Clean brass before tumbling?

**reichebrown** · November 9th, 2008, 07:22 PM

New to reloading and borrowing someones equipment to get started. My question is should i wash my brass free of dirt and debris before i tumble it? is so what is the best method?

Thanks

**imashooter2** · November 9th, 2008, 07:33 PM

As long as the brass isn't full of mud, there's no need to rinse. Cleaning brass is what tumbling is for.

**BerksCountyDave** · November 9th, 2008, 08:26 PM

What he said

**Steve in PA** · November 9th, 2008, 09:35 PM

If the brass is wet and muddy, I'll spread it out and let it dry. But if it is dry and dirty I just toss it into the tumbler.

I've picked up a TON (not literally) of dirty brass from some improvised shooting areas where I work. All came out looking great.

**SteveWag** · November 9th, 2008, 09:52 PM

Cleaning only makes the tumbling media last longer. If the brass is fired and collected right after shooting, just tumble. If it’s been lying at the range, full of dirt and mud-wasps, cleaning is a good idea.
Steve

**tl_3237** · November 10th, 2008, 03:14 PM

Also bear in mind that tumbling doesn't necessarily clean the interior of the cases especially on shouldered rifle cartridges. If you have debris, mud, etc inside then you'll have to clean the interior with another method like hot soapy water and a bristle brush that will fit inside.

**andrewjs18** · November 19th, 2008, 03:01 AM

I like to knock out the primers before tumbling to clean the pockets, but make sure you inspect them before dumping powder and putting in new primers..sometimes there is chunks of media still inside the pocket/casing.

**Steve in PA** · November 19th, 2008, 09:33 AM

The media will never clean a primer pocket, just as it won't clean the inside of the case. The media will fill both and that is that.

Unless you are using a universal deprimer, using a regular die to deprime before tumbling is defeating the reason for tumbling...........

cleaning the brass before running it through a die.