[dan-r]

I'm just getting stared in reloading. I've bought a press and dies. I still have a number of items to purchase before I start re-loading. I see vibrators and tumblers advertised for cleaning brass. Of those who re-load that I know, some have a vibrator/tumbler and others don't. How necessary is a means of cleaning brass?

To be sure a pocket cleaner is required, but I'm not sure of the need for starting with shiny brass.

Dan

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

its more about getting rid of the soot and residue of firing than making it look good. and i dont ever touch my primer pockets unless im making match grade ammo or swaging pockets on military brass.

SW

 

[finishman2000]

clean brass but don't bother with the primer pocket unless you're making match rifle rounds

 

[2TN Mules]

Great question!

I clean my brass before reloading so it will be all pretty. It is just a personal preference because I feel it makes any flaws in the brass easier to detect. That is the only reason I do it because it is not really necessary. As to cleaning primer pockets ..... I do it the first time I reload picked-up or bought once shot brass. After that i don't fool with doing it. It is part of my QC of "new" to me brass. After it passes that first cleaning and inspection I don't bother with cleaning the pockets. In doing it the first time I have found really cruddy primer pockets that needed cleaning to seat the primer properly and clear the flash hole. I've also found small pockets in what were supposedly brass that needed large primers, specifically 45ACP. So for those 2 reasons I clean the pockets the 1st time and then don't bother.

 

[HiPoint45]

If you want to clean it on the cheap here's a how-to I posted a while back.

http://www.hipointfirearmsforums.com/Forum/index.php/topic,18198.msg191037.html#msg191037

(link for new forum - http://www.hipointfirearmsforums.co...ase-cleaner-old-nra-recipe-cheap-pics-261618/ )

 

[Super_Virgil]

I tumble my brass, but I do not touch the pockets. I just like clean, not necessarily polished brass.

 

[dan-r]

Thanks all,

This kind of information is not found in the manual I've just finished reading.

Dan

 

[2TN Mules]

If I may suggest ... get a copy of "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition" by Richard Lee. IMHO great reloading book to have in your library.

 

[HalfFast73]

If I may suggest ... get a copy of "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition" by Richard Lee. IMHO great reloading book to have in your library.

I'll second that.
I tumble my brass, no worry over the primer pockets.

 

[PrimalSeal]

I always tumble, but I don't worry about primer pockets except on my .50 AE brass.

 

[Flip]

I guess I'm the only one so far who admits cleaning the primer pockets. Just a habit I got into when I first started reloading.

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

flip, if im building ammo for the 1000 yard range i clean, deburr, ream and uniform primer pockets. i also uniform and deburr the flash holes. it does make a difference at the 1000 yard range where consistency is the key.

SW

 

[HiPoint45]

No Flip I too clean the brass, clean the primer pocket,buff the brass with steel wool, check case length. I think its fun and relaxing to do it all. Of course I only load .45acp with a Classic Lee Loader hammer assisted kit Still though I do it it all I don't care if it makes a difference or not, my car runs just as well without washing it but I handwash it all the time.

 

[robertgreen_86]

I only clean the primer pockets if it is really bad or if i am making competion ammo/hunting ammo/PP rounds....

 

[hobbles]

I de prime first, then tumble em. Don't clean the pockets any more. Seems to work 0k that way. (for me)

 

[err.gray]

Get a relatively inexpensive rock tumbler and use corn cob or walnut media. Works great for me!

 

[Flip]

Get a relatively inexpensive rock tumbler and use corn cob or walnut media. Works great for me!

Lizard Litter works well and you can get it at pet stores. It's made from crushed walnut shells. Lower in price too.

 

[dan-r]

Lizard litter, who knew??

Thanks for the tip. That's the kind of experience-sharing that makes this kind of forum so valuable. You don't get this kind of info out of a book.

That's like the higher-priced oil-dri for garage floors. Generic, cheapest, kitty litter is cheaper and is packaged in smaller quantities that suit my home garage better than the commercial grade Oil-Dri. Both are calcined clay and work equally well.

Dan

 

[2TN Mules]

Cabelas has a tumbler kit that comes with a tumbler, corn-cob media, brass polish, and a cleaning pan for seperating the brass from the media. It cost about $50 when I got mine. Good set-up for the money.

Tip #1 "Nu-Finish" car polish in the orange bottle works just as well as more expensive brass cleaner.

Tip #2 Do not use Brasso brass polish it will deterioriate your brass

Tip #3 Toss in 1-2 dryer sheets when tumbling brass. It will keep the media clean almost indefinitly.

 

[Flip]

Tip #3 Toss in 1-2 dryer sheets when tumbling brass. It will keep the media clean almost indefinitly.

Now that I got to try. :yes: