Best way to bring back luster on loaded shells

JimmyJack

Is there a good method to return the luster to previously loaded shells? After several years they tend to tarnish up a bit and Id like to bring the freshly tumbled shine back.

B17-P51

Brass polish (like BRASSO)and elbow grease will work.I don't know how many you have as this may be time consuming. I know people that tumble loaded rounds, I will not.

JimmyJack

No tumbling supposedly can change powder structure and distort pressures.

hillbille

shoot them and start over.

mrshorty

try never dull commercial product can find in lowes homedepot.
time consuming way to go but works. used in air force to polish aluminum airplanes shines like chrome. just rub on wipe off.

dan

Smitty500mag

You could try chucking a Lee case trimming shell holder up in an electric drill. Then place a cartridge in the shell holder while holding some extra fine steel wool around it with your hand and let the drill spin the cartridge in the steel wool. That would shine it without using any elbow grease.

charliemeyer007

+1 for the Lee spinner but with a scotch brite pad - no chemicals.

Keep your ammo in a sealed metal army ammo can, you can toss in an O2 absorber and maybe a descant packet.

Okie743

And after they are polished store them in zip lock bags instead of
the old card board paper shell boxes. The old paper shell boxes will cause the brass to loose it's shine during storage.

yonson

Ammo companies strongly recommend NEVER tumbling live rounds as it can wear the deterrents off the powder resulting in a very hot load.
Also, exposing brass to ammonia can contribute to Season Cracking. Brasso and Flitz both contain ammonia.

JimmyJack

quote:Originally posted by mrshorty
try never dull commercial product can find in lowes homedepot.
time consuming way to go but works. used in air force to polish aluminum airplanes shines like chrome. just rub on wipe off.

dandI bought a can and it works as good as any polish Ive tried. Good tip. Thanks