Depends on how many you are planning to clean. Small qty, put them on a onion sack (from the grocery) and put them in the washing machine. Be forewarned, wifey ain't gonna like that much, Lots of noise and will damage the liner inside the tub if done too much. Then the tub rusts and you get rust colored Sunday clothes. Been there, done that, suffered for it. I clean all my Rem's, AA's, and Gold Medals. Anything that is a one piece case. I use a cement mixer from Harbor Freight that cost about $200. I think they have a smaller one for around $100. I size the hulls on a MEC Sizemaster, deprime on an old single stage press, dump them in the mixer, cover with water, add a little Purple Power or Simple Green from WalMart and add about a scoop of Oxi Clean. Tumble for about an hour, rinse with clean water and spread in the sun for several hours to dry. I think it is a good thing to de-prime becaues it allows better drying in the primer area. A fan over the top will speed the process. DON"T leave them out over night. They sweat. I can tell you now that someone will chastize you for cleaning hulls. I don't understand that. Some of the same people clean rifle brass to save dies that cost $40.00 but will run dirty hulls through a $15,000 gun and a $1000 loader. Go figure. Do try cleaning. It takes time but makes loading a breeze and keeps everything clean.
I just use a rag soaked in hot water ... to give a quick wipe of the outside of the hull ... just before I get set to load them. Gets em clean enough for me.
As Porter said , put them in an onion sack, that worked good for me. I did mine at a launder mat. After washing I put them in the dryer and that really got noisey. It was well worth it , just seeing the expressions on the little old ladies faces when they asked me about the noise and I told them it was a bag full of shotgun shells.
I don't know about "ironic". I've seen enough in my lifetime to know that somewhere, somehow, someone might have needed that advice. Just look at some of the posts on this site alone and you begin to wonder. AND Yes, I have seen the results of someone trying just that. They wondered why they had so many bloopers and duds and asked me to take a look after experiencing a short hangfire. One look inside the hulls he was loading and it was obvious what the problem was. No amount of drying will fix a paper basewad once it's been soaked.
hmb
Try a splash of clorox in the mix, just to be sure!
I figure the all this input "Propeal" (the xmas seller will come up with some gismo to wet our wiskers and tell our wife to get it for us instead of the attachment for the lawn mower. LOL
Been washing and drying Federal Gold Metal, STS and Gun Club in the Maytag for years. No rust to start with, however.
Would not recommend washing really bad rusted hulls. Washing normal fired hulls is not a problem.
You need a strong knit bag that closes tight. Pitch in with the rest of the dirty laundry. Dry the same way. Cement mixer would work, but...Save the 200 USD and the questions from the neighbors.
On the other hand, if you can't work your washing machine, or do like to get dirty, or reload dirty, or shoot dirty, then don't bother. Some people just like to get dirty.
Noise is kept to a minimum when you have a full washer and dryer. And the machine is not damaged.
It is free, takes no time or talent and works every time. A trap shooter's dream.
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Trapshooters Forum
4.1M posts
85.3K members
Since 2005
A forum community dedicated to Trap shooting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about targets, clays, hunting, gunsmithing, gear reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!