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Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use (Read 467 times)

Dales Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 316 Location: Western NY Joined: Oct 21^st, 2013	Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Nov 27^th, 2025 at 10:21am	Print Post
	I purchased a full box of very old 32 ideal ammo and do not want to fire them but want to use the cases for reloading. Looking for ideas to prep the brass. I pulled a couple of the bullets and the powder was a solid cake and I dug it out and deprimed still seems to be powder residue in the cases . What would be the best way to clean out the inside of the cases ? Should I anneal? Thanks for any help Dale


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Babydriver Full Member Offline Posts: 175 Joined: Mar 22^nd, 2024	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #1 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 10:26am	Print Post
	Why not fire them?


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TomKlinger Full Member Offline Posts: 189 Location: Central Florida Joined: Feb 17^th, 2019	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #2 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 10:52am	Print Post
	Tumbler with ceramic or stainless media. Ceramic will give shinier finish…. Happy Thanksgiving, Tom Klinger


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4201 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #3 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 11:40am	Print Post
	Mercuric/corrosive primers?


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Dellet Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1206 Joined: May 19^th, 2017	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #4 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 11:56am	Print Post
	Always a chance of corrosion with old black powder ammo, looks like some leakage around the primers. Not worth shooting if you’re after the brass. Tumbling in hot water with some dawn works well once they’re broke down. Or soaking before dry tumbling. Just don’t rush it. Too hard to find replacements


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Bent_Ramrod Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1544 Location: Southern Arizona Joined: Feb 8^th, 2006	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #5 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 5:01pm	Print Post
	I'd give them a mild anneal, at least, just on general principle. Properly done, it won't hurt anything and will extend the life of the cases. Primers back then were either corrosive, mercuric or both. And, by now, very likely dead. I'd pop them out and boil the remaining black powder residue out of the cases before wet tumbling.
	« Last Edit: Nov 29^th, 2025 at 6:41am by Bent_Ramrod »

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1Hawkeye Full Member Offline Posts: 203 Location: South end of Northern Virginia Joined: Jun 29^th, 2019	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #6 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 5:05pm	Print Post
	I might be mistaken but isn't a .32 Ideal just a .32-20 that's been rebored for a .323" diameter bullet? If so wouldn't a .32-20 case work? With the exception of a correct headstamp.


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Sure shot Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1084 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #7 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 5:22pm	Print Post
	I believe that the 32 Ideal cartridge case is slightly bigger than the 32-20, at least it is a little longer and the rim diameter is larger.


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1Hawkeye Full Member Offline Posts: 203 Location: South end of Northern Virginia Joined: Jun 29^th, 2019	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #8 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 6:55pm	Print Post
	Ok I thought the ideal was what Pope came up with to salvage a .32-20 with a bad bore.


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craigster Oldtimer Offline Posts: 773 Location: lost coast CA Joined: Feb 20^th, 2011	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #9 - Nov 27^th, 2025 at 10:20pm	Print Post
	Why not fire them? You'll probably get more than a few duds and you can pull them. This might be helpful: (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7537 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #10 - Nov 28^th, 2025 at 3:35am	Print Post
	1Hawkeye wrote on Nov 27^th, 2025 at 6:55pm: Ok I thought the ideal was what Pope came up with to salvage a .32-20 with a bad bore. I believe it was Stevens idea and it was to salvage the 32 L/XL CF barrels that were ~.315 groove diameter. It will also salvage the 32/20 but, it came later.

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art_ruggiero Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1189 Location: CT Joined: Dec 14^th, 2008	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #11 - Nov 28^th, 2025 at 7:52am	Print Post
	soak them in tap water with dawn and a splash of white vinegar rinse with clean water then tumble don't anneal till clean art


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Timetripper Full Member Offline Posts: 136 Location: Carlisle Joined: Mar 4^th, 2013	Re: Preparing very old 32 ideal cases for use Reply #12 - Nov 28^th, 2025 at 8:38am	Print Post
	Break them down completely and de-prime too. Brass gets brittle with age so annealing is a good thing. My experience with shooting old ammo is that anything that does go boom often will result in a split case as well. John


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