If you’re already a reloader, then this post probably won’t tell you anything, but if you’re considering reloading then this is a topic you will need to become familiar with.
Unless you buy shell casings that are new, (which is unlikely if your reloading either to save money or to become more ammunition self reliant) then your going to have to clean the residue from the burnt powder as well as the dirt and grime they received on the ground before you reload them. If you don’t then not only may you have a dirt clod or other foreign object stuck inside the casing (which most likely would cause an explosion upon firing). More likely would be that grit on the outside of the casing would damage your expensive reloading dies or the chamber of you firearm. Continue reading →