The Accurate Reloading Forums
Brass Washing Formula

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13 February 2010, 18:19
SR4759
Brass Washing Formula
quote:
Originally posted by 243winxb:
The NRA formula using Wisk has made my brass brittle, very much like "stress corrosion cracking", that is caused by ammonia.This is a slow corrosion taking as long as 20 years. Annealing does not fix damaged brass.I started using the NRA formula i saw in an NRA reprint of the 45 auto over 30 years ago. It seemed to work well. Shooting an M16A1 requires lots of ammo. When the 4 gun clubs here banded full autos, the stock piled ammo sat in metal GI ammo cans. Ammo was all loaded in the 80's. All lots went in the NRA mix, except 1. This 1 is bright and shiney with no problems on firing. The other 4 or 5 lots have turned brown. 10% of these lots when firing semi-auto, leave half of the neck in the chamber. Or the neck is pulled off by the expander button when reloading.The head stamp does not matter. All brass is 70% brass & 30% zinc. "Dezincification of brass" happens. IMO.


This same failure can be caused by the nitric acid fumes as old powder breaks down.
16 February 2010, 01:08
Oddbod
I use a small ultrasound cleaner with Sea Clean ultrasound solution. The one I have will handle 40 cases at a time.
2x4 minute baths sees cases completely clean inside & out including primer pockets. I then rinse the cases in hot water & dry in a low oven (225°f).
18 February 2010, 09:38
lawndart
quote:
I use a small ultrasound cleaner with Sea Clean ultrasound solution. The one I have will handle 40 cases at a time.
2x4 minute baths sees cases completely clean inside & out including primer pockets. I then rinse the cases in hot water & dry in a low oven (225°f).


Where do you get "Sea Clean"?

Ms. Oddbod would make good money in tips at any decent pub, bar, cocktail lounge, etc.