Clean Loaded Brass?

[Bob Wright]

I use to surgically clean my brass. Until I read some of the top BR/F-Class guys who make note of leaving carbon in the necks. I just do a short 5 min. tumble with dry media and blow them out with compressed air to remove media. So far it works on my 2 favorite rifles for consistent bullet release. Turning necks before 1st firing, inside and outside diameters, was an improvement as well. It seems to nudge those groups tighter for my two rifles. It's just another way.....FWIW...

 

[jdavistx]

My Dad swore by a liberal application of bacon grease, usually applied first thing in the morning after breakfast.

Seriously, if the cases are cleaned properly and your workspace and tools are clean you should be good to go. Everyone adds their finishing touch. It's like wiping down a new car before you go out on a Sunday morning drive. Happy Sunday!

 

[Bdubose]

I would be careful with cleaning solvents and brass. Some solvents cause stress cracks…

 

[jdavistx]

I wipe my cases after sizing to remove the sizing wax….that's it, no chemicals, no tumbling. I just prime them, bag them or load them, depending on what I am doing at the time.
I have never heard of anyone doing this.
I once caught my buddy tumbling LOADED ROUNDS in his case tumbler. His excuse was that he forgot to wipe off the case lube and that was the easiest way to clean 100 rounds….I just shook my head and said YEP, WHATEVER!

Cheers.
P. S. I guess I'm not THAT strange after all!

I think the fear of tumbling loaded rounds is "over blown." But I'll let others describe the experience.

 

[30BR]

I clean after sizing with alcohol soaked paper towels. I have had a few episodes where residual Redding case lube has caused excessive bolt thrust, exhibiting signs of excess pressure that were NOT due to powder levels. So now I give them all a second alcohol wipe down at the range before the match.

 

[Chas1]

Sonic clean, throw in corn cob media tumbler with capful of polish & no wiping down.

 

[Pmacc60]

After loading I wipe all brass to remove lube, I have a silicone micro cloth , nothing else.

 

[CNY Yote Hunter]

Nope, none.

Using a wet tumble I do rinse the brass very well after cleaning. When cleaning I use distilled water with dish soap and lemishine, and distilled water again to rinse after cleaning, needless to say I use a lot of distilled water

EDIT:
I talk (type too much) sometimes LOL. Removed the rest of the comments.

Plus 1 on this, hasn't failed me yet

 

[Teri Anne]

For the most part I've found that brass, taken care of does not get dirty enough to have to resort to anything more than a light wiping down after I'm done reloading. This gets any dirt or the release lube from the sizing process off the case. I do have a tumbler and on occasion do use it but then make sure all of the corn cob media is out of the case and that the flash hole is clear. Corn cob media likes to wedge itself in the flash hole and if not removed will cause a misfire. In some cases it was so tightly wedged that a pick would not get it out and had to run it through the sizing die and let the de-capper pin clear the flash hole. Just because brass case is slightly tarnished will not affect its ability to function or affect accuracy. What it boils down to is follow instructions, check that all of the primers are seated properly, powder charges are exact, there are no missed charges or double charges especially in handgun ammo and the selected bullet is seated properly. All rules followed, ammo that is superbly consistent and accurate.

 

[esshup]

I tumble in dry corncob media (no polishing/cleaning additives) after sizing then don't do anything else to them.

 

[Paulstarr]

I don't really see the point, the explanation does not live up to reality,seem like a waste of acetone to me.

 

[misterc01]

After I tumble, I size and prep the brass and then run it through an utrasonic cleaner to get anything remaining off the brass.

 

[Dankno]

I've used acetone on a rag/paper towel to remove 45/45/10 from larger magnum boolets (44, 45, 50 cal) after loading them, just to keep any gunk from sticking to them. No harm (so far) in maximum loads (H110 for magnums and CFE-P in the Colt) in 44 Magnum, 45 Colt, and 500 S&W. I wouldn't soak cartridges in it though.

 

[Dankno]

Double tap. Apologies.