keeping Brass clean

[grahamsy2k]

What is a good way to keep brass from getting all dirty?

 

[dukeboy_318]

you mean when you fire it?

 

[Yeah]

Load to full pressure so your necks don't get sooty.

 

[Cerberus]

What is a good way to keep brass from getting all dirty?

Don't use it

Seriously, dirty brass is a good thing. It means you just spent a day enjoying yourself, and now you get to enjoy yourself reloading it. It all part of this wonderful equation.

 

[Leo]

You know that the firearm cannot tell if it is shiney or dull right? I have seen some really tight groups shot by men who's .45 brass was almost black with powder and cast bullet lube stains. Shiney brass does look good. When police still used revolvers with ammo loops on their belts, they would handle their ammo with Vasoline on their fingers to keep the brass from turning green as they worked out in the weather. Nickle plated brass stays more shiney without the help.

 

[Fishersjohn48]

Well since it is a vague question I'll take a different approach. When I shoot at the range, I lay out a 8x12 blue tarp with cheap tent stakes at the corners to catch my brass and keep it from getting dirty.

 

[MTubbs1]

Look into getting a ultrasonic?

 

[grahamsy2k]

hahah I meant after you shoot it. I don't reload but I'd like to sell the old brass.

So it doesn't matter if its that dirty?

 

[Lucky]

if you don't want to buy a case cleaner, you can use some stuff called Flitz. It comes in a tube like toothpaste. A little goes a long way any will put a polish on most anything.

 

[Broom_jm]

hahah I meant after you shoot it. I don't reload but I'd like to sell the old brass.

So it doesn't matter if its that dirty?

If you're looking to sell it to a reloader, "dirty" isn't going to bother most of them a whole lot. They're going to just throw it in their tumbler for a while before resizing it and reloading it. Now, if it's heavily tarnished, that's a different deal.

I regularly load cases that are at least 10 years old, been fired a whole bunch of times, and are permanently stained. You can't tell the difference between those and once-fired that was handled with cotton gloves.

 

[sloughfoot]

What is a good way to keep brass from getting all dirty?

The others took a stab at what you might mean.

I am just going to ask you directly. What exactly, is your concern?

 

[llh1956]

check out the Frankford Arsenal tumbler kits for around $70.

 

[chasinfire]

The tarp idea works good, and it is free...if you already have a tarp. Used that method today to keep brass out of the mud.

 

[GunnerDan]

Is there a real reason to tumble and clean brass?

Gunner

 

[Fishersjohn48]

Is there a real reason to tumble and clean brass?

Gunner

Only if you are going to re-use it! Clean brass is important for reloading. dirt/debris is rough on dies and weapons. Shiny brass is not really important to the function of the reloading process or function in the weapon but it sure looks pretty! I admit, I am a shiny brass person but it not necessary.

 

[Broom_jm]

Is there a real reason to tumble and clean brass?

Gunner

I am not a shiny brass person, but I DO insist that it's clean and free of any debris before reloading it. That's just common sense, if you want your dies and rifle chamber to stay in good shape.

One thing I will do, if I'm trimming brass to length, is while it's already chucked up in the hand-held drill, for use with the Lee trimming system, I will go ahead and hit the neck/shoulder area with a fine steel wool. This makes that part of the case shiny, so it's easier to see any cracks that might be forming.

For pistol brass, it pretty much gets 30 min's in the tumbler and then gets reloaded, no matter what condition it started out in.

 

[BTSTEVE]

Sell it dirty and save the time, as long as it is just shot and not full of mud.