Flashhole clean out

H

Heymartay

Active member
I’ve always picked the damn walnut hulls out of the flash holes after tumbling. I watched on Brownells where they said it’s not needed, it burns out or blows out upon firing. I like to clean brass after sizing to get the lube off. What’s the consensus?
 
It may not be necessary, but me personally I would get it out. Seems to me the burn rate could be affected. Maybe not, but I would rest easier and have more confidence knowing it’s out. I have actually removed the media out of the flash hole on my brass before.
 
I'm anal about that, too, but in all reality, a primer will blow the flash hole clean upon ignition. An LRP primer alone will push a 230 gr. .45 cal ACP bullet well up into the rifling of a 1911......a friend told me so ;).
 
Yup. I'd be worried about uniform ignition although the pressure from the primer probably blows the media out without affecting powder ignition. I'm anal too. Or maybe I'm just an ass. I forget.🤔
 
Heymartay said:
Guess I’ll keep scraping flash holes and wiping the lube off. Damn, rather safe than sorry. Thanks all.
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I'm not as concerned about handgun ammo other than reliability. I use carbide dies in a progressive press so tumble the brass first and deprime in sizing die (assuring clean flash hole), use no lube. "My friend" strongly advises checking for powder charge between the powder station and seating die, seat bullet and good to go.

I load for rifle accuracy (on the progressive) so my sequence is a bit unconventional. I generally tumble, spray lanolin lube and deprime every case in sizing die, then trim and chamfer (it's quicker to trim every time w/lee trimmer, case chucked in cordless drill than to measure cases and trim as needed). The Lee trimmer assures clean flash hole for uniform ignition. Trimming, chamfering inside/out and wiping lube off case all done in one step w/case chucked in drill using this hand held jig.
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Priming is done on Primal Rights CPS primer:
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Charging and bullet seating steps are completed on the Dillon.
 
I tumble my brass after sizing. Then sit there with a took I made just for cleaning primer pocket's. 1" wood dowel with hole drilled in the cinter and nail in that hole. I check the pocket's as I pull them and walnut pieces clean right away. Also get down in the cornet of the pocket where crud does build up and scrape them clean. I would not shoot the walnut shell out of the pocket. Might work and might not, I'll never know. BTW, I don shoot mud out the end of the barrel either!
 
In your travels you will find the brands that package the product at just the right size, so that generally, no media get in the flash hole.
Certain types of rice work well i have heard. The Hornady media is especially expensive, and bad for mung getting caught in flash holes.

I did not know you could just leave flash holes covered..... I will never allow that in my fancy ammo. But maybe now that i have learned this, i would get lazier with blasting ammo?

I use Berry's walnut and corn media. They ship it to my house in 5 gallon buckets. Their sifter works great.

I generally have several 5 gallon buckets with just enough media to fill the tumbler, with different uses for each.

I use around a cap full of mineral spirits and 2-3 used dryer sheets depending on the situation. (Mostly for Walnut)

Generally I hand clean my fancy larger bolt action cartridge cases, and tumble gas gun, and pistol brass in larger quantities.

After sizing gas gun ammo with Hornady 1 shot, I tumble it.

After sizing larger hunting cartridges with with Redding Imperial/graphite neck lube, I use Isopropyl alcohol, and a rag to wipe them down.

Check Berry's out! Last time i bought from them, they did free shipping over $100

Last time I ordered, I think i bought around 5-6, 5 gallon jugs of media.
 
Pet stores also sell crushed walnut and corn cob for animal/aviary bedding.. might be even cheaper if you don't require specially treated media.
 
I tumble my brass cause it’s going through my ar’s with suppressors and looks dirty. I’ve been priming with a Lee priming tool for close to 50 years and don’t see a reason to change, easy peasy.
 
I use a small ice pick to clean the flash holes and will continue to. I watched a couple of the Brownells reloading videos but missed that one. Sounds like a smith busters.
 
Use Brass Juice.
It's the best cleaner ive ever used, I think I have used it all, the brass comes out cleaner and there are no pins or cob or shell involved to get caught in the flash hole, Its Just liquid.
 
I use a combo drill bit in a holder that is tethered to the primer reamer by fish line.
Have one each for large & small primers.
Quick process: grab the combo, clean the primer cavity with reamer then use drill bit to clear the flash hole.
This gives me a chance to test for a loose primer cavity and the brass for flaws.
 
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