To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

[Andybull]

After not reloading for years, I want to start with the proper tools. I won't be reloading much but I just bought a super 1050 (just in case). I will be reloading rifle ammo. If you had to start over, what would you do to clean your brass?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Deisel]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

I would highly recommend using the stainless steel media. I tumbled brass for years and the SS media does a much, much better job. You will be amazed at how clean the brass comes out after 4 hours. There are a couple of threads here on the SS media. Here are the links to the threads http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1785546&page=1
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1153883#Post1153883
PM Susaponte here on the Hide and he will give you the seller's contact info.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

Tumbler and walnut/corn cob media works great. You can actually over clean the brass with stainless and ultra sonic cleaners. I prefer the carbon build up remaining inside the case neck. It helps keep a consistant luricity and gives you the same tension from round to round.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

"If you had to start over, what would you do to clean your brass?"

I would continue to use my vib tumbler and whatever fine grit media I had around, with little or no polish because clean cases matter to the dies but shine doesn't matter to anything. And the very thin carbon coat remaining inside our cases is harmless to accuracy.

I believe the recent obsession with cleaning cases internally is a pursuit of meaningless trivia driven only because untrasonics and various media such as stainless/ceramic bits have made it possible. The makers will provide and sell us with anything we'll buy tho.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

I used 2 Thumblers before I got my big blue vibratory cleaner. If you're doing high volume, it's the way to go. If not, RCBS Sidewinder is a good choice. It has a timer and you can get extra barrels for it.

 

[Deisel]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

I went with the SS media after using a Dillon vibratory cleaner and corn cob media. The inside of the case and the primer pockets never got clean and even with an anti-static sheet there was still some dust on the cases. I had to polish the inside of the case neck with a brush and steel wool to reduce runout, a tip I picked up here on the Hide. I have found with the SS media the case and primer pocket is completely clean inside and out. My runout is .001 to .002 with no neck polishing. I do use graphite powder on my bullets prior to seating. Like many things in reloading there are a variety of ways to get the job done and they all are about equal. Some consider the primer pocket being clean as a way to provide for a more consistent seating of the primer. Some say that carbon buildup inside the case can cause reduction in case volume causing more variation in velocity. For me, I like the clean case inside and out and I like not having to polish the inside of the case neck. Can't really say that using the SS media makes my ammo more accurate or not, I am not nearly a good enough shot to say. Glad you are getting back into reloading, I find it a lot of fun. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[dar1246]

Re: To tumble, vibrate, or ultrasonic clean my cases?

Chad here is a question. I started using ultra sonic because I thought this would give me more of the same neck tension from new brass. Is this not correct? I just started ultra sonic cleaning for this reason. I thought the build up of once fired brass the neck tension would be tighter.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChadTRG42</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tumbler and walnut/corn cob media works great. You can actually over clean the brass with stainless and ultra sonic cleaners. I prefer the carbon build up remaining inside the case neck. It helps keep a consistant luricity and gives you the same tension from round to round. </div></div>