Reloading your own ammunition can be a rewarding and cost-effective hobby, but it requires attention to detail. One crucial step often overlooked is thoroughly cleaning your brass casings. Dirty brass can lead to inconsistent performance, potential malfunctions, and even damage to your firearm. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best practices for cleaning brass for reloading, ensuring your ammunition is consistently reliable and accurate.
Why Clean Brass for Reloading?
Before diving into the cleaning process, let's understand why it's so vital. Cleaning your brass accomplishes several key things:
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Removes Debris: Shooting leaves behind residue, including carbon, powder fouling, and even unburnt propellant. This buildup can interfere with proper resizing and priming, leading to inconsistent chamber pressure and potential malfunctions.
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Prevents Corrosion: Exposure to moisture and the elements can accelerate corrosion, weakening the brass and potentially causing case failures. Cleaning helps remove these corrosive elements, prolonging the lifespan of your brass.
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Ensures Consistent Performance: Clean brass allows for consistent powder seating, resulting in more accurate and reliable ammunition. Clean cases also resize more easily, leading to better overall performance.
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Improves Case Life: Proper cleaning extends the lifespan of your brass, saving you money in the long run.
Essential Equipment for Cleaning Brass
You don't need a lot of specialized equipment, but having the right tools makes the process much easier and more effective. Here's what you'll need:
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Brass Cleaning Case Tumbler: This is the workhorse of brass cleaning. There are various types available, from rotary tumblers to vibratory tumblers. Rotary tumblers are generally more effective for removing stubborn debris.
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Cleaning Media: This is the abrasive material that cleans the brass inside the tumbler. Popular choices include corn cob media, walnut media, and steel pins (for heavier cleaning). Choose a media appropriate for your brass and the level of cleaning needed. Overly aggressive media can damage softer brass.
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Case Lubricant: A small amount of case lubricant helps the cleaning media move freely and prevents scratching. Many pre-made cleaning solutions include this.
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Cleaning Solution: This often comes pre-mixed but can also be made with water-based cleaners. This helps to remove powder residue and other contaminants more effectively.
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A Cleaning Station (Optional): While not strictly necessary, a dedicated cleaning station keeps everything organized and makes the process more efficient.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Brass
Now, let's get down to the cleaning process itself:
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Inspect & Sort: Before cleaning, inspect your brass for any significant damage like cracks or dents. Separate damaged cases to be discarded or repaired if possible. Separating cases by caliber is also a great way to optimize your cleaning process.
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Deburr: If you have a deburring tool, deburring the case mouths will ensure a cleaner reload. This removes any burrs from the case mouth created during the firing process and aids in easier resizing.
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Prepare the Tumbler: Add your chosen cleaning media to the tumbler. Then, add your brass and the appropriate amount of cleaning solution and lubricant, following your chosen product's instructions. Don't overfill!
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Tumble: Run the tumbler for the recommended time, typically 2-4 hours depending on the tumbler and the amount of fouling. Check periodically to ensure everything is running smoothly.
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Rinse & Dry: Once the tumbling is complete, remove the brass and thoroughly rinse it with clean water to remove any residual cleaning solution. Allow it to fully dry before handling.
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Inspect Again: Finally, inspect your cleaned brass once more. Remove any remaining debris or visibly damaged cases.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Media
The type of media you choose can significantly impact the cleaning process. Here's a breakdown:
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Corn Cob Media: A common and relatively inexpensive option, corn cob media is gentle yet effective. It's suitable for most cleaning needs and is a good all-around choice.
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Walnut Media: A slightly more aggressive option than corn cob, walnut media provides a more thorough cleaning. It's a good choice for heavily soiled brass.
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Steel Pins: Steel pins are the most aggressive type of cleaning media. They are best for very dirty brass or when significant fouling needs removal, but use caution to avoid scratching softer brass.
Advanced Cleaning Techniques
For particularly stubborn fouling or corrosion, you may need to employ additional cleaning techniques:
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Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to dislodge stubborn residue. This is a highly effective method but requires a specialized ultrasonic cleaner.
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Manual Cleaning: For particularly stubborn cases, manual cleaning with a brush and solvent can be beneficial before tumbling.
Conclusion: Sparkling Brass for Reliable Reloading
Cleaning your brass may seem like an extra step, but it is a crucial part of the reloading process. By following these guidelines and choosing the appropriate cleaning methods and equipment, you can ensure your brass is clean, consistent, and ready for accurate, reliable reloads. Remember safety first – always handle firearms and ammunition responsibly.
