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SteveStevens
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Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Jan 28th, 2026 at 9:14am
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I have aquired quite a few rounds of newer W-W 32-40 that where loaded with black powder. Ive already pulled and dumped the powder and primers. I'm in no way a BP person so absolutely clueless as to how to clean and neutralize the BP residue? Thanks in advance!
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #1 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 9:20am
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I just toss the deprimed cases into my wet rotary tumbler with water and Dawn dishwashing soap. I'm not the type who cares about high polished brass, so about a 90 minute run time gets anything clean for my brass.
  
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craigster
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #2 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 8:47pm
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Wash in hot soapy water, rinse with hot water. Or put them in a mesh bag and put them in the washer with a load of dark/dirtier clothes. Dry and tumble if you want.
  
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gunlaker
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #3 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 9:42pm
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From your post it sounds like these rounds were not fired?  You just emptied out the black powder?  If so clean them the same way you would clean smokeless cases.

If they were actually fired you have to do what those guys said.  It's the combusted residue that absorbs water from the air and corrodes the cases.  Unfired powder has no corrosive effect.

Chris.
  
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JHand
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #4 - Jan 28th, 2026 at 9:59pm
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I just used hot water for years, then tumbled them kn walnut.  I've switched to an ultrasonic cleaner now
  
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John in PA
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #5 - Jan 29th, 2026 at 10:11am
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If I'm not cleaning right away, I will toss them in a water bath with some vinegar added. Vinegar (weak acetic acid) neutralizes the powder fouling (actually a base) without attacking the base metal. Then clean thoroughly when able after decapping.  Sometimes i use a Hornaday ultrasonic cleaner with their product in the tank.
  
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2152hq
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Re: Cleaning cases loaded with BP?
Reply #6 - Jan 29th, 2026 at 4:13pm
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Unfired cases.. dump the BP load and wash them out (soap& water) or tumble them if you wish.

No BP fired residue,,no special handling required.

The insides of metal BP powder cans hold up for years w/o damage from the BP powder within.
  
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