is there a better way to clean lubricant off or cases after resizing then one at a time with a towel? it takes forever and is my least fav part of the process!!
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cleaning cases after loading
- Thread starter AJK07
- Start date
M
milo 2.0
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That would be a personal choice, I wouldn't do it, but you know ammo makers do, and there's varying opinions on the forum. One should think the worst, and ask, "what if", but this is coming from a dipshit who annealed a primed case, don't do that either.
Usually I tumble> lube and size> tumble> prime, charge and seat.
edit: Just noticed, you mentioned after loading. Must be using a progressive.
I dont tumble loaded rounds.
edit: Just noticed, you mentioned after loading. Must be using a progressive.
I dont tumble loaded rounds.
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I suppose the argument could be made for runout, but that is checked easily enough.
I just tumble before and after sizing and voila, no lube!
I just tumble before and after sizing and voila, no lube!
I clean then de-prime - size - trim - chamfer and prime = then I tumble in corn cob medium. I have found loaded ammo doesn't work well in my tumble unless I tumble a very small quantity at a time or tumble smaller rounds like the 556.
I pour my loaded rounds onto the cookie sheets I originally lubed them on and then spray some 409 on them and wipe them down. Nice and clean and one more chance to look them over. Also gets the cookie sheets clean too! 
Best way = non-clorinated break cleaner. Works awesome. Spread ammo over an old towel you no longer need, hose down with the break cleaner, and move ammo around over towel with hand. Break cleaner dries in seconds for ammo box loading. I use it all the time especially for pistol ammo.
Can get a huge can of it at menards for 2 dollars
Can get a huge can of it at menards for 2 dollars
I just clean before I load. tumble, re-size, trim if necessary, chamfer/debur etc.
Then they go into a plastic coffee container,(Folgers works best) with a little Simple Green and hot water, shake 'em up a little and let 'em set for a few miniutes, shake em again and rinse. Put some paper towels on a cookie sheet, spread the cases around on the p- towels and pop 'em in the oven at 150 for 20 min. Don't worry, You're not going to anneal the brass.
Comes out clean and dry. let 'em cool off and your ready to go. I use Imperial wax.
Then they go into a plastic coffee container,(Folgers works best) with a little Simple Green and hot water, shake 'em up a little and let 'em set for a few miniutes, shake em again and rinse. Put some paper towels on a cookie sheet, spread the cases around on the p- towels and pop 'em in the oven at 150 for 20 min. Don't worry, You're not going to anneal the brass.
Comes out clean and dry. let 'em cool off and your ready to go. I use Imperial wax.
Just to be clear, there is tumbling and tumbling.
I will VIBRATORY tumble loaded rounds, and have done so with thousands of rounds. I use corn cob media with some Dillon Rapid Polish. If I am progressive loading with sizing at the same time, I toss in a couple of capfuls of denatured alcohol (Dillon lube).
I would NOT rotary tumble loaded rounds. It may be OK, but one has got to have limits.
I will VIBRATORY tumble loaded rounds, and have done so with thousands of rounds. I use corn cob media with some Dillon Rapid Polish. If I am progressive loading with sizing at the same time, I toss in a couple of capfuls of denatured alcohol (Dillon lube).
I would NOT rotary tumble loaded rounds. It may be OK, but one has got to have limits.
Nope. I clean the Imperial Sizing wax off one at a time with Simple Green.
100 cases takes 20 mins.
100 cases takes 20 mins.
My cases are lubed with RCBS Water Soluble lube for sizing, then the rest of the loading steps are completed.
I then dampen squares of old bath towels with rubbing alcohol and wipe each cartridge down thoroughly. I use this operation to visually and manually examine each cartridge. I think of it as an opportunity to catch something 'off', and I don't believe in rushing through it. I consider the time expended as an investment in confidence.
Greg
I then dampen squares of old bath towels with rubbing alcohol and wipe each cartridge down thoroughly. I use this operation to visually and manually examine each cartridge. I think of it as an opportunity to catch something 'off', and I don't believe in rushing through it. I consider the time expended as an investment in confidence.
Greg
I've posted this on other websites in the past I got lots of comments so I guess I'll try it here.
I once place a load of brand new fresh 5.56 reloads in a tumbler and promptly forgot about them, they remained in my garage tumbling away for a full week...
I pretty much figured that they would be ruined and decided that I would just pull them down and start over, upon pulling the first projo I dumped the powder out and to my surprise it looked exactly like what was still in the powder measure. I pulled another and dumped it on a sheet of white paper along with another sheet of paper that held fresh unloaded powder. I could tell no difference between the 2, I had others who had no knowledge of reloading or shooting check and see if they could see ANY difference in the 2 powders/papers, none could be noted. No broken grains and no "powder or ground fines" that was separate from the kernels of powder.
Scientific test, no way, realistic test, definitely. I no longer worry about tumbling freshly loaded ammo to clean it.
YMMV
I once place a load of brand new fresh 5.56 reloads in a tumbler and promptly forgot about them, they remained in my garage tumbling away for a full week...
I pretty much figured that they would be ruined and decided that I would just pull them down and start over, upon pulling the first projo I dumped the powder out and to my surprise it looked exactly like what was still in the powder measure. I pulled another and dumped it on a sheet of white paper along with another sheet of paper that held fresh unloaded powder. I could tell no difference between the 2, I had others who had no knowledge of reloading or shooting check and see if they could see ANY difference in the 2 powders/papers, none could be noted. No broken grains and no "powder or ground fines" that was separate from the kernels of powder.
Scientific test, no way, realistic test, definitely. I no longer worry about tumbling freshly loaded ammo to clean it.
YMMV
Only problem I have with not cleaning after FL sizing is sometimes powder gets stuck on the inside of the case mouth.
