I have a question for reloaders in here,,, Range brass,,, what are you guys useing to clean them with? I made a case tumbler and it works, but I have used corn cobs and rice and cat littler they all work but the insides aint as clean as I would like. Is anybody useing the stainless steel pins and dawn soap?
Reloaders
- Thread starter skeets
- Start date
ShaunBlake
New member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
B6100D; B219; Piranha bar; Hodge stabilizers; Filled Ag rears; R322T w/48" deck
Whaaaattt? Please explain!
I haven't cleaned mine, just accumulated it and stored it in boxes. I finally have a bench small enough and stout enough to mount my Lee Loader on but I prolly won't live long enough to figure out how to assemble it.
That being said, I really would like to be able to concoct my own loads, so the topic really gets my attention.
Oh, BTW, I've tested several of the "only Dawn will ..." and so far, I haven't found any (including shampooing your hair in ocean water) that don't work just as well with other detergents. "Just sayin"
TripleR
Active member
Equipment
BX2200, BX2660, L5740 HSTC, M8540HDC and some other tractors and equipment
I have a Lyman vibratory tumbler with walnut crushed and jewelers rough for really dirty cases. For light cleaning, I use corn cob media and cleaner from Dillions.
I quit picking up range brass several years ago as I really like to know the history especially if its been fired in a Glock.
I quit picking up range brass several years ago as I really like to know the history especially if its been fired in a Glock.
My son uses an ultra sonic cleaner with dawn soap and i think vinigar.
I have worked with these cleaners for other things and it gets the gunk out of the nooks and crannys very well.
Ray
I have worked with these cleaners for other things and it gets the gunk out of the nooks and crannys very well.
Ray
I've heard lots of good about the pins, but also have heard that you need a diameter that will easily pass through the flash hole, or is too thick to even try to enter. Otherwise, cases often have a pin stuck in them that won't shake out easily.
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/635839/pellets-brass-cleaning-media-stainless-steel-pins-5-lb-bag
Bruce
http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/635839/pellets-brass-cleaning-media-stainless-steel-pins-5-lb-bag
Bruce
I use Walnut in a rock tumbler with some liquid made by Lyman to shine my brass. Never really cared how clean they are inside. As long as they cycle though I'm happy.
A lot of the competitive shooters I shoot with are real fussy about the brass they use. I'm not but then again I'm not that competitive I am fussy about my 45 acp brass because you can get frustrated with a couple of small primer brass when your on a roll with large primer brass!
A lot of the competitive shooters I shoot with are real fussy about the brass they use. I'm not but then again I'm not that competitive I am fussy about my 45 acp brass because you can get frustrated with a couple of small primer brass when your on a roll with large primer brass!
Billdog350
Member
Equipment
Kubota L3710 HST,L2230A QT,forks,Takeuchi TB125, 60" Luck Now pto Snowblower
x2 on the ultrasonic cleaner. I don't clean brass for shooting but I have used my ultrasonic cleaner for anything from carburetors up to jewlery and everything inbetween. Harbor freight sells a unit for under $100 that's worth every penny and then some. I use simple green and water...that's it...and it will bring carbs down to the bare aluminum/metal/brass and just about anything else. Harmless to rubber gaskets too!
Get one and you won't regret it!
Get one and you won't regret it!
A Cabelas tumbler and walnut media from the pet store. (lizard habitat stuff)
Dribble a little Nufinish car polish on fresh media and let vibrate 10 minutes before adding cases. Add cases until action hints it may slow down...but doesn't.
Dribble a little Nufinish car polish on fresh media and let vibrate 10 minutes before adding cases. Add cases until action hints it may slow down...but doesn't.
Its relevant in a progressive press, in a Lee you have potential to pop a primer which can start a chain reaction in the primer tray the way it is designed!
I have popped a primer before but only one, that gets your attention!
I bought a Hornady AP LNL so my Lee basically is where I hang my apron and hat.
1st post here - went to do an introduction and couldn't help myself. Huge gun/reloading guy (just finished shooting to 1000 yesterday).
I've process probably 30K pcs of brass.
Corncob/walnut/dry media - no thanks. Doesn't do as good of a job, have to rotate the media constantly to maintain shiny brass, makes a dusty mess even if you isolate the tumbler (sifting/tumbling media out). Doesn't get the primer pockets and interior case as clean as stainless tumbling.
Ultrasonic - so/so, but way to expensive and quite a pain for what you pay for the cleaner. Doesn't get the primer pockets and interior case as clean as stainless tumbling and less volume than stainless.
Stainless tumbling - where it's at!!! It used to be VERY expensive, now - it's not!
Frankford Arsenal has an amazing unit that comes WITH the stainless media.
Buy a $5 thing of Lemi-Shine, a $10 magnet - and the $150 unit, you're set! Almost forever lol!! You don't have to buy media, until you lose it
I highly recommend it. Google videos of Frankford tumbler. The thing is awesome. I tumbled 10K of .223 over a weekend just because it was fun to see how new the brass comes out.
It's on sale right now too - you won't regret it. The brass comes out dang near brand new!!
$150
http://www.cabelas.com/product/PLAT...=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03854485&rid=20
(just finished shooting to 1000 yesterday).I've process probably 30K pcs of brass.
Corncob/walnut/dry media - no thanks. Doesn't do as good of a job, have to rotate the media constantly to maintain shiny brass, makes a dusty mess even if you isolate the tumbler (sifting/tumbling media out). Doesn't get the primer pockets and interior case as clean as stainless tumbling.
Ultrasonic - so/so, but way to expensive and quite a pain for what you pay for the cleaner. Doesn't get the primer pockets and interior case as clean as stainless tumbling and less volume than stainless.
Stainless tumbling - where it's at!!! It used to be VERY expensive, now - it's not!
Frankford Arsenal has an amazing unit that comes WITH the stainless media.
Buy a $5 thing of Lemi-Shine, a $10 magnet - and the $150 unit, you're set! Almost forever lol!! You don't have to buy media, until you lose it
I highly recommend it. Google videos of Frankford tumbler. The thing is awesome. I tumbled 10K of .223 over a weekend just because it was fun to see how new the brass comes out.
It's on sale right now too - you won't regret it. The brass comes out dang near brand new!!
$150
http://www.cabelas.com/product/PLAT...=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03854485&rid=20
Last edited:
Here was 1 tumble of range pick-up .223.
Walnut on left, stainless on right.
Dump the dirty brass in the tumbler full of water with a few drops of dawn, little bit of lemishine - come back a few hours later. Rinse the soapy water out, drain, dump on a towel. Roll the brass around on the towel, media falls right out.
Dump the stainless media back in the tumbler, use a $10 magnet to pickup the random pieces of media, drop into the tumbler and your ready for another session.
Walnut on left, stainless on right.
Dump the dirty brass in the tumbler full of water with a few drops of dawn, little bit of lemishine - come back a few hours later. Rinse the soapy water out, drain, dump on a towel. Roll the brass around on the towel, media falls right out.
Dump the stainless media back in the tumbler, use a $10 magnet to pickup the random pieces of media, drop into the tumbler and your ready for another session.
Walnut hull media. Check each and every primer hole by air blow and / or coarse straight pin. Tedious but clean and safe.
I use to shoot alot sometimes 500 to 1000 rds a week. Not so much anymore. The best stuff I had to clean casing was from Herter's way back in the 70's. It was liquid and would clean inside and primer pockets up very well. It was some kind of acid but it was very mild. After it was gone I use walnut shells but would have to clean the primer pockets and inside out all the time. I went to using silca sand and it worked very well
Fro65
Member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3301HST, LA525, BH77, LP tiller, LP grader box, LP blade, BX2380
Boosted4runner,
Been thinking of trying this. Curious though... you say use a magnet to pick up media...I thought all stainless steel is non magnetic.
Been thinking of trying this. Curious though... you say use a magnet to pick up media...I thought all stainless steel is non magnetic.
Fro65, this might give a satisfactory explanation.
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-stainless-steel-magnetic.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-stainless-steel-magnetic.htm
The free stainless pins that come with the Frankford tumbler are magnetic.
I really wish I would have done this years ago.
I forgot to mention one of the BEST parts!
You do NOT have to chamfer/debur the case mouth edges after trimming!
I always felt my chamfer/debur process left a small amount of inconsistency, which is now no longer a worry.
No walnut or dry media does that
It's a time saver, especially if you do large quantities.
I picked up a unit the week they came out - and I would find it very hard to believe anyone has any bad things to say about it.
Last edited:
If you read the negative reviews at Midway, they are almost all about pins sticking in primer holes.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/635839/pellets-brass-cleaning-media-stainless-steel-pins-5-lb-bag
Your pins may be larger.
Bruce
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/635839/pellets-brass-cleaning-media-stainless-steel-pins-5-lb-bag
Your pins may be larger.
Bruce