Need help with a brass issue

[ZLBubba]

A few weeks ago I was prepping 308 brass. I usually do all my brass one stage at a time so I was de-priming and re-sizing them. I thought I had sufficiently the Lyman Qwik Spray Case Lube off the brass when I finished but apparently I was mistaken.

I went on a business trip and just got back a few days ago to find strange oxidation and residue on my brass. I'm having a helluva a time taking the residue off, and the brass appears to be cosmetically blemished, but otherwise structurally sound. Here are a couple photos:

Any ideas on what to use to take off the residue? Soap and water won't do it. Is the brass still safe to load once the residue is removed, even if the blemishes remain?

 

[RTO]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

Who cares if it still shoots, the results that matters should be down range. I have had similar slight spotting before as well. As long as its just cosmetic I really dont worry about it. If you know someone with a stainless steel media you may give that a try, otherwise just shoot them.

 

[ZLBubba]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

I agree 100%. I ust jwant to make sure there isn't some sort of metallic breakdown that I may be unaware of that could create a hazard if I shoot them.

 

[jackinfl]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

Try ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL and a rag. Wet the rag and wipe each one and allow to air dry, flip the rag and see if you get the residue off.

From another stand point I'd be interested to know if you shoot that one piece of brass with the fingerprint if it is still there after you shoot it?

 

[brassman]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

you can also use white vinegar- just make sure you do a water rinse after and throw it in the tumbler or the brass will turn black. if you heat the vinegar(it stinks so do it outside) and a hot water rinse, brass will be dull until you throw it in the tumbler and then it comes out with a very nice shine. you can also use lemon juice. white vinegar is what we use on the dirty brass we get in. a splach of iosso polish and a brillant shine that lasts. brassman

 

[Raven 6]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

I use a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water and let soak 30-45 min then dry with compressed air followed by 4-6 hours in a tumbler of treated corncobb media. You might want to let those soak alittle longer. Also by soaking and then drying with compressed air it cleans the primer pockets like new.

Mark

 

[Notso]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

Have you tried just tumbling for a couple of hours? I've had good carbon rings on the necks from annealing with some gunk on it and being too lazy to wipe them off first and a crew hours in the tumbler with nothing special added and they came out just fine.

 

[memo43]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

also try useing "0000" steel wool to rub it off. I have used the lee case holder chucked up in a drill and had good sucess.

memo

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

Vinegar and water might get it off. It's tarnish, not a big deal and safe to shot. You'll get similar stains from leaving brass in wet grass over night. If you have ever seen pinkish spots on brass it's from weak acid (lemishine, citric acid) removing the same tarnish in an ultrasoic cleaner. Vinegar is acetic acid.

 

[ZLBubba]

Re: Need help with a brass issue

Thanks for the help, gents. Was able to clean the brass off today per your collective advice.