Is there another option to tumbling?

[KF9VH]

How about the liquid stuff you soak brass in?

 

[Rule3]

Absolutely. There is really no "need" to tumble.

A homemade solution of 2 cups of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of salt and enough water to make a gallon. Some add a few drops of dish soap, I don't as it foams up.

Soak the brass for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain it out (save the solution you can re use it)

Then rinse your brass with water several times and let dry in the sun.

It will be clean just not real bright and shiny.

 

[Kelly Green]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with good results. It's fast and easy.

First, de-prime the brass then use a solution of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water with a drop of liquid dish detergent.

Second, wash in a solution of water with a dash of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar.

Third, wash in hot water and let dry or if you're in a hurry, a hair dryer works great.

The brass sparkles like new inside and out.

 

[KF9VH]

What about...

nickel (silver) empties? Can you use the vinegar solution on them to clean?

Will this solution be all right for .223 brass that will be shot in an AR? Would you need to put some kind of lub or wax on the brass after cleaning so that it will feed properly in the AR?

Thanks.

 

[OKFC05]

Would you need to put some kind of lub or wax on the brass after cleaning so that it will feed properly in the AR?
Thanks.

Brass lube is necessary for the loading of .223, not for the shooting.
Suggest you read a good reloading manual for all the steps required for reloading bottleneck brass beofre you buy anything else or attempt loading.

 

[gregintenn]

You can shine them up with a Lee shellholder, the kind you use with a Lee case length trimmer and guage, chucked in a drill. Turn them with the drill while holding a piece of 0000 steel wool on the case.

 

[Rule3]

nickel (silver) empties? Can you use the vinegar solution on them to clean?

Will this solution be all right for .223 brass that will be shot in an AR? Would you need to put some kind of lub or wax on the brass after cleaning so that it will feed properly in the AR?

Thanks.

You can use the solution on either brass or nickle.Just be sure to rinse it real well. I just throw it in a empty 5 gal bucket and fill with the hose.

You can buy the liquid cleaning solution but why spend the money? My Mom used to clean the bottoms of copper pots with some lemon juice (acid like vinegar) and a little salt.

Find a real dark empty piece of brass and try it and see how clean it gets.

No to any extra lube. As OKFCO5 stated you need sizing lube when you reload them but not for shooting.

 

[TwoPoundPull]

RCBS Sidewinder case tumbler, 2 oz's of their liquid media cleaner, 2 qt's warm water, 2 qt container of de-primed brass, 2 hrs in the machine, rinse and lay flat on towel to dry overnight. Exceptionaly clean, top them off with a Montana Gold jacketed or Laser Cast head and expect a lot of flack at the range about having the "Best looking ammo in town".....Untill someone has some Lapua 338 they want to show off with their new rifle, or some nickel plated .45 Colt they want to "Look Good" at some cowboy match, then the same guy's send it home with me.

 

[KF9VH]

Brass lube is necessary for the loading of .223, not for the shooting.
Suggest you read a good reloading manual for all the steps required for reloading bottleneck brass beofre you buy anything else or attempt loading.

I have read the books (Speer and Hornady) I was just wondering if the vinegar solution would cause problems in a semi-auto AR. I have had a case get stuck in the chamber (factory Winchester white box) and had to take it to a gun smith to get it out. I really don't want to go through that again.

Thanks

 

[KF9VH]

You can shine them up with a Lee shellholder, the kind you use with a Lee case length trimmer and guage, chucked in a drill. Turn them with the drill while holding a piece of 0000 steel wool on the case.

Great idea. I use a lee case trimmer like you mentioned to trim my cases now.

 

[OKFC05]

I have read the books (Speer and Hornady) I was just wondering if the vinegar solution would cause problems in a semi-auto AR..

Thanks

If you were just to put the case into an AR covered in vinegar it would cause trouble.

However, if you read the loading manual closely, you will see that ALL of any liquid cleaning solution needs to be rinsed off the case and the case completely dry.
Then case lube must be applied to the case before loading, or you will have a case stuck in the loading die tighter than the one you stuck in the rifle.

Since I load in large volumes, I use the dry method with walnut shell in a vibrator and avoid the whole liquid/rinse/thoroughly dry routine.
Waiting for them to dry in cold weather seems to take forever and cured me of wanting to wash brass.

 

[HCD]

Myself, I dont know anything about the liquids but if you ever want to know how not to clean brass I can give you a list. Guess that is for anothere thred. But I'm trying to learn from your question. Good one.

 

[Harrison]

The other alternative is to not worry about it. Benchrest shooters never tumble their brass and about the only cleaning it gets is to have the neck area wiped off with a cloth with a little Hoppes #9. A real light coat of imperial die wax before sizing is used and wiped off after sizing. The same pieces of brass get shot and reloaded often up to 20 or more times. The dirty little secret is that tarnished brass shoots just as accurately and ejects just as well as shiny brass. The only time it really needs cleaning is if it has mud, blood, fish scales etc stuck to it.

If you want shiny brass then a tumbler is the way to go. If you want clean non-shiny brass use a liquid mixture. Its up to you, its your brass, and your time spent making it shiny (unless you can talk your wife into cleaning your brass).

 

[firearmsunlimited]

Try Birchwood Casey's case cleaner. You dilute it in water. A bottle goes a long way. Usually available at Cabelas.

 

[Rule3]

You can buy this commercial brand or make your own. It has nothing to do with a case sticking in the chamber. Along that lines, bring a long oak dowel or a brass cleaning rod and push the fired case out of the chamber from the muzzle.(make sure the round has fired and the gun is unloaded. I push it against the bench or tree whatever in a safe direction)

Iosso Brass Case Cleaner Kit - MidwayUSA

I have had a few fail to extract from a bolt action 223. It was not stuck just a bad piece of brass that the extractor would not grab.

 

[mkk41]

There's lots of alternatives. And I've tried most of them. But they all take way more time and effort than buying a decent tumbler. Good vibe tumblers are cheaper now than ever. I bought my Dillon 2000 over 15yrs ago , second hand. And Dillon still took care of it.

 

[Bizio]

I use a stone rotary tumbler working with stainless steel spheres, water and half coffee cup of cleaner for ultrasonic machines.

It takes 30 minutes to clean perfectly 200 cases 45ACP
YouTube - KT-2000 Min-Tumbler

Here is working with dry grains uses for vibrating tumblers
YouTube - KT-2000 Min-Tumbler

 

[Rule3]

Try Birchwood Casey's case cleaner. You dilute it in water. A bottle goes a long way. Usually available at Cabelas.

Or buy some Lime Away or other similar Phosphoric Acid containing bathroom cleaner.

I have made my own, Vinegar is cheaper and safer

http://sport.birchwoodcasey.com/files/MSDS/(2010)33845CASECLEANER.pdf