Cleaning Black Power Brass

[River]

I use black powder in my 577/450 Martini Henry rounds. Soon as I get back from the range I put them in my ultrasonic cleaner, then dry and tumble in corn cob media, with a splash of polish in - however some of the staining around the neck of the brass is real tough to move, any suggestions for cleaning to remove the staining (and before anybody suggests it I cant afford to wet stainless steel tumble)? Appreciate some advice please.

[M99]

0000 wire wool:-)

[ovenpaa]

Or a dampened and worn out kitchen scourer, I use the foam backed ones about the size of a cigarette packet.

[Meaty]

I take an old milk carton, half full of a solution of water and washing up liquid, to the range and drop the cases into it after firing. Give the container a shake every now and then during the day and empty the black, eggy/fart smelling liquid down the sink before bunging the cases in the ultrasonic cleaner with some seaclean 2 solution. Cases come out very clean but with a dull hue instead of a full bling finish.

[dromia]

I use ceramic media preferring that to the steel pins, far easier to manage.

The only reason I moved to that was arthritis in my hands, for decades I cleaned my BP brass with cut down bristle brushes.

Staining on the case doesn't bother me I rather like the growing patina, what is important is that all the fouling is removed from the inside of the case as BP fouling can build up quickly in some instances reducing case capacity and thus affecting consistency.

I have some 40 year old BP brass in various calibres that are almost black, just looking at them brings a nostalgic smile to my face, they speak history to me and fond memories of past shooting and experimenting.

So if it was me then I wouldn't worry about the staining so long as the brass is clean from BP residue.

[River]

Thanks for the advice guys