Shotshell cleaning and conditioning

L

Lhigginsqrb

New member
I’ve reloaded several types of hull and I’m noticing some cycle smoother than others. The batch I made back in 2012 I didn’t even clean. They fired fine after almost a decade of sitting around but I did note excessive smoke. There are a number of potential causes. Moisture getting in or the leftover residue from the original shot.

Anyway I have two questions. What is your go to cleaning method? I’m looking at using my brass tumbler but if it will save on media I may prewash or skip the tumbler.

Also what steps do you take to condition the hulls? I want to ensure a good tight crimp which I may treat with wax. I also want smooth cycling so I’m considering wax or light oil on the entire outside hull. I’ve seen skiving tools on the market and I’m not sure if I need to do that. My uncle had made a tool out of wood to return the crimp Area to a rounded out pre-crimp shape. I’m open to options here to try.
 
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I have never cleaned any hulls in any tumbler or similar' If they are muddy, I wipe them off' if they're THAT bad, they get tossed in the trash. This isn't metallic.
Any decent reloader will have an adjustable crimp including the ability to put a roll for smooth feeding in semis.
No oil, no wax. I have some ammo that I loaded 25 years ago that still goes bang without. any of that
 
Except, if he is sing hulls with paper base wads, water will ruin the hulls; simply no need to introduce a possible complication when not needed.
 
mehavey said:
"IF" I did anything.... I'd just swirl in a big pot of (dish-)soapy water, rinse twice and dry.
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I'm in the same boat. I see tumbling hulls as only causing more issues. If they're not overly crusty, use them, if they are, toss them. But I was given a 55 gallon drum full of Remington sts hulls, so I had a lot to work with.

Feed issues will likely be resolved by adjusting the crimp, and cycling by load.

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Lhigginsqrb, I agree with all above. I have Win AA hulls I was given by a neighbor 51 years ago that I still reload and I have never tried to clean them. When the crimp area cracks and they get so dirty you might get embarrassed, toss 'em. The most effort I've ever exerted is using a compressed gas can to blow out the dried vegetation that accumulated from a day in the hunting field.
 
Cleaning hulls? You've got to be kidding! Nobody that I know who shoots trap cleans their hulls. You simply load them up to 10 times (with quality hulls) and toss 'em.

Don
 
I shoot in the desert, so most of my hulls get dusty and gritty.
I wipe everything down with a damp towel a day or so before I plan to load.
That's it.

If it's dirty enough to need "cleaning", I toss it.

Somebody's reloading paper-base wad hulls these days?
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Federal "Top Gun" hulls and their budget brands use paper base wads. As do some imports.
Get it wet, and you're screwed.
I have had paper base wads out in the air, with good circulation, for over 3 years, and was still unable to get them dry.
 
Thanks for the answers Guys.

I still can’t get my head around the excess smoke. Almost certainly moisture related. I’m going to make a new batch soon and see if it persists. I’m using hogden longshot powder if that means anything to anyone.
 
I also use Longshot with Win AA hulls and I don’t notice any excessive smoke however; I don’t treat the crimps with anything (i.e. wax) and they are not decades old.
 
I also use Longshot ....
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Heavy shot loads ?

as to moisture causing smoke... consider that a a modern plastic
case/plastic wad produces a sealed powder chamber.

"Smoke" is most likely undercharging and/or too light a shot mass when using Longshot.
 
my cleaning method is.........look in hull for spider webs. stick finger in, pull it out if any. blow.
load it. anything else is anal retentive.
 
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