 lswc is pretty soft.

As I seat the bullets..I guess the case mouth was not quite "flared enough" so there is smeared lead along the case mouth...its fairly hard to get off with a pocket knife.

I have the problem corrected by just flarring the case mouth a bit more...say 1/8 turn of the Lee expander die and theproblem went away...

problem is I have a good many to clean up

I'm trying to come up with a way to remove it. I can't believe I was stupid enough to not notice it sooner.

I go to all the trouble to weigh each powder charge on a scale and then let this happen....
 
I'm very sure...evidently the lead in the precison delta 200 lswc is pretty soft.

As I seat the bullets..I guess the case mouth was not quite "flared enough" so there is smeared lead along the case mouth...its fairly hard to get off with a pocket knife.

I have the problem corrected by just flarring the case mouth a bit more...say 1/8 turn of the Lee expander die and the problem went away...

problem is I have a good many to clean up

I'm trying to come up with a way to remove it. I can't believe I was stupid enough to not notice it sooner.

I go to all the trouble to weigh each powder charge on a scale and then let this happen....
 
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After you taper crimp take your mics and measure right at the case mouth. what is the measurement you're getting?
 
Unfortunately, I only have a dial caliper not a micrometer

I'm no longer experiencing the problem...I corrected it with a touch more case flare.

What I don't know how to do is to clean up the rounds that messed up.:banghead:
 
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I have read that a mixture of 2 parts household white vinegar and 1 part hydrogen peroxide may remove the lead it it soaks about 10 min.
Click to expand...
Forget that!

Soaking loaded ammo in vinegar & peroxide is a bad idea!

You will have to clean them manually with a pocket knife, if your thumbnail won't do it.

Let that be a hard earned lesson to you!
Check what you are doing before you do it lots of times!

rc
 
Figured it was a bad idea...was only gonna soak the business end and not the primed portion...off to find the dremmel
 
Take a small piece of steel wool wrapped around the cartridges and give a few twists. That might do the trick.
 
I've read about the vinegar and peroxide trick for cleaning the lead from barrels and cylinder, stainless steel guns only if I remember correctly. It does work nicely to get the rings out of the cylinders of my revolvers. Cap one end, pour in the solution, and you can see debris floating to the top. Just remember, if it starts to dissolve the lead smeared on the case, it will also start to eat at the bullet. Most of the bullet will be inside the case, so it may not be a problem. You will still have to use some elbow grease to wipe it off. That's why I suggested the steel wool. Hope you don't spend too much time correcting your mistake.
 
Msredneck welcome to the highroad.If you hang around long you will learn to carefully read and follow rcmodal's advice.
 
Yeah....I'm having a teachable moment...Yeah I know I should have checked em before hand...the very obvious solution

Steel wool doesn't help...maybe some dental picks will help...

Still gonna try the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide on a couple...just need to see if it will loosen the stuff

If it works...I promise to keep my mouth shut

Thx all
 
Using a box cutter, place the blade at about a 30 degree angle on the "ridge" of excess lead and rotate the cartridge. You'll kind of be using the case mouth as a stop for the blade. Experiment with changes in the angle of the blade.

Another option, size a fired case to the diameter of the loaded brass, cut some notches in the case mouth (kind of like a hole saw) and place the modified brass over the bullet of the loaded round and twist.

Cloudpeak
 
lead

You need to invest in either a lyman "M" die that is for expanding cases for the loading of lead bullets and also you need a seperate die for seating and crimping.
Just remember the 45 headspaces off of the case mouth so you have to make sure that you scrape the lead from that area.
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/RVN/67/68/69
DAV
 
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