Tumbling Primed Brass ... Bad idea?

PHOENIX PHIL

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Sparing the story, I've got a few pieces of primed yet unloaded brass. These pieces have been sitting for awhile and a bit tarnished. I prefer to only put nice clean brass in my actions, probably more to relieve my ballistic OCD than anything else.

So I thought about tumbling these pieces for awhile to clean them up. But I don't know, seems maybe that's a bad idea with the tumbling media / dust getting into the primer and not giving good ignition. I'm using crushed walnut shells for media.

Your thoughts?
 
I wouldn't do it, not just from the safety aspect, but also because the case mouths may be knocked around. Since you only have a few, just get some 0000 steel wool and polish them by hand. If you haven't done it before, you will be surprised at how good a job the steel wool does.
 
You aren’t the only one that has thought about doing this Phil, I have that same OCD. I’ve never done it though, there are just to many things that can be affected. The steel wool works well, I’ve used it on loaded cartridges that have lost their sex appeal
 
bad idea,
shine with steel wool or....tumble, and reprime brass. all kinds of crap could get in your primer and affect it, primers are CHEAP!
 
We have consensus!

Would not want all the walnut dust/bits/rouge getting in between the primer bits.
 

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Wasn’t sure what the thread would be about just reading the headline but glad I opened it. I learned something!
 
Steel wool it shall be, no tumbling. Thanks for the steel wool idea and confirming I was about to do something stupid.
 
If the primed cases have become tarnished, then how long have they been sitting around? Have the primers been exposed to dust or moist air? Given that primers are cheap, why not de-prime and clean your brass. Then re-prime with fresh primers and reload as per normal. That way you start knowing all your components are good.
 
I used silver polish on some old .45-90 brass and it worked fine. Even my pre school grandson was able to do it.
Soiled brass is also a no- no with me so ammo is never left in leather pistol belts or ammo carriers. I use the same ammo carrier for .405 wcf as for .45-70 and 90, so post hunt, all such ammo is removed and placed into the appropriate plastic ammo box.
 
Its no big deal to knock live primers out if done slowly, you can even reuse them unless crimped in, then they might come out a bit wonky, but who cares? Chuck them and reprime.
 
yes for the cost of a few primers I wouldn't want to take the chance and if they have set around long enough to tarnish they should be reprimed anyway
 
I have reloaded since 1965………would not, in my wildest dreams, consider tumbling a primed case.....primers are cheap. Deprime, tumble, prime and load. When you tumble a primed case, Murphy’s law takes precedent.
 
Deprime and use them for foulers.
 
I'd just load them and shoot them even if you do like nice shinny cases.
 
Personally I'd knock the primers out, clean the cases and load. The people questioning how long the primers have been hanging around if the brass is tarnished are spot on. Primers cost nothing compared to powder and bullets and it won't take long to deprime them.
 
Bad idea. Write them off and dispose of them. At the very least you will never be assured of consistent ignition and you won't sleep well.
 

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