Is it important for handgun cases to be clean inside?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is it important for handgun cases to be clean inside?

Posted: 5/1/2011 1:28:55 PM EDT

I've reloaded rifle cases for years and didn't really concern myself with how clean the cases were inside, but now that I'm about to start reloading handgun cases, it's got me thinking about reduced volume and effects on pressure. After tumbling my 9, 40, and 45 cases for several hours they are nice and shiny on the outside, but there is still an amount of soot/carbon buildup inside most of the cases. Is this something I should be worried about? I'm planning on using Titegroup for all three loads and I want to be extra careful.

Thanks,

Mike

Posted: 5/1/2011 1:36:23 PM EDT

[#1]

No problem, no one has ever cleaned out all the carbon until recently with the SS media.
Even with the dirtiest powder(Unique) the carbon flakes off before it builds up too much to make a difference.
'Borg

Posted: 5/1/2011 1:37:52 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
No problem, no one has ever cleaned out all the carbon until recently with the SS media.
Even with the dirtiest powder(Unique) the carbon flakes off before it builds up too much to make a difference.
'Borg

Thanks, Borg. If you don't mind, educate me on what SS media is.

Posted: 5/1/2011 2:00:27 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:

Quoted:
No problem, no one has ever cleaned out all the carbon until recently with the SS media.
Even with the dirtiest powder(Unique) the carbon flakes off before it builds up too much to make a difference.
'Borg

Thanks, Borg. If you don't mind, educate me on what SS media is.

Stainless Steel media. You use a rotory tumbler with the stailess steel pins, with water and dish soap. They come out nice n shiney

Posted: 5/1/2011 2:38:20 PM EDT

[#4]

Before and after on some really nasty cases with stainless steel...

soaked in hotwater and lemishine for 20 minutes...

Tumbled...

As for the original question, it shouldn't make any difference...

Posted: 5/1/2011 2:49:18 PM EDT

[#5]

No. Tumble dirt off the outside and reload.

Posted: 5/1/2011 4:27:32 PM EDT

[#6]

Thank you guys for putting my mind at ease about the inside of the cases. That brass looks great, Buck! After reading about the SS media, looks like a great idea, but for the time being I'll try using the lemishine for a pre-cleaning to see if I can add "bling" and cut down on dry tumbling time.

Posted: 5/1/2011 5:19:41 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Thank you guys for putting my mind at ease about the inside of the cases. That brass looks great, Buck! After reading about the SS media, looks like a great idea, but for the time being I'll try using the lemishine for a pre-cleaning to see if I can add "bling" and cut down on dry tumbling time.

That will work just fine. What I did before I went with the SS media.

Some 45 ACP cases.

This is the tumbler used.

Lots of suds when you open the drum. With the media, 2 quarts of water are used, a squirt of Dawn, and a 45 case full of Lemishine.