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Cartridges are what bring together your powder, projectile, and primer. They’re typically made of brass and what’s great is that they’re reusable, having the strength to withstand the pressure of being fired. Cartridges are a key component in automatic weapons. It’s partly their design which allows such weapons to fire repeatedly. Fired cartridges may accumulate residue and this could cause a malfunction. The buildup of debris or residue on your cartridges will therefore shorten their lifespan, so it’s important to take the time to clean them. When checking your used cartridge cases, note the location of any residue. Residue may accumulate on the body of the case but is most likely to collect around the neck and shoulder areas. Heavy residue on the body of the case indicates that the neck is not sealing fast enough or not sealing properly when fired. This may be due to a light powder charge or an incorrect powder burning rate. Debris accumulating on the interior of the case can flake off and eventually affect your round as well. Therefore in the interest of safety, you must clean your cartridge cases after they’ve been used. Cleaning cartridge cases is also helpful as it gives you the opportunity to inspect your cartridges and spot any potential problems before reusing them
Brass cartridges are easily tarnished by reuse so we encourage you to learn the proper techniques for preventing tarnished brass cartridges. A clean brass cartridge can extend the life and also ensure the functionality of your firearm. Here at Gun Magnet, we will provide you with helpful tips on keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing.
Tumble Your Way To a Clean Brass Cartridge
One of the most popular ways for how to keep brass cartridges from tarnishing is tumbling. Cleaning with tumblers will help retain the polished look of your ammunition. Over time, the carbon soot left on your cartridge becomes harder and harder to remove. So, after heading to the range for some practice shooting, get your brass to the tumbler ASAP. By the way, these tumblers aren’t for drinking water. What we’re talking about are specialized small machines designed specifically for cleaning brass cartridges. Proper tumbling can help improve the reliability of your weapon.
Cleaning tarnished ammos with a tumbler doesn’t require anything complicated. You simply place a cleaning media like crushed walnut shells or corn cob into the barrel. Mix this with polishing powder, add the brass cartridge cases, close the lid, turn the tumbler on, and come back in a few hours. For best results, we recommend changing the media periodically during the washing. You can also add some additives to rejuvenate the media and help reduce any dust that may form. Some people recommend tumbling first with a treated media and then following that up with untreated media to remove any residue that might come from the polish. You’ll need to choose your media depending on the type of cleaning you need. If the brass only needs some light buffing, crushed corn cob will suffice. If the brass is pretty grimy, go for crushed walnut shells as your media.
Remember that a key to preventing tarnished brass cartridges is to never put cartridges back in the chamber right after you clean them. Let them sit a bit.
Cleanliness is not only about looks. Cleaning can help prevent scratching as well as improve the lifespan of your dies. Debris or grit can have a negative effect not only on your cartridges but on your dies as well.
Types of Tumblers
There are two types of tumblers used for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges. Rotary tumblers use a barrel for loading. In this setup, a machine turns a barrel and the cartridge tumbles inside with the cleaning media. Because the barrel is water-tight, this method is suitable for use with stainless steel pins and water. This is the most common way of cleaning brass cartridge cases and has been for at least 50 years.
Vibratory tumblers, meanwhile, use a large plastic bowl with a clamped-on lid that’s mounted on an electric motor. This motor vibrates the bowl and its contents. You fill the bowl with both media and dirty brass, clamp the lid on, and let it run. Cleaning takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on how dirty your brass cartridges are. Vibratory tumblers are the newest type of tumbler for cleaning brass cartridges and they are increasing in popularity.
In both tumbler types, you can add an ammonia-based liquid to enhance the polishing power of the media. Ammonia reacts with the copper element inside your brass meaning it polishes chemically instead of mechanically. Another additive to consider is rouge. Some dry media already includes rouge. However, when using rouge, take note that it is a fine powder and therefore it can stick to the inner walls of your cartridges. Use it sparingly and remember to inspect your cartridges after tumbling.
When you are done tumbling your brass cartridges, it is time to separate the media from the clean brass. Some tumblers have a built-in filter for draining out the media while the machine is still running. If your tumbler doesn’t have one, you can try using a sifter to speed up this process. When thinking about how to keep brass from tarnishing after wet tumbling, always remember to make sure your cartridges are completely empty of media. This can be a little bit tricky with small neck cartridges such as those for the .223 Remington.
Aside from corn cob and walnut hull or shell, you can experiment with other media such as kitty litter, small ceramics, and plastic beads, among others. Walnut and corn cob media can potentially kick up lot of dust but luckily there are a few ways you can minimize this dust creation:
In smaller tumblers, add a teaspoon of mineral spirits. For larger tumblers, try a few teaspoons. If you add too much, just allow it to evaporate.
Add a couple of used dryer sheets, paper towels, or cloth strips to each batch. This will not only help control dust, it will also remove some dirt that could otherwise get trapped in the media.
Take note that tumblers can’t cure corrosion of the case. However, they may help to smooth out a roughened brass surface. Also keep in mind that dry tumbling will not clean the primer pockets.
Other Methods For Cleaning Tarnished Brass Cartridges
Aside from tumbling, there are other methods for how to keep brass cases from tarnishing. Let’s take a look at each of these methods:
Chemical Cleaning
Some gun owners use chemical cleaners. For this method of cleaning use a mesh bag so you can immerse your cartridges into a cleaning solution. After soaking the cartridges for a short time, you simply rinse them off with hot water and allow them to air dry. So if you’re asking yourself “How can I prevent my brass cartridge casings from tarnishing?”, chemical cleaners might be your best answer.. Keep in mind that while your cartridge cases will come out squeaky clean, they are not as highly polished as when cleaned by the tumbling method. Another downside is drying time. On the other hand, the chemical cleaner method gives you the advantage of being sure that there won’t be any residue left in your cases. If you want a more polished appearance, you can always tumble your cartridges with dry media after a chemical cleaning, which should only take a few minutes. Since most chemical cleaners are environmentally friendly, you can easily dispose of them in a household sink once they get too dirty.
Hand Cleaning
Another effective method for preventing tarnished brass cartridges is hand cleaning. Using your hands to clean brass cases offers one major benefit, the ability to inspect the case while cleaning them. When hand cleaning, start from the inside of the neck. Insert the appropriate size cleaning brush and simply push your brush straight in and pull it back out. Use the brush to get out as much residue as you can. If your hands get tired, most cleaning brushes can be chucked into a power drill and run at a low RPM. Another alternative is to use the Sinclair Neck Brush power screwdriver adapter.
All sorts of products can be used for cleaning the outside of your case. A good choice is a “0000” steel wool. This should get all or virtually all of the residue off the exterior of the case. Nevr-Dull is a cleaning compound that can also be effective for cleaning cases and it’s readily available in most hardware stores. That being said, Nevr-Dull is known to leave a little residue on your cartridge. Make sure to wipe the cartridge case clean with a paper towel after using Nevr-Dull. Krazy Kloth, a reusable cloth with a cleaning compound, is another effective product for keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing. It’s also effective for removing those really stubborn residues.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
If you are looking for another tip on how to keep brass cartridges from tarnishing, consider ultrasonic cleaners. With this method, you can clean your brass to like-new condition. One benefit is that it not only can help clean cartridges but other parts of your firearm as well. There are several ultrasonic cleaners on the market, so try to find what works best for you. Cleaning solutions vary from a vinegar/soap/water mixture to solutions specifically designed for cleaning carbon and brass.
Cleaning tarnished ammo using the ultrasonic method is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
Fill the unit to its recommended level of water
Add the right amount of cleaning solvent
Lower the basket of dirty brass into the mixture
Cover and run for just a few minutes
After the process, your brass will come out soaking wet so you’ll need to dry it. The simplest way to do this is to spread out your cases on a towel and leave them in the sun. If you’re brave enough, you can try to dry them in the oven on a cooking sheet at its lowest temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes. A food dehydrator can also be used for this purpose, and since dehydrators operate around only 150 degrees this process shouldn’t harm your cartridge cases.
Whereas tumblers use a cleaning media and vibration, ultrasonic cleaners use liquid and vibration for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges. Think about it like cleaning dishes. The ultrasonic cleaner would be a dishwasher, all soap and water, whereas a tumbler would be like a scrubbing pad, using the force of friction and rubbing to loosen up grime. Note that unlike tumblers, ultrasonic cleaners do not polish brass so your brass cases will come out clean, but dull. One benefit of ultrasonic cleaners is that they can do a good job cleaning out the inside of your cartridge case.
Finding The Best Cleaning Technique
We’ve laid out some of the best ways for how to keep brass from tarnishing after wet tumbling. Now… which one is right for you? Well that depends on you. But to help you decide the right approach, here are some pointers to keep in mind.
A good cleaning requires rinsing, so make sure to thoroughly dry your brass afterwards.
The neck of a brass rifle gets peened creating a bur that may require removal. You may need additional processing time if trimming after every firing is not your normal routine.
The brass will gall in carbide dies and expanders. A good way to avoid this is to apply a small amount of lube after every 10 cases. Make sure you check and keep your dies clean and use lube if necessary. Know your dies.
Before using ultrasonic cleaners, you need to keep the following in mind:
You will need to rinse and dry your brass
Ultrasonic cleaners remove all carbon without peening case necks which can be a huge benefit
Unless you have a really large cleaner, you will be limited to the number of cases you can clean at once
If your unit is limited to shorter cycle times, cleaning your brass may require several cleaning cycles
When figuring out how to keep brass from tarnishing, be careful when dry tumbling not to mix calibers in the same batch. The vibration could smaller-caliber brass cases like the .32 and 9×19 mm to jam into larger cases like the .40 and .45 ACP. This is an area where ultrasonic cleaning definitely has an advantage. With ultrasonic clean, you can clean all your brass cases in one go without worrying about the cases getting jammed into each other.
Alternatives for Preventing Tarnishing in Brass Cartridges
Here are some other tips for preventing tarnished brass cartridges and extending the life and functionality of your ammo:
Ammonia based polishes like Brasso will result in the nitrogen embrittlement of brass. After several months of using Brasso for keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing, you will start to see the neck of your brass case cracking due to the stress of the pressure exerted by the bullet. Ammonia will also cause the brass to lose its ductility causing the case to split upon firing. Be wary.
Another simple way of cleaning tarnished ammo is to simply use Kleenex or paper towels. Paper is a mild abrasive.
After cleaning tarnished ammos to a high shine, try storing them in small ammo cans. Warm the can before loading and then close the seal. A good alternative to the ammo can is the good old mason jar. Use the same process for mason jars as you would for ammo cans. Heat the jar, load your cases, seal the jar, and wait for the lid to pop.
Automotive clear coat paints or resins can also be used for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges. They are pretty tough but will eventually wear off. You should consider economic and value factors when taking this route.
If you use a vibratory tumbler, tumble your cases until they turn sparkling yellow. Combine brass polish or auto polish with a mix of corncob and walnut hull. Run the loaded cases for another 15 minutes but this time use a different batch of media. In place of the brass polish, you could add two tablespoons of mineral spirits. This process will clean off any excess lube on the outside of your cases. Mineral spirits can leave a slight preservative coating on the cases and thus help prevent tarnishing.
If you are wondering how to keep brass from tarnishing after wet tumbling, use white vinegar and salt. Mix one cup of white distilled vinegar, one cup of hot tap water, and one tablespoon of non-iodized salt. If the brass is really dirty and greasy, add one or two drops of liquid dish soap to the mixture. Put the brass and mixture in a sealable plastic container and swirl for 10 minutes. This will help keep your brass tarnish-free.
Use oxygen absorbers. These are inexpensive and readily available. These are often used in combination with mylar bags. This is usually used as a long term means of storage. Here is a short tutorial on how to seal a mylar bag.
Add ½ capful (or just a little less) of Nu Finish car polish to every batch of brass cartridge cases that you tumble.
If you de-prime your cases in a separate de-priming operation before cleaning them, see to it that you inspect them carefully after they have been tumbled. Some of the cases may have flash holes plugged up with fine media granules. One tip for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges is to pick out each granule with a dental pick or paper clip or use compressed air to blow out these particles.
If the necks of your cases aren’t up to your standards of cleanliness, it’s best to resort to hand cleaning using the methods mentioned above.
Make certain that there is nothing between the case and the chamber. Polish, wax, lube, or take other actions to make sure of this.
Apply liquid Turtle Wax. Brass will tarnish just like silver. Over time, nothing can stop the process of the brass getting tarnished, but Turtle Wax can help.
Applying epoxy is another option, though remember anything will rub off eventually, especially if you are carrying your cartridge cases in your pockets. You can try a light coating of clear coat as well.
Tumble with hard balls of wax. You can use a little wax for inside cases, too.
Store your cases in ammo cans with silica beads to help preserve them.
Buy a humidifier, especially if you live in a humid environment. Moisture and rust are major components of tarnished brass.
Create your own desiccant pack for getting rid of moisture. Buy silica gel, place it on a coffee filter, and cut it to your preferred size. Afterwards, fold and staple it and voila.. These desiccant packs can be dried out in the oven and reused.
Use nickel plates for brass casings. All you need is nickel, vinegar, and a battery charger. You’ll want to control the thickness to keep these plates as thin as possible. To accomplish this, when plating, use low voltage, and only a quick dip. If you’re not satisfied with the appearance, you can always re-dip. Nickel plating also works for butt plates, barrel rings, hammers, triggers, trigger guards, and other pieces of equipment. Aside from preventing tarnished brass cartridges, this can also help prevent rust. Here are some tips on how to do nickel plating.
Brass will automatically start to tarnish when exposed to oxygen. Keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing is possible by coating them with a layer of clear sealer to keep air from reaching the brass itself. Although your brass cartridge may have already been coated with a clear sealer, this sealer can wear down over time. It is recommended that you refresh this coating every few years to keep your cases shiny and like-new even if you don’t polish them frequently.
A tarnished cartridge can have a huge impact on the overall look and performance of your firearm. As a gun owner, you are responsible for maintaining your firearm. These tips will help you address your concern on how to keep brass cartridges from tarnishing. Do you have your own method of cleaning tarnished ammo? Feel free to share it here via the comment section.
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How to Keep Brass Cartridges from Tarnishing
The GMW PMAG Wall Mount. Now available now on Amazon.com.
BUY NOW
Cartridges are what bring together your powder, projectile, and primer. They’re typically made of brass and what’s great is that they’re reusable, having the strength to withstand the pressure of being fired. Cartridges are a key component in automatic weapons. It’s partly their design which allows such weapons to fire repeatedly. Fired cartridges may accumulate residue and this could cause a malfunction. The buildup of debris or residue on your cartridges will therefore shorten their lifespan, so it’s important to take the time to clean them. When checking your used cartridge cases, note the location of any residue. Residue may accumulate on the body of the case but is most likely to collect around the neck and shoulder areas. Heavy residue on the body of the case indicates that the neck is not sealing fast enough or not sealing properly when fired. This may be due to a light powder charge or an incorrect powder burning rate. Debris accumulating on the interior of the case can flake off and eventually affect your round as well. Therefore in the interest of safety, you must clean your cartridge cases after they’ve been used. Cleaning cartridge cases is also helpful as it gives you the opportunity to inspect your cartridges and spot any potential problems before reusing them
Brass cartridges are easily tarnished by reuse so we encourage you to learn the proper techniques for preventing tarnished brass cartridges. A clean brass cartridge can extend the life and also ensure the functionality of your firearm. Here at Gun Magnet, we will provide you with helpful tips on keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing.
Tumble Your Way To a Clean Brass Cartridge
One of the most popular ways for how to keep brass cartridges from tarnishing is tumbling. Cleaning with tumblers will help retain the polished look of your ammunition. Over time, the carbon soot left on your cartridge becomes harder and harder to remove. So, after heading to the range for some practice shooting, get your brass to the tumbler ASAP. By the way, these tumblers aren’t for drinking water. What we’re talking about are specialized small machines designed specifically for cleaning brass cartridges. Proper tumbling can help improve the reliability of your weapon.
Cleaning tarnished ammos with a tumbler doesn’t require anything complicated. You simply place a cleaning media like crushed walnut shells or corn cob into the barrel. Mix this with polishing powder, add the brass cartridge cases, close the lid, turn the tumbler on, and come back in a few hours. For best results, we recommend changing the media periodically during the washing. You can also add some additives to rejuvenate the media and help reduce any dust that may form. Some people recommend tumbling first with a treated media and then following that up with untreated media to remove any residue that might come from the polish. You’ll need to choose your media depending on the type of cleaning you need. If the brass only needs some light buffing, crushed corn cob will suffice. If the brass is pretty grimy, go for crushed walnut shells as your media.
Remember that a key to preventing tarnished brass cartridges is to never put cartridges back in the chamber right after you clean them. Let them sit a bit.
Cleanliness is not only about looks. Cleaning can help prevent scratching as well as improve the lifespan of your dies. Debris or grit can have a negative effect not only on your cartridges but on your dies as well.
Types of Tumblers
There are two types of tumblers used for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges. Rotary tumblers use a barrel for loading. In this setup, a machine turns a barrel and the cartridge tumbles inside with the cleaning media. Because the barrel is water-tight, this method is suitable for use with stainless steel pins and water. This is the most common way of cleaning brass cartridge cases and has been for at least 50 years.
Vibratory tumblers, meanwhile, use a large plastic bowl with a clamped-on lid that’s mounted on an electric motor. This motor vibrates the bowl and its contents. You fill the bowl with both media and dirty brass, clamp the lid on, and let it run. Cleaning takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on how dirty your brass cartridges are. Vibratory tumblers are the newest type of tumbler for cleaning brass cartridges and they are increasing in popularity.
In both tumbler types, you can add an ammonia-based liquid to enhance the polishing power of the media. Ammonia reacts with the copper element inside your brass meaning it polishes chemically instead of mechanically. Another additive to consider is rouge. Some dry media already includes rouge. However, when using rouge, take note that it is a fine powder and therefore it can stick to the inner walls of your cartridges. Use it sparingly and remember to inspect your cartridges after tumbling.
When you are done tumbling your brass cartridges, it is time to separate the media from the clean brass. Some tumblers have a built-in filter for draining out the media while the machine is still running. If your tumbler doesn’t have one, you can try using a sifter to speed up this process. When thinking about how to keep brass from tarnishing after wet tumbling, always remember to make sure your cartridges are completely empty of media. This can be a little bit tricky with small neck cartridges such as those for the .223 Remington.
Aside from corn cob and walnut hull or shell, you can experiment with other media such as kitty litter, small ceramics, and plastic beads, among others. Walnut and corn cob media can potentially kick up lot of dust but luckily there are a few ways you can minimize this dust creation:
Take note that tumblers can’t cure corrosion of the case. However, they may help to smooth out a roughened brass surface. Also keep in mind that dry tumbling will not clean the primer pockets.
Other Methods For Cleaning Tarnished Brass Cartridges
Aside from tumbling, there are other methods for how to keep brass cases from tarnishing. Let’s take a look at each of these methods:
Chemical Cleaning
Some gun owners use chemical cleaners. For this method of cleaning use a mesh bag so you can immerse your cartridges into a cleaning solution. After soaking the cartridges for a short time, you simply rinse them off with hot water and allow them to air dry. So if you’re asking yourself “How can I prevent my brass cartridge casings from tarnishing?”, chemical cleaners might be your best answer.. Keep in mind that while your cartridge cases will come out squeaky clean, they are not as highly polished as when cleaned by the tumbling method. Another downside is drying time. On the other hand, the chemical cleaner method gives you the advantage of being sure that there won’t be any residue left in your cases. If you want a more polished appearance, you can always tumble your cartridges with dry media after a chemical cleaning, which should only take a few minutes. Since most chemical cleaners are environmentally friendly, you can easily dispose of them in a household sink once they get too dirty.
Hand Cleaning
Another effective method for preventing tarnished brass cartridges is hand cleaning. Using your hands to clean brass cases offers one major benefit, the ability to inspect the case while cleaning them. When hand cleaning, start from the inside of the neck. Insert the appropriate size cleaning brush and simply push your brush straight in and pull it back out. Use the brush to get out as much residue as you can. If your hands get tired, most cleaning brushes can be chucked into a power drill and run at a low RPM. Another alternative is to use the Sinclair Neck Brush power screwdriver adapter.
All sorts of products can be used for cleaning the outside of your case. A good choice is a “0000” steel wool. This should get all or virtually all of the residue off the exterior of the case. Nevr-Dull is a cleaning compound that can also be effective for cleaning cases and it’s readily available in most hardware stores. That being said, Nevr-Dull is known to leave a little residue on your cartridge. Make sure to wipe the cartridge case clean with a paper towel after using Nevr-Dull. Krazy Kloth, a reusable cloth with a cleaning compound, is another effective product for keeping brass cartridges from tarnishing. It’s also effective for removing those really stubborn residues.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Cleaning tarnished ammo using the ultrasonic method is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
After the process, your brass will come out soaking wet so you’ll need to dry it. The simplest way to do this is to spread out your cases on a towel and leave them in the sun. If you’re brave enough, you can try to dry them in the oven on a cooking sheet at its lowest temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes. A food dehydrator can also be used for this purpose, and since dehydrators operate around only 150 degrees this process shouldn’t harm your cartridge cases.
Whereas tumblers use a cleaning media and vibration, ultrasonic cleaners use liquid and vibration for cleaning tarnished brass cartridges. Think about it like cleaning dishes. The ultrasonic cleaner would be a dishwasher, all soap and water, whereas a tumbler would be like a scrubbing pad, using the force of friction and rubbing to loosen up grime. Note that unlike tumblers, ultrasonic cleaners do not polish brass so your brass cases will come out clean, but dull. One benefit of ultrasonic cleaners is that they can do a good job cleaning out the inside of your cartridge case.
Finding The Best Cleaning Technique
We’ve laid out some of the best ways for how to keep brass from tarnishing after wet tumbling. Now… which one is right for you? Well that depends on you. But to help you decide the right approach, here are some pointers to keep in mind.
Before using ultrasonic cleaners, you need to keep the following in mind:
When figuring out how to keep brass from tarnishing, be careful when dry tumbling not to mix calibers in the same batch. The vibration could smaller-caliber brass cases like the .32 and 9×19 mm to jam into larger cases like the .40 and .45 ACP. This is an area where ultrasonic cleaning definitely has an advantage. With ultrasonic clean, you can clean all your brass cases in one go without worrying about the cases getting jammed into each other.
Alternatives for Preventing Tarnishing in Brass Cartridges
Here are some other tips for preventing tarnished brass cartridges and extending the life and functionality of your ammo:
A tarnished cartridge can have a huge impact on the overall look and performance of your firearm. As a gun owner, you are responsible for maintaining your firearm. These tips will help you address your concern on how to keep brass cartridges from tarnishing. Do you have your own method of cleaning tarnished ammo? Feel free to share it here via the comment section.