Powder Contamination

[Yelp]

Cleaned the projectiles and cases (hot soapy water this time) and reloaded with fresh primers and powder (same batched as I used previously) and all fired fine with good velocities and not erratic like the last batch.

Didn't bother with lemon/vinegar or any of that in the end?

[DaleH]

Soapy water did the trick of cleaning the degreaser and the other crap. I thought I would try the easy one first (boil the kettle and pour water into container with a good squirt of detergent then rinse with boiling water). Once out of the soapy water you could feel the difference on the surface of the cases.

[Warrigul]

I have never used degreaser etc on cases, I occaisonally get some flake carbon come out when I tap them upside down but it has never been an issue. I have cases that have been reloaded up to 30 times without any issue.

I think some people worry about case cleanliness a bit too much.

[agentzero]

I occaisonally get some flake carbon come out when I tap them upside down but it has never been an issue.

Too little to make and difference to case density/velocity I suppose if it's only a flake or two?

[Warrigul]

Too little to make and difference to case density/velocity I suppose if it's only a flake or two?

With the .308 reloads they were match grade F Class loads, I annealed, body sized, length trimmed, occaisonally polished the outside with steel wool but NEVER cleaned out the inside other than a tap on a wooden block and a scratch with a piece of wire occaisonally to check for seperation. I had very little vertical stringing which is the biggest indicator of load variation.

However there are sound reasons why cleaning cases should make a difference and if done properly it can't hurt to do(and they look nice), I just wouldn't use degreaser.

[Granting]

...but NEVER cleaned out the inside other than a tap on a wooden block and a scratch with a piece of wire occaisonally to check for seperation.

Same, I never both to clean inside brass.

I figure tumbling will always take out what it can and the same amount of residue will always be in side the case, so it's still consistent whether always clean or always dirty inside.

[Warrigul]

...but NEVER cleaned out the inside other than a tap on a wooden block and a scratch with a piece of wire occaisonally to check for seperation.

Same, I never both to clean inside brass.

I figure tumbling will always take out what it can and the same amount of residue will always be in side the case, so it's still consistent whether always clean or always dirty inside.

There is someone out there with OC disorder insisting that it is neccesary, honestly somewhere after the 10,000th reload(I kept track of how many primers I had used up to this point but haven't bothered for a couple of years now) load it stopped being fun for me and became a chore that has to be done, so I look for ways to make it less work for me.

Keeping the insides of my cases is not on my list of things to do(with the exception of the odd bit of blackpowder I shoot).

[remnt]

honestly somewhere after the 10,000th reload

Soooo, you've been shooting for a while then?

[Warrigul]

honestly somewhere after the 10,000th reload

Soooo, you've been shooting for a while then?

I have only been reloading for seven years, the first three years were .223, .243 .308, .300 win mag and .303 rifle for hunting and range work only, then LOTS of .38 and .357, cadet, hornet, mauser etc as well.

It doesn't take long to rack up a few thousand when you are reloading for a centerfire pistol or three, it is not as impressive as it sounds. I did the right thing last year and made a couple of mates learn how to reload for themselves.

For pistol I am a big fan of nickel cases, carbide dies, I never clean primer pockets and I never do a batch of less than 1000 cases.

[Rippah]

I was having a chat with the pistol guy at my local range. He reckons you go through 5,000 rounds a year comp shooting if you're doing it "properly".

[Warrigul]

I was having a chat with the pistol guy at my local range. He reckons you go through 5,000 rounds a year comp shooting if you're doing it "properly".

Yep, there is a reason so many progressive presses are sold in pistol calibres.

[Rocker]

I was having a chat with the pistol guy at my local range. He reckons you go through 5,000 rounds a year comp shooting if you're doing it "properly".

Someone's obviously earning a lot more than me to be shooting it all away

[DaleH]

Just got the email response from ADI with confirmation along the lines that hydrocarbons and excessive lube will contaminate powders. Case closed - my stuff up - lesson learned