Brass case prep ; discoloured after drying

Back to the OP, any metal will oxidize at elevated temps.

For a number of years MerCruiser was installing 140 deg F thermostats, trying to reduce the corrosion that was happening at higher temps; not sure how they addressed the problem but they are using 180 degree thermostats now.

The brass you baked dry would eventually have the same oxidation at room temp; the added heat just quickened it up a bit.
 
The biggest problem of contamination of the sizing die is with excessive sizing lube. If you are not careful to put the very minimum amount of lube on, the excess lube will accumulate at the shoulder and case dents in the shoulder face.

Above is what I mean about your postings, the reloading manuals tell you to wipe the excess lube off the neck and shoulder before sizing.

And Imperial sizing lube is normally applied using your fingers to not apply a excess amount.

So if you are the "expert" you claim to be why would you say case lube would contaminate a sizing die.

It is what is sticking to the case that will cause any scratches on the brass and be embed to the inside of the die.

On top of this you told the forum it was OK to lube their cases to fire form the cases and this doubles the bolt trust and a very bad idea. And then you said I didn't understand and you were an Engineer and had 50 years of reloading experience. Then you switch advice to jamming the bullets into the rifling to fire form the brass."BUT" all I see is you repeating what other people have posted here and other forums.

Then you you had the audacity to tell the forum there was no difference in primer hardness and thickness.

50 years of reloading experience my gluteus maximus, and its a shame the younger and inexperienced reloaders here are buying into your BS. It was bad enough with sunray in this forum and now we have you as the resident "expert". So tell me again I do not understand bolt thrust and its OK to lube cases to fire form them when so many older and weaker rifles are being used in this forum.
 
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Hmmm maybe I just baked the first ones too long...

Here's a side by side , same temp but this time when I put the cases in the oven I shut it off , returned an hour later and they are dry and not discoloured !

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That's what I found...a little too long in the oven at drying temperature.

Don't know if you are concerned about appearance. I don't chase the shininess too aggressively, however if I have to trim and use the Lee trim cutter/power drill, I'll touch them with steel wool at the same time because it's an opportunity. The cartridges that have been polished by the steel wool at least once are less sensitive to appearance change due to longer drying cycles.

Regards
Ron
 
Haha....

I was just thinking that.

Although, I'm in Saskatoon right now, and I could swear I saw you in cabelas earlier today with a pack of 36grit sandpaper, a PST 4-16 FFP, set of millet rings, and some marinetex.....
 
Would baking your brass not anneal them too?

No, thats what I was worried about when I posted a photo of my darker cases at AccurateShooter.com. Annealing temperature is in the 500 to 600 degree range and that happened here was at a much lower heat range. And it was just surface oxidation that comes off if the cases are dipped again in LemiShine. (citric acid)

So again, my cases changed color just using a hair drier in a open 5 gallon bucket. I think my problem was not rinsing the cases "clean" in hot water and it never happened again.
 
:runaway: For clarity...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't get me confused with AKA.

Regards
Ron


Don't worry in this forum you have some very experienced and smart reloaders and I enjoy reading their postings. And all we have to do is remember that Ron AKA isn't one of them.

I dub thee knight Ron "R" the Reloader.
 
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Don't worry in this forum you have some very experienced and smart reloaders and I enjoy reading their postings. And all we have to do is remember that Ron AKA isn't one of them.

I dub thee knight Ron "R" the Reloader.

:cheers: i have got so much more to learn. Keep posting Ed.

Ron
 
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Haha....

I was just thinking that.

Although, I'm in Saskatoon right now, and I could swear I saw you in cabelas earlier today with a pack of 36grit sandpaper, a PST 4-16 FFP, set of millet rings, and some marinetex.....

I hope that day comes man when its possible to break open the bank and spend thick. Till then i will live vicariously through you guys.

:cheers:

Best Regards GGG
Ron
 
Discoloration is normal. Mine stay all shiny after drying but a couple of months in the safe or waiting to be loaded and they fade a little. I have acidic hands to any brass I touch bare hand will discolor even faster. Sometimes I find my fingerprints on my brass... My hunting rounds are all faded because I've had them in my hands so much.
 
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