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April 15, 2005
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Chuck,
While I do not know what the exact chamber lengths were for the Winchester Express cartridges, they have to be something slightly longer than 3.25″. I suspect approximately 25-thousandths longer is close. Frankly, I would simply trim the cases to precisely 3.25″ and then seat the bullet so that it is tight to the lands and then seat it another 10-15 thousandths deeper.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Chuck,
While I do not know what the exact chamber lengths were for the Winchester Express cartridges, they have to be something slightly longer than 3.25″. I suspect approximately 25-thousandths longer is close. Frankly, I would simply trim the cases to precisely 3.25″ and then seat the bullet so that it is tight to the lands and then seat it another 10-15 thousandths deeper.
Bert
You are right about that. I’ve been wondering if some of these were actually touching the chamber the way they look?
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
Bert H. said
Chuck,
While I do not know what the exact chamber lengths were for the Winchester Express cartridges, they have to be something slightly longer than 3.25″. I suspect approximately 25-thousandths longer is close. Frankly, I would simply trim the cases to precisely 3.25″ and then seat the bullet so that it is tight to the lands and then seat it another 10-15 thousandths deeper.
Bert
You are right about that. I’ve been wondering if some of these were actually touching the chamber the way they look?
What are the measure lengths of the cartridge cases you fabricated? Thinking about this a bit more, I would likely trim cases to 3.245″ to be on the safe side (and allow for a bit of continued future stretching), and then seat your bullets accordingly.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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I haven’t measured them yet. They have been soaking. I will throw them in the vibratory cleaner with 50 ea. 6.5 CM cases then measure them. The mouths aren’t smooth and flat. They do not grow evenly around the mouth. Once clean I will trim them. Right now I have to get the rifle I’m cleaning done to make room for the vibratory cleaner. My table saw table is my work area.
December 9, 2002
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Chuck,
What media are you using? How often do you change it?
I’m thinking that last question depends on the cleaning that’s done, and the condition of the cases you’re cleaning.
Anthony
March 31, 2009
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Anthony said
Chuck,
What media are you using? How often do you change it?
I’m thinking that last question depends on the cleaning that’s done, and the condition of the cases you’re cleaning.
Anthony
Right now I’m using corn cob. But it doesn’t seen to clean as well as the walnut shell. I go years between swaps. When the media gets darker than what you are trying to get off the brass it is really past the change out time. I do put a small squeeze of polish in the new media.
Here is the thing. Dirty brass shoots as well and clean brass. A lot of the big boys don’t waste time cleaning brass. But I do, especially the primer pockets. I clean the brass twice. Once before I anneal it and again to get the case lube off it. I use a primer pocket uniformer to clean the pockets. You don’t want one that is adjustable because these can work loose. Use one that is the proper SAAMI spec depth. You don’t want to cut the bottom of the pocket each time you are trying to remove powder. The bottom of the pockets do deform some so you can get a few flakes of brass. You also don’t want the diameter of the cutter polishing the sides of the pocket. The other thing I do with the brass when shooting jacketed bullets is to brush the inside of the necks. Run a brush in and out once or twice. Don’t clean it to bare metal. The remaining powder acts as a lubricant.
One last thing. If you clean your brass you have to inspect the flash holes after cleaning. Sometimes media gets stuck in the hole.
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
One last thing. If you clean your brass you have to inspect the flash holes after cleaning. Sometimes media gets stuck in the hole.
Chuck,
I tumble all of my empty cases with the expended primer still in the pocket (preventing corncob media from being lodged in the flash hole). I very much prefer to put clean brass through my dies to size & deprime them. Like you, I clean and inspect the primer pockets every single time before reloading them. New primers always seat better and more consistently in a cleaned pocket.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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To get the most out of my dry media I mix walnut and corncob and squirt a little Hornady brass polish in there when the polishing times start to run long. When the media gets dark I tear a paper towel of paper shop towel into 2-3″ squares and drop them in the media one at a time while it’s running. They’ll come out black after 30 minutes or so; media good as new, just add a little polish. I let the media clean my primer pockets, I poke the occasional media bit out before I reprime the cases.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Chuck said
One last thing. If you clean your brass you have to inspect the flash holes after cleaning. Sometimes media gets stuck in the hole.
Chuck,
I tumble all of my empty cases with the expended primer still in the pocket (preventing corncob media from being lodged in the flash hole). I very much prefer to put clean brass through my dies to size & deprime them. Like you, I clean and inspect the primer pockets every single time before reloading them. New primers always seat better and more consistently in a cleaned pocket.
Bert
I have no problem with your process. I prefer to inspect my brass before I take the time to reload it. That is why I de prime first. I use a spray lube for my brass and I don’t want to add or remove the lube by hand.
December 9, 2002
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Gentlemen, I can appreciate all of you’re expert and first hand experienced advice! 
A current member, and I won’t mention any names, has me going down the .22 Hornet rabbit hole, with a new found purchase of a really nice M-43, “Poor Man’s Rifle”, that was a deal in a half! IMO!
Anthony
March 31, 2009
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Here are some pictures from today. The first one is how I clean the primer pockets using a drill.
Here is how I brush my necks. 
This tool can be placed on a press but if you accidentally bend the brush it becomes a hassle to use. The shell holder helps me get it out of the die.
Here is an automated tool I have. You can spin the tools but it isn’t always fun getting the brass over the brush. So same goes if you bend the brush. 
Brass is in my 30+ year vibrator.
March 31, 2009
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Anthony said
Gentlemen, I can appreciate all of you’re expert and first hand experienced advice!
A current member, and I won’t mention any names, has me going down the .22 Hornet rabbit hole, with a new found purchase of a really nice M-43, “Poor Man’s Rifle”, that was a deal in a half! IMO!
Anthony
I don’t know anybody on this Forum that is skinny enough to get down that hole.
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
Anthony said
Gentlemen, I can appreciate all of you’re expert and first hand experienced advice!
A current member, and I won’t mention any names, has me going down the .22 Hornet rabbit hole, with a new found purchase of a really nice M-43, “Poor Man’s Rifle”, that was a deal in a half! IMO!
Anthony
I don’t know anybody on this Forum that is skinny enough to get down that hole.
You haven’t seen me recently… I am currently a very svelte 202 lbs. and getting thinner by the week. 
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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OK, I’ll dig the hole and see if you can get out of, oh my mistake, get in it. You got me beat by about 6 pounds.
April 15, 2005
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Chuck said
OK, I’ll dig the hole and see if you can get out of, oh my mistake, get in it. You got me beat by about 6 pounds.
I have been in the rabbit hole before, nothing new for me!
I believe that I am a bit taller than you are, still standing at 6′. I am currently just 17 lbs over what I weighed as a Senior in high-school (almost 50-years ago).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 15, 2020
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Bert, so glad to hear you are now a svelte mellow fellow. hoping to see you at Cody. Don
April 15, 2005
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86Win said
Bert, so glad to hear you are now a svelte mellow fellow. hoping to see you at Cody. Don
Svelte… Yes. Mellow… NEVER!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Bert H. said
Chuck said
OK, I’ll dig the hole and see if you can get out of, oh my mistake, get in it. You got me beat by about 6 pounds.
I have been in the rabbit hole before, nothing new for me!
I believe that I am a bit taller than you are, still standing at 6′. I am currently just 17 lbs over what I weighed as a Senior in high-school (almost 50-years ago).
Bert
Yes you are taller. I weighed 196 when I went into and came out of the Army.
