BP Newbie question

[hatman]

I've started shooting BP rounds in my Shiloh and C Sharps and really enjoying the experience.
I haven't made the commitment to reload but I'm hedging my bets by saving the brass.
I've been decapping the spent loads and then soaking the brass in warm water with some vinegar and dish soap.

After this soaking and rinsing the brass becomes mostly discolored (blue/black/purple).
Is this normal?
Does a tumbler return the brass to "new" and/or does it matter from a functional perspective?

[Stu Kettle]

Yes that's normal & doesn't hurt anything. You can probably get it polished enough to look new, but it's not necessary unless you really want shiny new brass.

[Blackpowder Burn]

The absolute best results I've seen are from a rotary tumbler with stainless steel pins.  These are available from Stainless Tumbling Media (www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com).  I've used it on unbelievably dirty and corroded brass and they come out looking shiny and new.

As Stu says, it's not necessary to clean the brass to that point..............but it sure is purty!  

[hatman]

Thanks guys for easing my mind that I haven't been wasting my time.   

One other question:
Is hotter water better than just warm or does it matter?

[Lefty Dude]

Do not use the Vinegar, just the dish soap. The Vinegar will turn the brass dark. I use just warm water.

[hatman]

Do not use the Vinegar, just the dish soap. The Vinegar will turn the brass dark. I use just warm water.

Aha.  Thanks for that tip. 

[Flint]

I got living proof of acid rain at a shoot a few years ago in California (in the rain).  The rain spotted my Yellowboy 66 frame brown.  Yes, Vinegar will brown brass.  (it will also remove blue)  Ammonia (alkaline) willl brighten brass, which is the major component of Brasso.

[Seth Hawkins]

+1 for just plain water.  A little dish soap won't hurt, but isn't necessary.  Dropping the brass for it's initial cleaning into hot water will get the fouling out a little faster.  It's like washing the dishes - cold water will clean the dishes, too, but hot water gets them cleaner, faster.

+1 on discoloration.  It's not hurting anything, but it always seams like clean & shiny brass shoots better than dull, discolored brass.  There is no empirical data to prove this AFAIK.  LOL.  It's just one of those things.  I use a tumbler with ceramic media and some burnishing compound to clean my brass.  It gets them looking bright & shiny inside & out.  I'm more concerned about the "inside" part with my Sharps brass.