Cleaning Cases

[scarville]

When I started reloading I used an RCBS single stage press. I lubed every case before resizing and de-priming which made is necessary to clean the case afterwards. I'm re-learning the process but now I'm using a Dillon 550 and carbode dies for resizing. Is there any advantage or necessity to cleaning the cases after resizing and depriming?

[joelogic]

Shiny brass is better.

[bruce381]

also you do not want lube left on the cases something about higher loads appled to breech face when case has lube on it.

[Sheldon]

...And it will attract dirt and such with the lube on the cases.

[oddjob]

rifle or pistol ammo?

[LexLuther]

you dont want to put that lube in your gun, it will make a mess. I recently treid the stainless tumbling media and my brass looks like new. I dont deprime before I clean unless it is ammo that needs to be swaged. The stainless even cleans the primer pocket to like new. I plan on just wiping off the lube after the rounds are loaded.

[joelogic]

Lex, do you have a link to the stainless media?

[Sheldon]

http://stainlesstumblingmedia.com/blog/tutorials/

[Masterdebater]

can u use the stainlessmedia in any tumbler?

[Boots]

also you do not want lube left on the cases something about higher loads appled to breech face when case has lube on it.

yeah, higher load on the breech because when fired, the shell expands to the chamber walls and that friction helps hold the shell in place and reduces the force on the breech... the lube will eliminate/reduce the effect of this.

[joelogic]

Gee, $50 for 5 pounds seems expensive. How much volume is 5 pounds of media?

[Boots]

Gee, $50 for 5 pounds seems expensive. How much volume is 5 pounds of media?

I would think around $35.00 for 5 lbs more reasonable. Stainless steel is pretty pricey. It really depends on the type and current market prices.

[ireload]

Yes it should still be cleaned to removed the lube. As others have already stated. Grit, dust, etc. would stick on the case. After I resize my cases, I tumble for a half hour to remove the lube.

[killshot44]

Stainless media must be used in a rotary-tumbler, not a vibratory-tumbler. These can be spendy.

$50 for 5lbs of stainless is cheap. The media lasts forever.

If Scarville is using no-lube carbide dies, simply tumbling the cases clean before they hit the progressive should be all he needs to do.

[scarville]

If Scarville is using no-lube carbide dies, simply tumbling the cases clean before they hit the progressive should be all he needs to do.

I'm using Dillon carbide dies. AFAIK they do not require any lube. I deprimed a few cases this weekend and I can see some "stuff" in the primer pockets. Should the pirmer pockets be cleaned out before installing new primers? In the old days I had to thorougly clean the cases between the resize and priming operation because of the lube.

Right now I am setting up to reload 38 spl. I picked it to start with because I have around 2000 or so once fired cases (Speer Cleanfire) saved up.