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cleaning reloads??

Posted: 07 Jul 2018 10:12
by ME_flyboy
OK...
I just reloaded a mixed batch of vendor cleaned, fired, and slightly dirty, and some I re-primed, back in 2009, but hadn't loaded, that have since been stored in a military ammo can. (But nothing really filthy and horrendus...)

My question is what's the consensus on cleaning brass?
if your choice isn't on the list please comment...

Thanks
Charlie

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 07 Jul 2018 10:14
by GasGuzzler
After every firing although I know it's not needed. I don't shoot enough for it to matter either way.

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 07 Jul 2018 14:01
by RBHarter
It really depends on the loads and what I'm doing with them .

I have a lot of 9mm and probably only clean it every 2-3 times .
45 Colts get it when the show grung .
The AR fodder get cleaned every other time .

Hunting loads get done every time and sometimes before loading if it's something I cleaned a huge batch of but is showing tarnish .

If I shot competition I'd clean every time .

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 07 Jul 2018 14:26
by mr surveyor
as a fairly new re-loader (only 7+ years), I'm still using the same habits that were developed from the start. Every piece of freshly shot brass gets de-primed and run through the old ultra-sonic tub with a dab of Lemi-Shine and Dawn dishwashing soap within a couple of days of shooting, if not the same day. My late mentor taught me to never run dirty brass through the sizing die, so I developed the habit.


jd

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 07 Jul 2018 16:36
by GRV01
I marked every time but i dont tumble. I just soak and shake in a jar of water and a packet of non-medicinal generic alkaseltzer which is just baking soda and a lil citric acid and when most of the crud is settling at the bottom i rinse with fresh water and give them a low temp bake in thr oven to dry

I dont see myself ever buying a tumbler

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 04:55
by farmerjim
I clean most of my brass in large batches. I prime most of it in large batches, and put it on the shelf till I have the time to reload it. If I am loading a few for hunting, I do not clean the brass.

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 07:49
by daboone
I always assure the brass is clean. Whether or not it gets tumbled or a buzz bucket treatment or wiped with a rag or nothing depends on its condition. I do inspect each and every case individually before processing.

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 10:42
by Macd
Except for 9mm and 45 Auto, every reload. 9mm and 45 Auto get cleaned when it looks like it needs it. I do check every case before it goes into the sizing die and any that have crud or debris go into the bucket for cleaning before sizing.

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 12:15
by Ohio3Wheels
Black powder and substitutes (Blackhorn209) get cleaned every time. Most of the rest when they get so gungy they're embarrassing.

Make smoke,

Re: cleaning reloads??

Posted: 08 Jul 2018 12:58
by Ranch Dog
Every firing.