Clean or not to clean

[RCS Deer Management]

Yes! if you dont your going to do far more chamber cleaning ! brass expands to be a tight fit in the chamber on firing then relaxes , leaving crud behind .
Do i need to point out that chambers need cleaning on a rifle even when you dont introduce more crud ?

Only looking for MOA ? well MOA is 1/60th of a single degree , so yeah everything matters accuraccy wise . Thats before we think of the crud in your chamber holding moisture and rusting

I’m sorry but I can’t agree with your comments. Look up what Erik cortina has to say on the subject.

 

[plonker]

so precious!! When they come out glistening… god damn.

View attachment 262009

Media to match carpet saves hoovering!

 

[Griggo06]

So what do people use for sizing lube?
And how do you clean it off?

 

[JohnSmith]

So what do people use for sizing lube?
And how do you clean it off?

I use this. As for cleaning it off, the tumbler does a good enough job. Afterwards I wipe them down with a microfibre cloth and they’re good to go.

 

[Bowland blades]

I’m sorry but I can’t agree with your comments. Look up what Erik cortina has to say on the subject.

i think you need to quote that which you are talking about because he has made a lot of writing about stuff , some of it good some not so good over the years . You dont state what you actually disagree with anyhow

 

[MAH]

What do people do to get rid of sizing lube?

Ultra Sonic cleaning with a water and a splash of washing up liquid.

 

[gixer1]

so precious!! When they come out glistening… god damn.

View attachment 262009

Why is your carpet made of tumbling media?

 

[Cooter]

The main advantage I found with cleaning the brass is that it is easier to see cracks/splits in the case.

I used to clean the cases (and everything else) more when I was using Varget, as the cases,chamber and barrel were always full of soot.
With the modern Vhit powders, which tend to contain detergent/cleaners, I don't see the problem any more, so there is a choice is to just check/clean the inside of the neck and the primer pocket in order to keep the crud out of the sizing dies.

 

[long_range_rob]

So what do people use for sizing lube?
And how do you clean it off?

Imperial sizing wax and a bit of blue roll after.

 

[ChesterP]

People are pretty entrenched in what they choose to do themselves, and you'll never convince some to clean or not to clean. It's a personal thing. I treat a rifle as I would any other tool that I value, and for reasons of reliability and consistency, the chamber, barrel and the bolt are cleaned after every outing. It takes a few minutes. A surprising amount of crud and carbon can build up in the chamber over time if not cleaned and that's not a good thing.

 

[G1963]

Hi guys
Does brass need to be cleaned? The reloads I do are purely for hunting so MOA accuracy is all I am looking for.

Many years ago when we still had our hand guns I shot 1000's of rounds and never cleaned my brass had 2 Lee progressive 1000's set up for 357 and 45

 

[mealiejimmy]

What do people do to get rid of sizing lube?

Use water based lube and then wet tumble

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Utectok]

Yes and no! You can simply clean out the primer pockets and flash holes and go on and reload. However, tumbling the brass (or U/S cleaning) gives you a better look at the brass condition and can help identify issues which could spell trouble. Tumblers for walnut/corn media such as Lymann's turbo tumbler are cheap and it's hardly any effort, so I always tumble mine before de-capping (otherwise you end up picking bits of media out of primer pockets), then anneal every few firings. Many target shooters bin brass after one or two firings. Most hunters and local club shooters I know do not and clean their brass for the reasons already mentioned and because "they look nicer". It also helps limit the toxic contamination you pick up on your fingers when handling dirty cases, but it's good practice to wear nitrile gloves (and a face mask) when emptying a tumbler. The lead oxides from spent primers is highly cumulatively toxic. You do NOT want that stuff in your lungs.

Far more clever people than me have run tests showing cleaning.. including primer pockets makes exactly no difference to a reload.

 

[rickyk270]

Once I have de-primed, resized, trimmed etc, I put all my rounds in a bucket with a scoop of Vanish - Oxi action. It is surprising how much rubbish is left in the bottom of the bucket. After drying they then go through the tumbler.

Regards
Richard

 

[stevenedwards]

Try putting vanish in an ultrasonic then look at the amount of contamination. Might not be recommended practice !

 

[ChesterP]

Far more clever people than me have run tests showing cleaning.. including primer pockets makes exactly no difference to a reload.

You crack on then. Each to their own. Being clever has nothing to do with it. Maintaining consistency however you reload is what it's all about...ie producing uniformly prepped brass. How long have you been reloading? Meant to ask, not as a quip but out of interest.