Tips to clean polishing media from flash hole

[Cemetery21]

Rifle - I use the jumbo paperclip with one leg straightened. I make a couple of sweeps to knock carbon out of the primer pocket, then punch out the media.
Pistol - I don't tumble after sizing.

 

[Innovative]

Randy1911 ......

Your media will gum up and have shorter life soon after absorbing the sizing lubricant. If you use Imperial Sizing Die Wax . . . . it comes off easily, and it's the best high pressure lubricant I've ever tried. Primer pockets are almost totally unaffected by tumbling after resizing. I recommend using a quality primer pocket cleaning tool - not a primer pocket trimmer.

 

[jeepmor]

I deprime and resize after tumbling. And as far as gumming up my media with sizing wax, I don't care, walnut media is an inexpensive consumable when bought through pet store or blast media resources.

 

[Gik-tal]

X2 on the metal scribe, bought a set from HF a while back and use it everytime with any case.

 

[Linear Thinker]

Do you wash cases after tumbling? You should, to avoid the abrasive tumbling media residue wearing out your reloading dies or gun chambers!

I wash mine either in an ultrasonic cleaner, or by just soaking the tumbled brass in a bucket full of hot water and some 409 or SimpleGreen.
After rinsing in hot water, I dry the brass in the sun, or just leave it to dry on a towel.

The media stuck in the flash-hole will expand in hot water, then shrink as it dries.
It will then fall out on it's own!
LT

 

[Ky Larry]

I use the nipple pick for my muzzle loaders.

 

[jcwit]

Do you wash cases after tumbling? You should, to avoid the abrasive tumbling media residue wearing out your reloading dies or gun chambers!

I wash mine either in an ultrasonic cleaner, or by just soaking the tumbled brass in a bucket full of hot water and some 409 or SimpleGreen.
After rinsing in hot water, I dry the brass in the sun, or just leave it to dry on a towel.

The media stuck in the flash-hole will expand in hot water, then shrink as it dries.
It will then fall out on it's own!

Wash after tumbling because the residue will wear out your dies or barrel?

Lets look at this logically, many here use Nu-Finish or any one of many auto polishes, seeing as these are fine for use on autos with clear finish, explain how this is going to harm a hardened steel die or carbide die? Also explain how this polish is going to harm a steel barrel? Its obvious we're not talking about diamond dust here. Priming and powder residue would by much more harmful and hasn't been a problem for the average shooter.

As far as picking media out of cases or blowing with a air compressor, why not just use a smaller (20/40 grit) and eliminate the problem not just temporally solve it.

 

[Otto]

Do you wash cases after tumbling? You should, to avoid the abrasive tumbling media residue wearing out your reloading dies or gun chambers!

I agree and so does Redding.

Nu Finish contains a ceramic abrasive {Ceramic Microspheres 3-10%}. It also leaves a residual acrylic film on the brass.
Since the prolong use and cumulative effect of ceramic abrasives on brass is unknown, I choose not to use it.

According to Redding:
"Case tumblers are another potential source of problems. While the cases may come out shiny, they will actually have a thin film of abrasive residue on them. Cases should be thoroughly cleaned and/or washed before going into the dies."

 

[jcwit]

Well I've been reloading since the 50/60's and have yet to wear out a die or a pistol barrell for that matter. I'm now 67 years old and its very douptful I'll live long enough to even care about it, if by some miracle it should happen.

Since when do we do everything the companies tell/suggest for us to do?

The componet mfg's tell us not to tumble loaded ammo, however the ammo mfg's to it.
Most if not all of the firearm mfg's tell us not to use reloads in their firearms.

I saw a Corvette the other day with a hole in the hood, now I know what happened, he polished it to much with Nu-Finish.
Get a life.

 

[TonyM]

WOW! I just wondered how to clean the primer pockets quicker. I mean no disrespect by this-- The more I learn or read, the more I wonder how I've managed to create quite acceptable handloads! I thought I was anal about things, this place is like an anal mecca
Thanks for all your input! I think I'll try putting them back in an empty tumber (no media) for a few minutes and see if that does the trick, if not I'll continue with the dental pick. I can't create another step, the spousal unit will have too much fun busting my chops!