Case cleaning

[rapidm2]

Looking for some advice regarding cleaning cases. Have just bought a reloading kit and need to clean the cases ive just reloaded and fired. I am not target shooting, but hoping to get some consistent loads for long range pest control.

I was told just to used an old brush for cleaning the barrel to clean inside of case, wire wool for outside and primer pocket tool. The barrel brush seems too abrasive to me so i was considering buying a case brush and fine wire wool.

Is it worth buying a tumber and media or will the above method be ok? I have also read about ultrasonic, soapy water etc but i just dont know if its necessary.

 

[Sharpie]

I would suggest starting as you describe.

Spin them up in a Lee lockstud in a battery drill and it takes no time. Whilst your at it, trim them with the Lee trimmer and pilot, why not. Even chamfer them inside and out, proper job, takes seconds.

But maybe substituting the iron wool with some green supermarket dishwashing scouring pad with a bit of mild dilute detergent to rub over the outsides.

Much the same as 3M Scotchbrite, which is available in various grades. I just use the green supermarket pan scourers.

Unless you are doing something wrong, and have sooty necks, or worse, that need scrubbing off more harshly. A dollop of stainless steel cooking pan cleaner, or a smear of e.g. Peek, will fix that.

An old barrel bronze brush for inside the neck should be fine, but if concerned, I suppose you could try to use a nylon one.

The thing is, if you actually want to dislodge much stuff, a certain amount of force/aggression is needed.

No, the other tools (tumbler, media, US, wet tumbler with steel pins etc), are not necessary, but can be more convenient depending on the quantity of ammo that you get through.

Start off simply would be my advice. I don't think that I have read any online drivel suggesting that cleaning cases any better makes a blind bit of difference, never mind any quantifiable data.

FWIW, I do now use a vibratory tumbler to shine up my brass, since I have one, and to rub off the resizing lube, but I don't think that it has any real effect on the practical outcome.

 

[Dazb1967]

Good advice above, I don't tumble myself but I do use an ultrasonic cleaner and thats it, I keep cleaning very basic and minimal and still get decent results and always make sure the primer pockets clear.
I used to wire wool each case when I first got into reloading but the novelty sharp wore off.

 

[Steff]

I would suggest starting as you describe.

Spin them up in a Lee lockstud in a battery drill and it takes no time. Whilst your at it, trim them with the Lee trimmer and pilot, why not. Even chamfer them inside and out, proper job, takes seconds.

But maybe substituting the iron wool with some green supermarket dishwashing scouring pad with a bit of mild dilute detergent to rub over the outsides.

Much the same as 3M Scotchbrite, which is available in various grades. I just use the green supermarket pan scourers.

Unless you are doing something wrong, and have sooty necks, or worse, that need scrubbing off more harshly. A dollop of stainless steel cooking pan cleaner, or a smear of e.g. Peek, will fix that.

An old barrel bronze brush for inside the neck should be fine, but if concerned, I suppose you could try to use a nylon one.

The thing is, if you actually want to dislodge much stuff, a certain amount of force/aggression is needed.

No, the other tools (tumbler, media, US, wet tumbler with steel pins etc), are not necessary, but can be more convenient depending on the quantity of ammo that you get through.

Start off simply would be my advice. I don't think that I have read any online drivel suggesting that cleaning cases any better makes a blind bit of difference, never mind any quantifiable data.

FWIW, I do now use a vibratory tumbler to shine up my brass, since I have one, and to rub off the resizing lube, but I don't think that it has any real effect on the practical outcome.

As much as I agree with your advise to start simple I would like to make a few critical remarks on some of your suggestions.

Don't spin the case in the drill, but the tool you are using. This way you will not have to stop the drill all the time. This even works with the lee length gauge set.


The glove helps with opening and tightening of the case holder.

You have advised to do the cleaning and trimming in setup. Trimming however should be done after sizing.

Further, I have made the experience that a bronze brush will wear out after only a few cases when it is used for case neck cleaning in a drill setup. Nylon brushes have proven to be the better choice. I dip the cases in some white spirit, run them over the nylon brush in the drill and wipe the outside with some paper towel. Job done.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Apthorpe]

As much as I agree with your advise to start simple I would like to make a few critical remarks on some of your suggestions.

Don't spin the case in the drill, but the tool you are using. This way you will not have to stop the drill all the time. This even works with the lee length gauge set.
View attachment 171146
View attachment 171147
The glove helps with opening and tightening of the case holder.

You have advised to do the cleaning and trimming in setup. Trimming however should be done after sizing.

Further, I have made the experience that a bronze brush will wear out after only a few cases when it is used for case neck cleaning in a drill setup. Nylon brushes have proven to be the better choice. I dip the cases in some benzine, run them over the nylon brush in the drill and wipe the outside with some paper towel. Job done.

Just my 2 cents.

Benzene is highly carcinogenic - obviously avoid it -and the German word "benzine" means petrol. You may have reservations about using petrol indoors too.

 

[Steff]

Benzene is highly carcinogenic - obviously avoid it -and the German word "benzine" means petrol. You may have reservations about using petrol indoors too.

Thank you for correcting me. What I mean is 'Waschbenzin'. I have changed it to 'white spirit' in my post above.

 

[GGG]

A tumbler can make sense, I have both a wet and dry model, but only if you are dealing with large numbers of cases.
If low numbers are involved, then the lee trimmer system mentioned above can also be used to good effect cheaply.
If you don’t want to use a drill, then the Lee Zip Trim is a good option.

 

[gixer1]

I just trim the cases by hand, slide the case into the case holder and nip it up, then rotate the trimmer end a few times until the resistance disappears...

regards,
Gixer

 

[Lateral]

Theoretically, some steps only need to be done once, the first time you prep the cases, such as deburring the flash hole, primer pocket uniforming.
For 99% of shooting, even the basics are good enough. I have yet to need to trim the length on any of my cases, on any calibre I have, even though I have a very nice LE Wilson case trim tool

Personally, I think a case tumbler is invaluable. I use mine to both degrease the cases after resizing, and give a general clean. It does the work for you, whist you can be getting on doing other things. I have several ultrasonic cleaners, and they are also good, BUT, they are a faff, and drying the cases a PITA.

Here are some options, starting at £30.00 ! I have the Frankford Arsenal, used with corn cob, with a drizzle of Brasso, and it's excellent.

Tumblers

 

[Dr.T.]

To clean cases (unless they're really filthy) my recommendation would be to buy some 0000 wire wool and a primer pocket uniformer. There's no need to chuck cases into a drill - just 3 or 4 twists with the wool round the neck and shoulder, and a couple of twists with the uniformer is all you need.

Cleaning the inside of the neck has questionable merit, but I now brush very lightly with a calibre sized bronze brush, just to remove the worst crud.

Everyone has their own special way of doing things, but this works well for me. For what it's worth, many other national long range shooters use this minimalist method, although some do tumble. I personally avoid tumbling as it takes time, has no benefit in performance, and risks knocking your carefully prepped case necks. Ultimately it comes down to aesthetics- if you want shiny brass then tumble. Otherwise I think there are better things to spend time and money on.