Scout21
Member
I've got a good bit of dirty and sandy range brass that I'd like to reload. Would washing the cases in a soapy solution clean them enough to not worry about scratching my dies? I don't have a tumbler.
Last edited:
Is washing dirty range brass sufficient?
- Thread starter Scout21
- Start date
- Status
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,974
I run range brass through my wet tumbler with pins (only time I use pins) before loading, for that exact reason.
Washing and rinsing a couple of times with soapy water, agitated by rolling/shaking in a sealed bucket or gallon/multigallon jug works pretty well.
Washing and rinsing a couple of times with soapy water, agitated by rolling/shaking in a sealed bucket or gallon/multigallon jug works pretty well.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I pre-clean coal dirt brass with water. After it dries i dry tumble it.
I reloaded for several years before I tumbled any brass. I wiped each case withn a solvent dampened rag as I inspected it before processing. No ruined dies, no scratched chambers. Wiping removed any sand/grit and the solvent removed any oil/grease. If you want to clean brass without tumbling, the "NRA formula" worked quite well;
1/4 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp salt
1/8 oz.(up to 1/4cup) dish liquid(somone specified which brands to be avoided)
1/2 gallon water
Immerse & agitate brass 3-4 minutes
Dump mixture when done, rinse in clean water
1/4 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp salt
1/8 oz.(up to 1/4cup) dish liquid(somone specified which brands to be avoided)
1/2 gallon water
Immerse & agitate brass 3-4 minutes
Dump mixture when done, rinse in clean water
OP
OP
Scout21
Member
I forgot to add that I don't have a tumbler. I'd prefer not to purchase one if I can get away with it.
5 gallon bucket with a screw on lid, add decapped brass, fill half way hot water, soap, maybe a little citric acid, shake for 5 minutes, rinse with cold water, and dry.
I do this all the time with crusty brass that I dont want to run into my sizing dies.
I do this all the time with crusty brass that I dont want to run into my sizing dies.
Charlie98
Member
Clean brass is The Source... it'll change your life, swear to god.
I reloaded for some years before I got a (dry) tumbler... I'm still using parts of that tumbler 30 years later. I LOVE clean brass.... but besides that, it makes case inspection easier and more positive.
FWIW, a simple baby Lyman dry tumbler and a Tupperware container of walnut media doesn't take up much space. You don't have to jump into the complexity of wet tumbling to get clean brass.
rondaxe
Member
I don't own a tumbler and don't plan on getting one. Just another piece of equipment I don't have room for. I wash my brass using something very similar to the NRA formula and then dry in the oven. Is it shining like being tumbled? No. Do I care? No. Shiney brass doesn't help that bullet go down range any better than my not so shiny brass. The main thing is it has to be free form dirt and grime. Clean brass makes for happy dies.
GBExpat
Member
That is how I did it for several decades with no observed scratched-die issues.
Enjoy!
As long as the cases are not groudy (80's Valley Girl slang) with corrosion or something similar, washing is fine.
There are some weird behaviors in the shooting community that may be advertising based, or are just due to human obsessive compulsive behaviors. There are a lot of shooters who have to have bright, shiny brass. Of course, it is well known that shiny brass is more accurate than dingy brass, and functions better. Or does it?
Our monkey brain loves shiny things, I will bet it goes back to safe foods to eat. Shiny, colorful food is appealing, because the plant wants us to eat its fruit and spread its seeds. Buffet line chefs learn to add a lot of color to the low cost foods, to include colorful plates. That way, you fill up on cheap lettuce, and don't eat too many of the lobsters!
On your next Cruise to the Caribbean, pay attention to this. Buffet food is arranged so you instinctively load up on the cheap stuff.
There are some weird behaviors in the shooting community that may be advertising based, or are just due to human obsessive compulsive behaviors. There are a lot of shooters who have to have bright, shiny brass. Of course, it is well known that shiny brass is more accurate than dingy brass, and functions better. Or does it?
Our monkey brain loves shiny things, I will bet it goes back to safe foods to eat. Shiny, colorful food is appealing, because the plant wants us to eat its fruit and spread its seeds. Buffet line chefs learn to add a lot of color to the low cost foods, to include colorful plates. That way, you fill up on cheap lettuce, and don't eat too many of the lobsters!
On your next Cruise to the Caribbean, pay attention to this. Buffet food is arranged so you instinctively load up on the cheap stuff.
FWIW; I can remember when brown brass was a sign of a reloader. I shot at a police range occasionally and remember seeing several shooters with 30 cal. ammo can full of brown 45 ACP ammo. Most of their targets came back with one, sub 2" hole in it...
The only advantage, for me, is shiny brass is easier to find in the dirt at the range. I dry tumble and never needed bright shiny case interiors nor pristine primer pockets...
The only advantage, for me, is shiny brass is easier to find in the dirt at the range. I dry tumble and never needed bright shiny case interiors nor pristine primer pockets...
OP
OP
Scout21
Member
Thanks for the responses, guys!
I've seen where people recommend depriming before cleaning. Can brass be too dirty and sandy to run through a universal decapping die? I'm not talking about caked on mud, but a fair bit of dirt and sand that inevitably hangs around after being swept off of the concrete. I wouldn't imagine that it would matter if a universal decapping die gets scratched up as its only job is to deprime.
I've seen where people recommend depriming before cleaning. Can brass be too dirty and sandy to run through a universal decapping die? I'm not talking about caked on mud, but a fair bit of dirt and sand that inevitably hangs around after being swept off of the concrete. I wouldn't imagine that it would matter if a universal decapping die gets scratched up as its only job is to deprime.
AJC1
Member
Use the powered shell holder from a Lee trimmer and a green pot scrubbing pad. Not much effort to look wet tumbled. It won't clean the insides but your sizing die won't be damaged.
beag_nut
Member
I refuse to use any sort of tumbler. Because of my industrial experience I only use an ultrasonic cleaner, with a bare minimum of detergent. I don't care what the cases look like, only how they function. Period.
My only worry would be making sure there is now gunk in the insides of the brass.
Bright shiny brass is all about looks, not functionality.
Dawn dishwashing detergent usually works well. So does TSP.
I just cleaned 600 cases today with a citric acid and dish soap solution. They’re drying now. Some were so dark I thought they were steel cases before I washed them.
I use a glass bowl and plastic strainer and hand agitate for about 15 minutes. Then swap out the water for clean water and do it again and maybe once more to be sure the soap is gone. The rinse sessions are about 5 minutes, not the initial 15. I use a good shake of Lemishine dishwasher additive (dry powder citric acid) and a squirt of Dawn for the citric acid and soap.
I use a glass bowl and plastic strainer and hand agitate for about 15 minutes. Then swap out the water for clean water and do it again and maybe once more to be sure the soap is gone. The rinse sessions are about 5 minutes, not the initial 15. I use a good shake of Lemishine dishwasher additive (dry powder citric acid) and a squirt of Dawn for the citric acid and soap.
All my range brass goes into a soapy water 5 gallon bucket for soaking over night or a few days. Whenever I'm ready to clean brass I have an inexpensive Lee press with a universal de-priming pin which I than drop the de-primed brass into a sonic cleaner and than I dry the brass in a toaster oven. Depending on my mood, if I want shiny brass I put it in my tumbler for about 20 minutes with walnut media and car polish. Soaking the brass loosens up mud and grime which the sonic cleaner promptly finishes removing all the dirt.
Mr_Flintstone
Member
If you have caked on, hard dried mud inside the case, consider using a sharpened wooden dowel rod to break it up first. Otherwise, throw it into an old milk jug with a squirt of dawn and warm water. Shake for a couple minutes, drain the water, refill with clean warm water, and shake about a minute more. If the water comes out clear and soapy, proceed to rinse with cold water. If the water comes out really brown or muddy, repeat the process, and then rinse with cold water until you have no more soap bubbles. Dry, size, load, shoot, repeat.
I have actually reloaded some 38 special brass close to 20 times without cleaning at all. Brass doesn’t have to be shiny and new, it really just needs clean primer pockets.
AJC1
Member
It's cold in my garage and I skipped wet tumbling my 357 brass. My desire to not freeze my ass off exceeds my desire to have shiny brass. I'm positive they will shoot just fine.
gwpercle
Member
Yes ... washing in a bucket of soapy water (Dawn Dishwasing soap will work fine ) then rinse the cases under fresh running water , put cases in a colander and rinse well to get all grit out of primer pockets and flash holes... flush out insides of each case with stream of water to be sure they are grit / grime free . Leting them soak in the Dawn / water solution a few hours helps get the dark stains off .
Let the clean cases dry and they will not transfer grit to dies .
The cases will be clean but not shiney ... for that a vibrating tumbler with treated Brass Polishing Media is needed .
I went for years just washing cases ... they only need to be clean to work ...shiney is just for looks .
I don't wet clean with a bucket or my tumbler ... to much of a mess , water and a drain is required , tried it but went back to dry Treated Crushed Walnut shell Media ... much better way for me to do it ...drying cases was time consuming ... I like dry !
Gary
Yes, giving the brass a bath works fine to clean and shine them. Best results are with dirty brass rather than severely tarnished brass for which tumbling is a better option.
My brass bath recipe: a tablespoon or so of Dawn or Persil (even better), a few shakes of table salt, a couple ounces of white vinegar and a tablespoon of Lemi-Shine. Cover with hot tap water, shake, let stand for an hour or so while shaking intermittently. I use a container with a screw top to contain everything. Rinse very well and then dry the brass to prevent water spotting.
This will deliver a good shine to the brass which will shine even more once the brass goes through the sizing die.
Works for me, at least…
Bayou52
My brass bath recipe: a tablespoon or so of Dawn or Persil (even better), a few shakes of table salt, a couple ounces of white vinegar and a tablespoon of Lemi-Shine. Cover with hot tap water, shake, let stand for an hour or so while shaking intermittently. I use a container with a screw top to contain everything. Rinse very well and then dry the brass to prevent water spotting.
This will deliver a good shine to the brass which will shine even more once the brass goes through the sizing die.
Works for me, at least…
Bayou52
BushMaster-15
member
I have an extra Dillon large media separator and tub a friend donated to My cleaning ensemble years ago . I also had a 12V 12" fan ,which I mounted to the tub . I then proceeded to mount a fractional HP electric motor with belt cog drive sprockets . So the media separator turns on it's own with the fan blowing across it . I generally take ALL MY wet cases and throw them into a Net diving or Ditty bag ,shake them around pretty good and then toss them into the media separator and let them tumble and dry . Looks like a Frankenstein contraption but really works VERY WELL . I've always got odds and ends of electrical charger converters and crap lying in a Big box . Fan runs off a old 120V AC 12VDC phone answering machine adapter and I swear that machine went into the trash maybe 1983-4 ? . Yet I kept the plug adapter
I'd hate to think how many 120V AC 9VDC adapters are in that box but I'd guess #15-35 ?. One just never knows when a Monster will need creating - Status
