RCBS is the 800-pound gorilla on the planet of reloading. The corporate has been round for many years, beneath just a few totally different house owners. I discovered it attention-grabbing that the acronym “RCBS” stands for Rock Chuck Bullet Swage, the corporate’s very first product. Fred Huntington was irritated that, in 1943, throughout WWII, he couldn’t discover varmint bullets to load, so he designed a swage to craft his personal from spent .22LR instances. He did this in a again room of his father’s laundromat in Oroville, California. The swage caught on with different shooters, and fairly quickly, he had a enterprise that he named RCBS.
With out turning this right into a historical past lesson, suffice it to say that swage blossomed right into a full-blown reloading empire that’s right now owned by the Hodgdon household. Speak about having an ideal “mother or father”! Hodgdon Powder Firm will get reloading.
One query I’ve been requested just a few instances is, “Why polish your brass? Fairly brass doesn’t shoot any higher than grungy brass!”
Technically, possibly that’s true until your brass is SO soiled that it might probably hurt your sizing die. However listed below are just a few factors in favor of case cleansing…
You’ll be able to take away case lube if it was used, primer pockets may be cleaned, and glossy brass simply appears higher and is less complicated to search out after being shot. One other closing thought is that, if you’re utilizing an ultrasonic cleaner, the within of the case will likely be clear, in addition to the surface. You may find yourself with brass that appears new.
For now, we’ll take a look at two items of kit that RCBS sells to assist get your cartridge instances able to load or to in any other case clear them. These objects are vibratory and ultrasonic cleaners.
Some reloaders tumble or in any other case clear each piece of brass, and even run their loaded rounds in a (dry) tumbler. You’re by yourself on that final bit, though I’ve talked to some heavy-duty reloaders who tumble their loaded brass. However, as I stated, I’m not recommending it as most case cleaner producers inform you not to try this of their proprietor’s manuals.
I selected a vibratory tumbler and an ultrasonic cleaner to display the cleansing course of. First, let’s take a look at the Vibratory Case Polisher, $135.
Here’s what the positioning has to say about it…
120 VAC
14-pound capability
Quiet motor; aggressive vibrating motion
Restricted Two-Yr Guarantee
Floor walnut shell media is an possibility, as properly. I simply now did a take a look at run of a small quantity of some soiled vary brass {that a} good good friend had given me, and in 3 hours, I had it cleaned and polished to a exceptional diploma. Clearly, leaving it in longer will make it shinier. Some people go in a single day with the polish job… That’s as much as you.
Right here’s a notice from my expertise… in the event you use a vibratory cleaner, that you must bear in mind that in the event you deprime the instances earlier than tumbling, you’ll find yourself with media within the flash gap. I do know some guys who tumble twice – first time to get the instances largely clear earlier than sizing and a second time after sizing/depriming to take away any case lube or die residue, regardless that they must poke media out of the flash holes.
As I stated, I’ve owned just a few of those gadgets, and each producer does issues a bit otherwise. Many manufacturers promote a rotating separator that removes the media from the instances. Sometimes, these fancy strainers value additional. (RCBS sells one for $45.) RCBS helps you in that regard by together with a flat, slotted spherical piece that matches between the physique and the lid. You should utilize this as you screw it down over the opening and invert the unit, shaking the media right into a pan because the instances stay contained in the drum. What takes time within the cleansing course of with a vibratory cleaner is separating the instances from the media, and this flat piece helps, at no further value. This cleaner is giant, holds a bunch of brass, and isn’t very loud. I prefer it rather a lot.
The RCBS Ultrasonic Case Cleaner ($185) that we now have right here is one in all two such cleaners that RCBS sells. The opposite one, the Ultrasonic Case Cleaner 2 ($400), is about twice as huge and has stainless-steel trays. Think about the bigger Ultrasonic Case Cleaner 2 in the event you want the extra capability. All of RCBS cleaners are available a 240V model for worldwide use at a barely increased value.
As for the one I acquired, listed below are its highlights from the RCBS web site…
Quickly removes tarnish, carbon buildup and steel oxides from brass instances
Encompasses a 60W transducer, 100W ceramic heater, 36kHz ultrasonic frequency and a sensor that signifies when to alter out resolution
Choose from 5 preset temperature settings and set the timer from 1 to Half-hour
3.2-quart stainless-steel tank
Restricted One Yr Guarantee
The plastic tray (tub) that comes with it holds a whole lot of brass. It is not going to maintain as a lot because the vibratory cleaner, however it can suffice for many functions. As I stated above, in the event you want extra room you may order the costlier up to date unit.
I used to be impressed with the management you may have over the cleaner. You’ll be able to set the time in 5-minute increments, up tp Half-hour, and you’ve got 5 totally different warmth settings. I used the 130F diploma setting. After the interior clock registers about 9 hours, it rerminds you to alter the answer. That will get darker as you utilize it. The great half is that the answer that’s wanted could be very concentrated and solely wants one half to forty components water for regular cleansing.
So, you need to clear gun components and never simply brass? RCBS has you coated. For $25, you should purchase Weapons Cleansing Resolution focus (once more, a 40:1 resolution) that may clear and shield your components. Good contact!
The fill line is seen on the rear of the tank, simply above my fluid degree. The management panel is intuitive and simple to make use of. The grasp energy change is on the again of each models.
Which Cleaner Is Higher?
Hoboy, that’s a query to ponder. I’ve used them each and might state that every has its good factors. I are inclined to go along with the dry media vibrator, just because I’m extra conversant in the kind however the ultrasonic has its draw, as properly. Right here’s what I’m desirous about every one.
Vibratory Cleaner
Execs
Holds extra instances
No water/resolution – instances don’t have to be dried
There are several types of media, comparable to corn cob and walnut
By inserting much less media within the drum, you may add extra instances – it simply takes longer
Cons
You must actually work to get all of the media out of the instances, particularly the bottleneck instances
Media is definitely spilled as you empty the drum and separate the instances from it
This one is quiet, however not as quiet because the ultrasonic
The within of the instances might not get as clear because the ultrasonic can do
It takes at the very least just a few hours to essentially clear instances and get them shiny
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Execs
Sometimes will clear instances in as little as Half-hour. Extra time equals shinier brass
Doesn’t take up a lot room on the bench
Quieter then the vibratory cleaner
This technique has a better likelihood of cleansing the within of the case, though it’s not assured
Shopping for weapon cleansing resolution means that you can clear gun components
You might have management over time, temperature, technique, and many others.
Cons
Holds fewer instances than the vibratory cleaner. Even the costlier 6.3-qt unit can’t match the 14-pound capability of the vibratory cleaner, and that unit is costlier
Instances have to be dried, both by air or in a dryer, earlier than use
Listed below are a few photographs…
Once more, vibratory, left, and ultrasonic, proper. The digital camera centered on the case mouth, however you get the thought. To be completely honest, these outcomes will not be essentially typical for both… each strategies cleaned some instances on the within and never others. The ultrasonic technique has a better likelihood of getting the within clear, if that issues to you. The ultrasonic technique recommends you deprime the instances first to keep away from staining from spent priming compound that may occur in the event you depart the instances moist for some time, which I did. Nonetheless, it didn’t clear primer pockets with any regularity.
I’d say you purchase whichever one in all these will fulfill your case cleansing wants. They each work; they simply work otherwise. If time is your predominant crunch issue, the ultrasonic technique is finest as it really works quicker. Once more, it’s your name.
Dwell Stock Value Checker
Conclusion
Getting instances clear and glossy earlier than reloading is less complicated than it has ever been. RCBS sells some actually nice merchandise that may accomplish that job. You must resolve if you wish to go “moist or dry” when it comes to the tactic of cleansing. Each kinds work. You simply have to choose the one which appeals most to you, or do as some reloaders do – have one in all every in your bench! Both method, RCBS has you coated.
About Mike Hardesty
With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved capturing and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Dwelling in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged creator, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.
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