I just finished cleaning 70 poor looking 6.5x55 cases, WITH BRASSO! The Brasso can didn't say anything about ammonia on it so I used it to clean each and every one of them. A quick search on the net afterwards revealed that it contains ammonia and that it's not suitable for case cleaning.



Tell me, am I on my way to the local gun store to replace these cases with new ones or will I be okay with those for some time?

I'd wash them with dish soap and let them dry. You're not going to weaken the brass enough with one round of Brasso to amount to much.

You're probably OK for a one time deal. Ammonia leeches the zinc from the brass, I am told. That makes it brittle. That has to happen over time I would think. There are guys posting here that use Brasso all the time and those that admit it, claim it to be with no adverse effect.

Next time use the formula that NRA published in their Handloading guide starting back in 1959. They verified with Frankford Arsenal that it was harmless to brass. Use one quart of white vinegar and two tablespoons of salt. Immerse the brass and stir occasionally over 20-30 minutes then rinse thoroughly in running water, dry and go about your intentions with it. After I rinse I put mine in a tumbler for a good shine and to dry them. It's particularly good for heavily tarnished brass.

Another good method taught to me just recently is with the use of Krazy Kloth. That's available at the super market in the housewares area. Wipe the brass with the cloth, let it set a few seconds, then wipe again with a paper towel. Amazing how it cleans AND polishes. Sinclair International sells it also.

Does anyone have any recipes for using an ultra-sonic cleaner. I've just been using hot water and white vinegar. About a two to one mix.

We have a large ultrasonic cleaner with heat at work. We use Dawn dishwashing liquid. I work 3rd shift and have access to it all the time. I'll fill it and dump in the brass, turn the heat up all the way, (195 degrees), turn the ultrasound on "high", and after a couple of hours the most filthy cases are spotless inside and out. I then resize and deprime. After that I'll tumble in ground corn cob with a little Dillon Rapid Polish added which removes all traces of lube, and shines them to a nice high luster. Reprime, charge powder, seat bullets, and they look better than factory new. Bill T.

I put them in a sack,then put them in the washer with the laundry.