Clean-up factory loaded ammo

[Kapustacrk]

Iam looking for help to clean-up the brass on some factory loaded ammo, it was stored in a cool dry place, but after some years (10??) I inspected it and found the brass had discolored, may have some oxidation on it kind of dirty finish on it, tried some brass case cleaner I had and removed a bunch, then steel wool. Its Nosler factory loaded stuff and shot some today, they grouped well, just like to clean them up. Thanks, I do reload and would like to salvage the brass for future loading. !!

[obsessed1]

Shoot them then clean brass...wet tumble, dry tumble with flux, or sonic cleaner depending on the level of clean wanted.

[qwert]

Do not use any brass cleaner (like Brasso?) that contains ammonia,
as it can leach alloy and cause the brass to be brittle and weak.

Steel wool can leave small iron particles embedded in the brass, which could rust and/or scratch dies.

The Lee shell holders from their basic case length trim system work great in a small drill press to spin the case and clean the worst of the tarnish off with Scotchbrite before tumbling & polishing in walnut.
If you do not have a tumbler just finish with Scotchbrite and polish.

Good Luck, YMMV.

[fps plus]

Scotch brite pad , can get different grades

[Ebrand]

Works like a charm.

If you are close and don’t have a tumbler I can help you out.

[Dean2]

If you don't have a walnut/corn type tumbler Hoppes 9 on a piece of cloth. They don't need to be shiny you just need to take the dirt off and Hoppes won't hurt the brass or your gun.

[260 Rem]

Here’s a step-by-step of what I do.
First, brass after firing 20 times.


Step 2 ... neck wiped with RCBS Case Lube 2


Step 3 ... only when I want them shiny. Brasso




The “lot”.... this 308 brass has 20 reloads.


Looks like I annealed this lot at 11 reloads. I will probably not anneal again, shoot it another 10 times and trash it. After 30 reloads, it owes me nothing

[Kapustacrk]

Thanks to everyones input here, got some fine scotch brite and cleaned majority off, fired them and then soaked in Hornady Sonic cleaner- then tumbled, good to go..! bright and shinny !! KPCRK !!

[6.5 shooter]

I use to tumble,resize, tumble again. If I wanted really shiny brass I used 0000 steel wool with a Lee holder in my variable speed drill.

Now, I tumble in Walnut, quick wipe to remove dust, inspect, resize, tumble in a wet tumbler with or without SS pins inspect again. Also made a board with about 150 small finishing nails in it to hold the brass for drying, reload shoot repeat.