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dolphin62
11-19-2017, 04:28 PM
I just loaded some .38 and shot them trough my new revolver. The cases after being shot were a little dirty and some were hardly dirty at all. The question is can I just wipe them off and reload them or is it best to tumble and polish the brass each time. I load lead and cast so the cases have some carbon on them after shooting.

JohnO
11-19-2017, 04:50 PM
If the cases are clean enough such that they will not interfere with the loading process there will be no issues. You don't want sand or grit on the cases that could damage your dies or cause a case to get stuck. Otherwise it is purely cosmetic.

Malamute
11-19-2017, 04:53 PM
I loaded for about 20 or more years before any of my brass was run though a polisher of any kind. Pistol shells in particular, with carbide sizing dies dont take much to keep them going. Wiping excess carbon off is good, but not required. Actual mud or dirt is good to get off by whatever handy means you have, but other than scraping off with a fingernail, isnt required to make functional ammo.

BN
11-19-2017, 06:42 PM
I always clean my brass. I have one sizing die that puts scratches on the brass.

I guess if you know that all the dirt and grunge is wiped off it would be OK not to clean.