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Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

ZLBubba

ZLBubba

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Minuteman
Jan 15, 2009
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Maryland
#1
So I just pulled out of the tumbler about 50 rounds of 1x shot Lapua 308 brass that I loaded and shot less than a month ago. To my dismay, there's all kinds of tarnish on the outside of the cases. Now, I'm not looking for gleaming cases here, but the 45 ammo that I tumbled at the same time came out clean and shiny, while the Lapua brass came out shitty. I expected to not have a problem like this with premium brass.

Has anyone experienced this? Is there a way to clean the tarnish off the brass safely? Is this issue purely cosmetic and I can go ahead and load them?
 
#3
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cosmetic only, but I've been using lemishine to remove tarnishing with very good results. </div></div>

I've been soaking the brass in hot water and Dawn. The crap's start to come off with a heavy scrubbing. I may have to check out that lemishine.
 
#4
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">lemishine </div></div>

I keep looking for this at Walmart/Home Depot but can't find it. I did try dipping a single scrap case in pure lemon juice and had less than stellar results.
 
#6
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

I'm going to soak half of a .50BMG in Lemishine for ten seconds and take a pic. By soak I just mean immersion, won't be scrubbing or anything. Stand by for pics...

(ok the lighting was terrible and the .50bmg didn't clean up as dramatic as the other cases i've done, I also immersed a 208 Amax up to the ogive but it barely shows up in the pic...)

SDC10168.jpg
 
#7
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

Throw some Flitz in your vibratory tumbler. Great cleaning agent (no ammonia) and it has anti-tarnish properties.

Nothing really helps if you are handling the cases alot after they have been tumbled. If it bothers you, some Flitz paste (not the media additive) on a rag will get them show-room clean in a few seconds. The paste also is tarnish inhibitor.

madd0c
 
#8
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
SDC10168.jpg
</div></div>

Oh snap! I see the difference on both of them! Awesome results thanks for the demonstration, now I've just got to find the stuff in my area. How does it do on carbon?
 
#9
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

I just picked up lemishine at Walmart this evening. Look in the dishwashing liquid section....it should be there. I didnt spot it at first either. I used mine in my Thumblers tonight on some once fired Lapua 308 and with nothing other than water, lemishine and some dishsoap and got some pretty clean and shiney brass out of it. Dont have my stainless media yet but wanted to try out the tumbler anyhow. Brass is clean enough to reload already.

John
 
#10
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mudcat-NC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just picked up lemishine at Walmart this evening. Look in the dishwashing liquid section....it should be there. I didnt spot it at first either.
</div></div>

Oh, I was looking in the hardware, hand, and floor cleaning sections, I didn't think it would be dishwashing soap haha, thanks man!
 
#11
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

I ahve to agree with most of the respondents, here; Throw in some brass polish (of any ilk) and let it mesh with the media you are already using. Mine comes out pristinely fresh, but I do tumble it overnight.....
 
#14
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

Did you use Hornady Spray lube prior to sizing ?

I found I have to clean the empty cases with a solvent after sizing other wise they turn black after coming out of the media
 
#15
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tank</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you use Hornady Spray lube prior to sizing ?

I found I have to clean the empty cases with a solvent after sizing other wise they turn black after coming out of the media </div></div>

I don't know about the OP but I use plain-jane RCBS goo and it washes off with mild soap a quick cycle in the ultrasonic with no ill effects but I wanna try the lemonshine to see if I can get the extra bling factor
 
#16
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

On the advice of some of the guys here I tried the cheap WalMart "Nu Finish" car polish. Dumped about 2 oz in the vibrator tumbler and let it run till the stuff was well distributed then ran the empty brass. Beautiful shine, and the polish does not contain wax. The little bit of polymer left on the cases helps to keep down tarnish. JMHO
 
#18
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shot In The Dark</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tank</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you use Hornady Spray lube prior to sizing ?

I found I have to clean the empty cases with a solvent after sizing other wise they turn black after coming out of the media </div></div>

I don't know about the OP but I use plain-jane RCBS goo and it washes off with mild soap a quick cycle in the ultrasonic with no ill effects but I wanna try the lemonshine to see if I can get the extra bling factor </div></div>

I actually use the Lyman quick spray lube for the first time on this brass. I think this may be the culprit for the powder residue.
 
#19
Re: Lapua brass tarnishing after being fired once

I have 100 lapua .223 cases, I am on my 9th firing. No problems. I use walnut media I tumble for approx 5hrs. and they come out all nice and shinney. I just wish the aneal mark was still there. I will aneal them after the 10th firing. I don't put anything in with the media.
I would like to try the SS media.
 
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