Cleaning fired Brass

[akuser47]

I switched over to the wet tumbler method using SS pins earlier this year & will NEVER go back to the dry vibrating method. The wet method produces brand new looking brass PLUS you don't have to clean the primer pockets separately. Yes I know that some shooters never clean primer pockets but for those that do, the wet method eliminates that tedious & laborious step.

This is one reason I'm debating switching to a wet media like this as well it would be nice to not have my primer pockets packed full of walnut. I have used corn cob media and it did it I have tried various sizes of ground walnut shells to try and avoid this to no sucess.

[donhuff]

I switched over to the wet tumbler method using SS pins earlier this year & will NEVER go back to the dry vibrating method. The wet method produces brand new looking brass PLUS you don't have to clean the primer pockets separately. Yes I know that some shooters never clean primer pockets but for those that do, the wet method eliminates that tedious & laborious step.

This is one reason I'm debating switching to a wet media like this as well it would be nice to not have my primer pockets packed full of walnut. I have used corn cob media and it did it I have tried various sizes of ground walnut shells to try and avoid this to no success.

Really, since I started buying the walnut hull from the pet store and using Nu Finish, my primer pockets don't get caked up anymore. Seems like the pet store stuff is a little finer than the made for gun use hulls. And I never get one stuck in the flash hole with it either.

I use it till it doesn't clean good anymore, then dump and replenish.

I like how the SS needles clean the PP and the inside of the case. But it is pretty expensive to get it set up since I don't have a tumbler. I wish they would work with a vibrator.

[Johnz]

Yeah Don, that was the one thing that held me back for as long as it did before switching over to the wet tumbler method but I just decided to bite-the-bullet (pun not intended ) & go for it.

I got the Thumlers rotary tumbler with the higher speed motor (intended for brass cartridge tumbling as opposed to rocks) at a special promotional discount price that Cabela's had going at that time which was around $160 delivered plus the bag of brass pins which was about $30-$40 (really don't remember). So for approx. a $200 start up cost, I'm set for life & don't have to worry about any lead dust anymore or replacing the worn & dirty vibrating media.

MidwayUSA had a promo price going at the same time too, but it wasn't quite as good as Cabela's, which is strange because its usually the opposite that takes place.

[Rtbender]

The rotary tumbler with pins sounds pretty great, I had not seen them before but now I will have to do some research.

I currently combine a few methods to clean my brass. First I deprime, then the brass gets tossed in a cheap ultra sonic I found at harbor freight with some dawn dish soap. I run them for 10 to 15 minutes before dumbing them in a salad spinner for a quick spin dry (yep, a salad spinner). Then still slightly damp they go in a vibrator with walnut. Once done its good as new and looks like its never been fired.

I know it's not the simplest method but I spent less than $100 to get up and running.

[Johnz]

...then the brass gets tossed in a cheap ultra sonic I found at harbor freight with some dawn dish soap...

I tried the ultrasonic method too at 1st but just wasn't getting the results I wanted plus didn't like the liquid solutions that were required. Plus I bought a cheapy (Frankford Arsenal) unit that could only be run for a specified amount of time or would overheat. Now I'll use it for jewelery or something else since I've got the wet tumbler system.