Brand new to reloading and was wondering what everyone thinks is the best way to clean brass. The book I read mentioned using a mild acid to clean the brass. It said it was nice cause it even cleaned the primer pocket. But everythin I’ve seen online people are using tumblers. Is one cheaper or better than the other?
I use both.
https://www.m4carbine.net./showthread.php?t=28350&highlight=tumble
Recently I’ve been using “WET” in that I run the brass through the ultrasonic cleaner, and “Tumbling” in order to dry the brass and give it the after-bath cleaning.
This method is harder work, labor wise, but faster than just running a tumber for and hour or more per batch.
use both, like said before add alot of time to case prep but cases look brand new…minus the dents…
Thanks that all sounds I think I will try it out when I get started this weekend…
anyone tried the new hornady ultra sound system? that what they call it? don’t have the catalog in front of me right now.
We were talking about this one on another forum and I guess the Hornady is the same as the Harbor Freight one w/a different name on it.
It seems like they’re all the same Chinese units… just different colors.
I’d love to find out if the $400 desk top U/S cleaners work much better than the jewelry units from china.
I’ve been having some issues with cleaning brass as well. My process:
corn media tumble with polish+use dryer softener thing
shake out cases
hornady one shot small batches at a time and jostle in a bin
resize, deprime
rcbs primer pocket brush
trim, chamfer, deburr
lyman tuffnut walnut media tumble for 4-6 hours or so
The problem is that the inside of the cases are just coated with the finely powdered walnut media. I’ve tried a vinegar and water overnight bath and that did nothing.
So really what are my options other than ordering an ultrasonic cleaner off eBay (same chinese ones that Hornady labels as their own and marks up the price on)?
I’d like to at least make the necks clean down to the brass so there isn’t anything acting as a lubricant between the bullet and the necks.
If you are using a rotary tumbler (Like a Thumlers Tumbler). I would recommend Stainless Steel media., check this out: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1513345&nt=8&page=1
I am new to reloading.
I purchased the next largest Gemoro, which is the same brand the Hornady puts their name on.
I had been saving the brass in a 50 cal can, some of it was badly tarnished. About 1/3 of it was fired through a supressor which makes it a little dirtier.
I removed the primers. I used the Hornady ultrasonic cleaning solution. I cleaned 600 45 ACP cases in the same solution. It took four batches so about 150 cases per batch. Hornady has his cases lined up in the basket, I just dumped the cases in the basket. I ran the cleaner three cycles per batch, rinsed with tap water then distilled water.
There were water marks on the some of the cases. The primer pockets and inside of the brass were clean. Not as bright and shiny as new brass but it was clean.
I am going to run some 223 through it next.
I like the idea of no dust.