Can Brass be Too Clean?

My current method of cleaning brass is to place 20 or so pieces in hot water with Lemishine, (1-2 tsp in 3 cups water) in a 4 cup plastic measuring cup, and place in my Hornaday Ultrasonic cleaner about 1/2 inch off bottom, and fill tank to about 1 1/2 inch deep. This seems to create the most agitation, especially if I de-gas the water first.

My cases come out very clean and bright, perhaps too clean :o for good/smooth release of the bullet.

I've read about neck lube for this situation, dipping the neck in a dry lube (moly?) just before loading.

Anyone have any experience with this situation? Does it improve accuracy?

Accuracy requires that neck tension be consistent. Some rifles/cartridges seem to prefer a good tight grip, others like it loose. It requires a lot of shooting doing it different ways to find what works for you.

If you are feeling a lot of pressure to seat your bullets then I suggest you brush your necks with a bronze brush lightly to roughen it up slightly as mine were done that way and seating was extremely hard. I had to shoot them to recarbon the neck and all was well after that. I went back to tumbling because of that myself.

Interesting read... I did some disturbingly tight groups and everything went to crap recently, one change was US cleaning brass... I may have to try tumbled only to see if it comes back together... I did notice more resistance when I seated the last batch as well...

Please let us know how that works out, Digduggy. I'm not so interested in the looks/polish of the outside of the case, more interested in the inside of the case neck on my .223 Rem loads.

Yesterday I tried some Hornaday sizing lube on the inside of the neck. Loaded 20 rds with Nosler 52g and then 20 rds without neck lube. I"ll shoot them Tuesday and report my success or lack of same.

BTW: What'cha flying?

Hawker 800A this week, we also have a King Air 300!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Digduggy

I did notice more resistance when I seated the last batch as well...

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Anneal your brass. Although lubing may make the sizing and seating operations easier it also masks the effects of work hardened brass, a result of sizing-firing cycles.

Bill

NICE!

Fractional pilot?

Got your own toys too?

Bill,

Yea, starting to look into that. Some good homemade designs out there.

All only once fired, just decided to start US cleaning recently...

No private/charter out of TEB, owned a skyhawk years ago, got hit by a tornado haha

Yikes! Hopefully you weren't in it at the time! LOL

Sold mine after I got remarried. Airplanes are such jealous lovers!!

Haha no one was...

Luckily I dont have to worry about jealousy from my wife... I have to worry about "Daddy flys Gulfstreams, why don't you!?" Haha