do you have to clean brass before reloading

On 8/6/2018 at 11:11 AM, Ramblin Rob said:

Sounds like you leave the spent primer in the case while tumbling, and then remove it on the reloading press?

Howdy

There are two schools of thought on this. One is to remove the primers first, so the primer pockets will be cleaned out of any residue left behind from the fired primers. The logic is that eventually enough residue will build up that the primers will not seat properly, and may have trouble firing.

The other school, which I belong to, is on a progressive press, which is what I use, the primers get punched out on the first stage of the press, with the resizing/decap die. So if I was going to run all my cases through the press with just the resizing/decap die installed, then remove them for cleaning, I would then have to run them all through the rest of the dies, which would create about twice as much work. On top of that, I would be running dirty brass through the first die, which is exactly what I don't want to do. I have seen dies scratched by grit the cases pick up from the ground. So that would mean tumbling my brass first, then running it through the first die, then tumbling again to clean out the primer pockets, then running the brass through the rest of the press. Way too much work for a lazy guy like me.

Nope, I throw my dirty brass in the tumbler (after first rinsing my Black Powder brass to remove the corrosive powder residue) then I run every thing through the press in one swell foop, the way the press was designed to be operated. Have been doing this for years, have never had a primer fail to pop because of residue built up in the primer pocket.

As far as brass being shiny, any body who knows me knows I always say shiny brass does not shoot any better than dirty brass. It is just easier to find in the grass.

Most of my BP brass is permanently stained. I have even had guys comment that I must not be polishing my brass. No, first I rinse it out, to get rid of any grit as well as BP fouling, then I dry it, then I tumble it. Then I run it through the press in one swell foop.

Here is a photo of some 44-40 ammo being loaded with brand-spanky new, shiny brass.

shiny%20cases%2044-40_zpsgmduzinz.jpg

Here is a photo of some 44 Russian ammo being loaded with brass shot with Black Powder and reloaded several times. Yes, this brass has already been rinsed and tumbled. It will never get any shinier. No, I don't care if it is shiny, it shoots just as well as shiny brass.

44%20Russian%20Loads_zpstyy1n1zy.jpg