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GunBum
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #15 - Jan 24th, 2025 at 10:48pm
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I’ve used about every method available.  I’ve settled on 3 basic methods for cleaning brass.

Most common for me is throw them in the vibratory cleaner with walnut shell.  Sure it takes several hours, but that’s why they invented those timers for Christmas tree lights.  It can tumble while I’m at work, or sleeping, or doing something fun.  With the timer I don’t have to remember to turn it off.  I don’t use walnut shell from the reloading stores.  I use lizard bedding from the pet store.   

Second most common, and more often used for extremely dirty brass, is to throw them into my homemade rotary tumbler with SS pins, water, a tablespoon of citric acid, and a squirt of Dawn.  Hour later they are clean, but the time waiting for them to dry makes this method a wash time wise when compared with walnut shell.  If the brass is really, really, really dirty, it might take a second cycle of cleaning to get rid of all the schmoo on the brass.  Just dump the water, refill, and tumble for another hour.  I’ve been using the same 10 pounds of pins for 15 or so years.  My homemade rotary tumbler will hold well over 1000 small rifle (like 5.56) or pistol cases and over 500 large rifle cases (like .45-70 or .30-06).  It’ll hold more than that, but the water gets dirtier and needs to be changed if you overload it.

Least common for me is the wipe the necks, brush the primer pocket and load again.

All 3 make functional ammo.
  
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Pentz
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #16 - Jan 25th, 2025 at 3:07am
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Remember that the primer residue accumulating in the walnut media 
Becomes a inhalation hazard.  Wet tumbling eliminats that if the dirty water is disposed properly.


Ter
  

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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #17 - Jan 25th, 2025 at 10:28am
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Pretty much everything about shooting and reloading is an inhalation hazard.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t exercise caution, but if fear of breathing dust is a problem for you, you should pick another hobby.
  
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #18 - Jan 25th, 2025 at 9:04pm
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My dirty black powder ctg. water is disposed of properly down my drain Cheesy

Tom Klinger
  
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Pentz
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #19 - Jan 26th, 2025 at 5:14pm
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Not everyone is so fortunate as to have such a good and wise buddy as you.... Roll Eyes

GunBum wrote on Jan 25th, 2025 at 10:28am:
Pretty much everything about shooting and reloading is an inhalation hazard.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t exercise caution, but if fear of breathing dust is a problem for you, you should pick another hobby.

  

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marlinguy
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #20 - Jan 27th, 2025 at 1:51pm
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I've used ceramic media to wet tumble for many years and only had one size I bought that gave me an issue, and it was small enough to stick sideways in primer pockets of brass using large primers. Never an issue sticking inside any cases I cleaned. I simply went a but longer length ceramic pins and solved the issue.
  

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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #21 - Jan 27th, 2025 at 2:05pm
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Only time I cleaned 8.15X46R brass was after using BP. Otherwise it never got real dirty.
  

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rgchristensen
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #22 - Jan 27th, 2025 at 3:00pm
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My brass cleaning is largely BP cases from silhouette matches.   I give them a rinse with water after de-capping and let it go at that.   I’m guessing the batch of 200 40-65’s have 60-70 rounds thru them after 25+ years of shooting and are still doing fine. They get an annual cleaning of primer pockets.  Polishing and pickling brass only takes off metal and makes them look “perty”, doesn’t extend their utility or life-time.

CHRIS
  
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Re: Cleaning 8,15x46R.....
Reply #23 - Jan 29th, 2025 at 2:15pm
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If you have a strong need to have your primer pockets clean then angle cut ceramic if very good and the SS pins will also clean the pockets. If you just want your cases clean inside and out and are not worried about the primer pockets then 3mm ceramic balls will work well and will as a rule not stack in your cases. 
I do also feel that no matter what media you use in wet tumbling your cases eventually you will have something stick inside. Ceramic can be a bit hard on a decaping pin. A SS pin can and will do damage to your barrel. I had my gunsmith tell me this as he had seen it in a rather expensive barrel. 
Another alternative is to use an Ultrasonic cleaner and then vibrate in coarse walnut hulls. Hot water, white vinegar and maybe some lemishine will do a very nice job of cleaning up smokeless cases. Doesn't work so great on cases fired with Black Powder.
SAm
  
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