Tell me about cleaning brass...

[JustinN]

I am going to start with used brass from Precision Delta, which I believe it states is cleaned and ready to go, but once I start using my own brass that I've shot, I know it needs to be cleaned.

While this is on sale, is this a good cleaner to get? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/992327/hornady-lock-n-load-sonic-cleaner-ultrasonic-case-cleaner-110-volt

Or would I be better getting something else? I'm not concerned with the number it can handle at once, just something that will do a good job and be easy for me to use....

[MW surveyor]

mr. surveyor uses an ultrasonic cleaner. I think he likes it.

You will have to dry the cases after they come out of it. If you want shiny, you'll need to send them through a vibratory or tumbler.

I just use a vibratory cleaner with crushed walnut shells and a cap full of NuFinsh. I clean my cases before I deprime and size.

[Bawanna]

I looked at that one too. I just tumble now. I sometimes would like to get the inside clean though but I've always used a tumbler and had no problems so may just stay the course.

You can just wipe each case off with a rag too. Neither is a must, just makes it easier and prettier.

[tv_racin_fan]

I am looking at a Thumler's Tumbler. You can use it wet or dry.

I have one of these. Works fine but the separator has a habit of throwing stuff everywhere. Pretty easy to fix that with a bit of cardboard and some tape tho.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/414369/frankford-arsenal-quick-n-ez-case-tumbler-master-kit-with-quick-n-ez-rotary-media-separator-110-volt

[Ikeo74]

Justin, Guns and Ammo Magazine in this months (mailed) March 2013 issue did a evaluation on that very cleaner and highly recommended it. Find the article and read the review. The price in the add is good too.
Now that being said, you don't need to buy a brass cleaner yet. That is an item than can come much later. I have been reloading for 40 years and still don't own a brass cleaner except for a old T-shirt rag to wipe them off. If your finances are tight now, delay that purchase.

[TheTman]

I too reloaded for years without a brass cleaner. It's nice to have, but not a must have. It does make it a lot easier to see any small cracks or other imperfections in the brass. I would probably get one if I set up my reloading bench again, now that I'm back in my house. I have dies for .45 and 44. Need to get dies for .38, 9mm, and 308. which I think will do 30-06 too, Anyone know about using the same die for .308 and 30-06?

[mr surveyor]

I like the ultra-sonic because I'm more interested in clean than shiny. Unless it's just nasty, cruddy range pick-up brass that you'd want to soak in bucket of water anyway, my brass gets re-sized and deprimed before it goes into the U-S. This way, the primer pocket and flash hole are cleaned, as well as most of the internal residue. I've noticed that my revolver brass that's been shot-cleaned, shot-cleaned, numerous times (some up to 10) is still not carboned up inside. Nearly all the brass I've gotted from buddies that's been shot and tumble cleaned has a pretty tough layer of carbon residue as well as some powder residue in the case head area. I'm not that anal about the inside, but I do like clean primer pockets and flash holes. Also, in addition to clean flash holes and primer pockets, depriming before dropping into the U-S greatly speeds up the drying process. As for dry time, I don't worry about it. I'll pre-prep and clean a batch of brass one night, spread it out on towels to dry, then flair and prime the next night after it's thoroughly dry.

Since I'm a single stager, this works well for me. I have several hundred (of each) pieces of brass in .38, .357, .44, .45 all ready to load up just waiting for a choice of powder to drop in and a choice of bullet to seat.

The Hornady u-s cleaner should be a nice one, and is on my short list for "upgrades".

[JustinN]

To make sure I understand correctly, a tumbler will make my brass look shiny and nice on the outside, but an U-S will get the inside good and clean.

If I cared about the look of the brass, I can hand polish the outside of the case on a nicer rifle cartridge or something, but for range fodder that I don't care about shiny, I wouldn't necessarily need a tumbler right away. I am trying to save some money, but at the same time, I'd like to be able to at least clean the brass somewhat in mass....

Or am I understanding it wrong?

[Ikeo74]

I shot 50 rounds of multi-times reloaded 9 mm brass yesterday, picked it up, took it home and reloaded it back up last night. It is not shinny but it works perfectly. It doesn't need to look new and shinny to be good reloaded ammo.

[mr surveyor]

yep, you got it J

As for cleaning solutions..... most of the time with brass that I keep pretty well maintained, I use 50-50 hot water and cheap white vinegar.

[JustinN]

I ordered the ultrasonic! It sounds like just the thing for me at least. I don't mind cleaning one day, loading in another day or two....

Also, I like you can clean other stuff in it, like slides, jewelry,etc. I figure if Jocko ever gets itchy and decides to trade me a watch for something I'll have a way to shine it up....

[Scrambler]

If I was just starting to reload I'd consider the Thumlers Tumbler w/ss pins from http://sinclairintl.com. Looks like it does a good job of getting brass clean, inside and out. Also the "pins" should never wear out. With my vibratory case cleaner it seems some tarnishing never comes off. It will never clean a primer pocket. Media stuck in the flash hole is another gripe of mine. Haven't tried a sonic cleaner yet. From what I understand you would still have to tumble cases to get a shine on them. Maintaining the cleaning solution might be a pain. I would consider one to dunk revolvers in if I owned more of them. Hate cleaning revolvers.

[Ikeo74]

I ordered the ultrasonic! It sounds like just the thing for me at least. I don't mind cleaning one day, loading in another day or two....

Also, I like you can clean other stuff in it, like slides, jewelry,etc. I figure if Jocko ever gets itchy and decides to trade me a watch for something I'll have a way to shine it up....
Justin, the review I read in G&A had a tip that I want to pass on with this sonic cleaner.
Do not use the heat setting for brass because the heat will tarnish the brass.
Do use the heat setting for parts cleaning because it willl get the parts cleaner.

[jocko]

I ordered the ultrasonic! It sounds like just the thing for me at least. I don't mind cleaning one day, loading in another day or two....

Also, I like you can clean other stuff in it, like slides, jewelry,etc. I figure if Jocko ever gets itchy and decides to trade me a watch for something I'll have a way to shine it up....

size is ur home??/Just sayin:amflag:

[Bawanna]

size is ur home??/Just sayin:amflag:

If Justins slow to respond mine's 28 x 56 and for your convenience I can put the wheels back on so you can take it with ya back to Italy or Indiana, might need a boat for the Italy thing.

I never even seen a trybak, cepac, heck now I can't even remember the name of them time pieces. Looked at em on the internet though, they let me look for free.

[jocko]

Patek--*******.

[Bawanna]

Patek--*******.

Well I was pretty close with cepac, totally missed the map with trybek but actually that's not far off either if your a little loose in your thinking.

I shudder to think what all them asstericks spell but I got a pretty good idea.

[downtownv]

If you want shiny, you'll need to send them through a vibratory or tumbler.

I just use a vibratory cleaner with crushed walnut shells and a cap full of NuFinsh. I clean my cases before I deprime and size. Dillon CV-2001 and a franklin arsenal tumbler w/ corn media for the finished rounds.

[rago]

i use a cheap tumbler 25.00 from hobby lobby corn cob a little prime shine a piece of fabric softer run it for 6 to 8 hrs cleans about 100 40s good enough,

[AIRret]

Justin, we haven't been reloading long (less than a month) but we have tumbled, then deprimed, cleaned the pocket with a hand tool and brushed the the flash hole. We also tried a ultra sonic (a friends) cleaner and all I can say is we kept each group of brass separated and noticed no difference when we loaded and fired them.