How To Clean Black Powder Cartridges

[@12port77]

I use the same wet tumbler and have had fantastic results. The dish soap and lemishine with the included stainless pins is all that is needed to clean the cases. I even cleaned some old cases dug up out of the ground with similar results. The one item I would highly recommend adding to this setup is the Frankford wet/dry media separator. Just dump the brass and pins into the basket, give about 10 turns, drain the black water. The pins stay in the bottom for easy retrieval. Then fill halfway with rinse water and give another 10 turns. Perfectly clean brass with no leftover pins inside the cases.

[@davidgardner863]

Might as well get the Frankfort case drier too.

[@rayc.1396]

Have been wet tumbling for 10 years, will never go back to dry. For black powder shooters, a gallon milk jug with some dish soap and half full of water to the range, from the ejector to the jug then home and run your brass. Doesn't give time for any crud to become hard to remove. Update: I found on a forum that folks are using lemon juice, much cheaper, in place of LemiShine. Tried it a month or so back with my 45-70 BP brass, works as good or better than LemiShine. I use a couple tablespoons of concentrated lemon juice in my smaller tumbler. A quart of lemon juice was $.99 at Safeway, I figure it will last for 500+ rounds threw the tumbler, quite a saving that you can buy other stuff for your loading.

[@Kpoole35]

All the citric acid products do is balance pH so you don’t leach the Zinc out of the brass giving it a brass/copper Smokey aesthetic which I think looks cool as hell but they split after 2 loads. Just buy regular citric acid powder, it’s cheaper than lemishine and it’s practically the same thing. 3 lbs for 5 dollars

[@mkultraification]

I like to use the Frankfort hand deprimer before I clean cases. That way, the primer pockets get cleaned as well.

[@bibbyman2]

We've been using one for a couple of years. I shoot cowboy action shooting with black powder. I always decap the cases before tumbling. I've never used the pins. Just Simple Green and Lemi Shine. An hour us usually enough.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I prefer to use the pins because it gets the inside of the case just as clean and polished as the outside. It will also make the grungiest of old range brass look brand new after a couple hours.

[@MikeM10293]

I’ve always liked the dirty look. Makes it seem like there is antique ammo going in to an antique gun. This is definitely a good method not just for BP but if you find filthy brass at the range this will take care of them too

[@daveclemons1225]

Dang!!!! I be getting one of those!! Awesome!! Glad you made the video! Thank you!

[@IWatchedWhat]

It was a real game changer for me cleaning my brass after a BPCR match, 45-70 looks brand new now.

[@johngallagher2313]

I tried wet tumbling a couple years ago and you are right it is great for any brass cleaning it is messy but the results are much faster and better then vibratory cleaning. My only real complaint is the pins sticking inside the brass. Got to watch for that. mainly in bottleneck rifle cases and 357. I am going to try the stainless chips.

[@thomasboylan3751]

That tumbler looks like it would be good for making your "antique muzzle loading propellant". No lead, no rubber, and fast.

[@dylanvisitacion8618]

I got that same wet tumbler last year for Christmas. I love it.

[@JWheeler331]

I have been wanting to get myself a wet tumbler but just haven’t yet. You may have just sold me on it.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

It’s the only way to fly

[@gregoryschmitz2131]

If you punch the primers out before you throw it in the Wet Machine, you get lovely clean primer pockets as well.

[@dogbone1358]

I’m impressed with the results but still prefer the vibration method to avoid all the water and drying. I also decap and clean out the primer pocket before vibrating. Except for the shiny inside my cases come out just as good as yours whether shooting black powder or smokeless.

[@BertieW0oster]

My perpetual laziness has cost me a lot of money here, since I always just toss my spent black powder brass or leave it behind for the brass collectors to snatch up, rather than clean it again. I usually don't feel like cleaning brass, in addition to having to clean the gun, after a fun range session. But yeah, I need to start doing this! That brass looks great!

[@kingfatiusiii4744]

W/ my 45-75 shells I feel you man, it can be a pain in the butt cleaning all the brass

[@wagon9082]

Good video

[@alanthomas1774]

Awesome Job ......... the only thing I do different is to De-prime all my cases ! Please more videos !

[@pacanis]

Really love your channel. Down to earth and no nonsense. After seeing this video I want to get a wet tumbler, but I have a couple questions... Do all the SS pins pour out with the water or do some stay inside the cases? And: how do you separate the pins from the water you poured out? Do you use the magnet? Have a finer strainer? Thanks

[@Everythingblackpowder]

There is always a few that stay in a case or two but after they are completely dry they fall out. I have a big magnet that I use

[@phillipsnow5053]

Those are great tumblers!!!

[@colinarmstrong1892]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner and it gets them spotless, just not as shiny. I also use it to clean my BP pistols, remove the wood grips and put tbe pistol and cylinder in. 30 minutes of hot cleaning and its all done. Then i put them in a commercial dehydrator for an hour to ensure everything is water free. Brass or guns 90 minutes and its all done so more time for shooting, eating and drinking...

[@davefellhoelter1343]

TSP! and Dish Soap should be in every shop! TSP helps with work cloths and other parts too. I love the shine or 'bar keeps' just a simple vinigar rise and case lube after works sometime too. I did this stuff on all types of metals for a Co once upon a time. I punch mine before finals so pocket gets it. FYI "I Wet Tuble" in dry tumblers? just fill liquids and media to correct level as I watch.

[@tonyZ338]

Wet tumblers are the way to go. I just decap before tumbling with a lee universal decaper.

[@rfdsrd]

In a word or two - Ultra-Sonic Cleaner.

[@outdoor7467]

Great channel!

[@MichaelHayes-uj9od]

Frankford make good stuff i use there scales a lot will have get one of those tumblers

[@AdventureswithP.C.Wabash6057]

I pop the spent primer. You get a nice clean primer pocket

[@JoseFranciscoCampoy]

Excellent videos man! I love your channel. I have a question, what other media can I use? I find stainless steel pins to be pretty expensive here in my country! Wish you the best!

[@junkerjunk]

Personally I deprime them first, then tumble. You get the primer pockets looking like new, also.

[@bunkstagner298]

use a zip lock bag turned inside out. Put a big magnet in the bag, then pick up the pins. Turn the bag right side out an the pins are bagged.

[@GustavoCastillaEtherDreams]

Hey why you did not us3d the magnet to pick up the brass?? Word to the wise I add about 1 Oz of simple green, seems to work great

[@michal.abramowicz]

Someone told me to usr 2x3 pins. That should work good with revolver cases.

[@BUCKEYEFARMBOY54]

If you havent tried using that same mill jar on your treadmill, you might want to……… creates GREAT mill action efficiency for milling powder 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@garyruxton5226]

Why don't you deprime before washing to clean out primer pocket before tumbling. Does it make a difference doing it?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

You could certainly do that if you want but I don’t find it necessary

[@dogbone1358]

@@Everythingblackpowder Well if you reload and don’t clean out the primer pockets during polishing, eventually your primers will not seat properly.

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@@dogbone1358 well I’ve been reloading for 20 years and still haven’t run into that so it must take a long time

[@dogbone1358]

@@Everythingblackpowder Looks like eventually hasn’t come yet. 😜

[@threeoeightwadcutter2820]

Does your wife know, you are using her good towels....😂

[@Everythingblackpowder]

She wasn’t as mad as I was expecting

[@threeoeightwadcutter2820]

@@Everythingblackpowder best wife of the year awards...

[@senorduncan8735]

Try ak in black powder

[@davidgardner863]

After soaking in soapy water remove the primers and the primer pockets will come out clean too.

[@missingthe80s58]

I love wet tumbling my black powder cases. I love it so much I'm tumbling some paper hull shotgun shells as we speak!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

It’s the only way to fly

[@VinceBearinger]

amazing

[@Dismalcampaign]

Do u make black powder cartridges yourself?

[@abrampl]

I'm goin to build new tumbler from 10L bucket.

[@fnagy82]

What process do you use to clean your BP pistols and rifles?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

Warm water, simple green and balistol

[@jtcustomknives]

How pounds of pins is that?

[@Everythingblackpowder]

2lb

[@A.R.American1]

Really come on man found out earlier this week people actually clean their guns. Now your saying we gotta clean brass this is starting to be too much like work lol.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👌👌👌👌

[@HobbiesHobo]

Wet tumbling rulz! But you can ruin it if you make mistakes, I just put a video up on that a few days ago. I made a big mistake about a year ago & again just recently. You can see how I ruined a batch of brass on my channel. I wouldn't use more than a .380 acp case of lemishine ever again. Mike

[@Everythingblackpowder]

I saw that. That was pretty strange

[@jah6208]

I bet that would do a great job on my teeth !!!!!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

*tooth

[@jah6208]

@@Everythingblackpowder well I plan on having more

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@@jah6208 Yeah? Did you finally get your Biden bucks??

[@jah6208]

@@Everythingblackpowder Emperor Biden says that there will be more money coming, I'm going to get a full set of teeth!!!!

[@Everythingblackpowder]

@@jah6208 hot damn! Get me a set while you’re at it.

[@Stew-rl9qk]

Wet fart?