I'v ran my first batch of 22-250 Rem brass in my tumbler for about an hour 1/2. The outside of the cases are clean, however the flash hole and the inside of the case are still dirty. I have a primer pocket cleaning tool from lee. I know its not the best cleaning tool but im still not able to get some of the black build up out of my cases. and the insides of the case just seem to be full of dust from the media. any suggestions to getting brass perfectly clean inside and out?

You really can't get the inside really clean without extraordinary measures, such as an ultra-sonic cleaner. All you really need is to get the outside clean so the cases will chamber. You can run a suitably-sized bore brush in and out of the necks to clean them, but most people never do. Benchresters do but then, they have a real reason to do it. You can try soaking the cases in blazin' hot water and dishsoap for around 30 minutes to soften the carbon goop inside, but some of it will still be in there. I do this, and the water comes out pretty dark gray. Rinse copiously in warmish water. To clean the primer pocket, I use the RCBS pocket brushes. They are not cheap-- two brushes and a handle are about fifteen bucks. However, they do work very well.

I use a tumber for cleaning only straight wall cases for pistols. That seems to provide good internal and external results.

I follow the http://www.6mmbr.com/ultrasonic.html
guidance and do alot of ultrasonic case cleaning for my rifle brass. The results are spectacular and the cost for a ultrasonic cleaner was about 50.00 from harbor freight.

A small amount of brass does flow into the primer pockets each time you fire it. You should uniform the primer pockets on all of your brass when it is new and run the uniformer through them again after each firing. When you do this you will notice that you remove a tiny bit of brass after each firing, which presumably flows in from the case body. Using the unifier each time also cleans the primer pocket.Alternately, you can soak the cases in alcohol overnight and any crud in the primer pockets can be wiped out using a "Q" tip in the morning.Have a great day!!!

Yes, wash your brass with hot water and automatic dishwashing detergent for about 30 minutes (I use Cascade). Dishwashing detergent is designed to clean metal. I have a RCBS Sidewinder but there are other waterproof tumblers. Rinse with clean water (one rinse, one tumble rinse). If I want the brass shiny, I tumble in Distilled White Vinegar after washing and rinse again.

Either air dry or put in oven at 170 F for about an hours. Brass will not anneal at temperatures under 200 F.

Once you try this method you will never use walnut hulls or corn hulls, etc again. Also, washing eliminates the dust that is pushed in your sizing die.

quote:

Either air dry or put in oven at 170 F for about an hour.

You could also find a food dehydrator at a flea market or somesuch place where you'd not have to pay full retail and use that to dry them. Put it on overnight or for a few hours while you are out and they will be nice and dry when you get back to them...

Bench rest shooters don't tumble brass in media because it beats the mouth edges and work-hardens them -- resulting in inconsistent bullet release.

Read Varmint Al on brass prep. He's a shooter, and a retired structural engineer -- used to build atom bombs at Lawrence-Livermore Labs:

http://www.varmintal.com/arelo.htm


There are formulas (formulae) all over the internet for washing brass. Basically it's dish detergent, vinegar, salt, water. It's not rocket science and measures are approx. I'm betting you don't measure detergent when you wash your dishes . . .

I leave out the salt because it turns the brass a pinkish oxide color.

Some recipes call for lemon juice. But lemon juice is just a weak acid (citric), same as vinegar (acetic). But a shot of lemon does make your brass smell "sunshine fresh!"



I go to thrift shops and junk shops and search for racks to dry brass. Colanders are useful. I've found "racks" -- desk "in box" racks, dish racks for drying brass. I set my wet brass in front of the forced air heating vent.

A drain pan out of a crab/clam boiler pot works as a drainer -- but also because it's metal it can be used to put the brass in the kitchen oven for fast drying.

One final note which seems obvious:

Don't mix your brass prep and your food processing pots/pans. Don't use your food colander for brass. Don't dry brass in the dish rack.