Author Topic: 25ACP questions (Read 4421 times)

MI.sabot · « **on:** October 30, 2007, 03:03:45 PM »

I'm going to the range tomorrow for the first time since doing the ACP conversion.

I fired a primed brass just to make sure everything was in working order before heading out.

Question is: does the brass need to be cleaned before re-priming it?
I noticed what appears to be a fair amount of residue on the inside of the brass after the initial firing.
If so, how do you clean it and with what?

Is there a maximum number of times that the brass can be re-primed?

Thanks

Semisane · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2007, 03:22:41 PM »

Yes, it needs to be cleaned after you use it. I use a Midway vibrating case tumbler because I have one for other reloading. But you don't need to go to that expense for your purposes. Here's what I would do if I didn't have the tumbler.

1. Take a small plastic bottle of soapy water with you to the range. (I use a 20 oz. plastic Coke bottle, but something smaller will do, maybe a pill bottle.)
2. When you take the fired cartridge case out of the gun drop it into the bottle of soapy water.
3. Whenever you get around to it - a day or two, or a week later - shake the bottle real well, dump the cases into a larger container and flush them with clean water.
4. Punch out the spent primer.
5. Wipe out the inside of the case and primer pocket with a cotton swab, or for a real good cleaning wrap a little steel wool around the swab.
6. Wipe the outside with one of those green dish washing scrubbies or some steel wool.
7. Make sure they're dry, and re-prime.
8. Shoot 'em up and do it all again.

You can reuse them until the new primer will no longer stay in the pocket - probably forever since there's no real pressure to stretch the brass as there is when firing a bullet from the cartridge case.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2007, 05:13:54 PM »

I tumble my 25 ACP brass to clean it.

sabotloader · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2007, 07:30:57 AM »

MI.sabot

I have shot a lot of 25acp's in my Omega and 32 H&R's in my A&H (usually the same cases over and over again), I do clean the primer pocket with a simple primer tool and on occasion I do clean the inside of the case with case cleaning brush - but that is all i do. None of my cases have ever gotten crusty on the outside - they have discolored somewhat but nothing that is going to cause a problem.

AndyHass · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2007, 10:32:42 AM »

I tumble them every other use. That is all I do...the inside stays a little cruddy but it doesn't hurt anything. I've reloaded my same 100 or so brass at least 6-8 times each and I've only had to toss one (the rim separated during re-priming).

MI.sabot · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:30:53 PM »

Thanks for the replies.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive tumbler that'll do the job.
Not into reloading, so the MLwould be my only need for case cleaning.

Sabotloader: can you elaborate on the primer tool and case cleaning brush you use.
A link to where I might find these items would be most helpful.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2007, 06:32:59 PM »

Quote from: MI.sabot on October 31, 2007, 04:30:53 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive tumbler that'll do the job.
Not into reloading, so the MLwould be my only need for case cleaning.

Sabotloader: can you elaborate on the primer tool and case cleaning brush you use.
A link to where I might find these items would be most helpful.

If you want to get away with very little out of pocket expense. Get a very small pin punch to remove the primers from the case, get a lee load all tool for re-priming the cases, you will need a shell holder for the 25 ACP, you can get them from Lee also. To clean the cases, drop them in some hot soapy water, then remove them and run a Q-tip inside the case and let them dry. I have heard of guys putting them in the oven on very low to aid in drying or an old hair drier. Once dry, re-prime them and your ready to go. Buy some empth cases so you always have loaded ones while you work on the spend cases.
Hope this helped.

AndyHass · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2007, 11:03:23 AM »

I agree with Redhawk, unless you do a lot of ML shooting I would not buy a tumbler just for the ACPs. It's not worth the expense. Before I had a tumbler I just wiped with a piece of fine sandpaper if they had gritty corrosion on the outside and then with a cloth.

nrb · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2007, 02:48:34 AM »

For the limited use of 25acp brass, I recommend just washing them with a good detergent and drying well before repriming. Often, instead of tumbling brass, I spray the dirty cases with Simple Green of another liquid detergent and see how well the cases are cleaned of the powder residue. You can brush them inside also. Then rinse well in water and dry. If you wash after depriming the process cleans better. Because you will be cleaning at most a few dozen cases, it does not require the expense of a tumbler. I usually tumble when I have a few hundred cases needing serious cleaning.

best, nrb

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2007, 03:14:15 AM »

Lee makes a 25acp kit for reloading , might be the best way to go .
It comes in a small box , you use a wooden mallet to work it .

Oldsnow · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2007, 08:32:54 AM »

You could also Go to a local Drug store and buy (Citric Acid).

De-solve 2 1/2 table of Citric Acid in 2 cups of hot water.
Soak your deprimed Brass in this for 10 to 15 minutes or until clean.
Rinse your cleaned brass in hot soapy water.
Rinse again in plain hot water.
After your brass has dried good, it is ready to be reprimed.

nrb · « **Reply #11 on:** November 07, 2007, 01:51:27 PM »

An acid such as citric acid or acetic acid (vinegar) contacts a brass case, the acid dissolves the brass. This weakens the case and will ultimately destroy the case or severely weaken it.

best, nrb

Tracker · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2007, 12:27:24 PM »

I have used the brass 5 times and never did anything to clean them other than making sure the primer pocket is clean.

DonsHarley82 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2007, 06:40:50 PM »

If you go to www.thebuckskinner.com they have a complete lee primer set ,it comes with a die ,punch,and primer tool for 24.95 and they also have extra brass.Good luck.
Don

gila_dog · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2007, 06:04:57 AM »

Please excuse my ignorance, but why is a 25 ACP better than a 209? Sounds like a lot more hassle and expense. What's the advantage?

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2007, 07:40:23 AM »

Advantages of 25ACP: Easier to handle in the field than the 209, more positive seal than the 209 (less blowback). greater variety of primer power levels to select from, small pistol and small rifle primers a lot less expensive than the special muzzleloading 209 primers, and some see accuracy improvement although I have not and in the case of the NEF it also eliminates the need for the goofy breechplug removal tool as the .25 conversion plug has a normal hex head.

gila_dog · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:24:12 PM »

Thanks for the education. Now to reveal more of my ignorance. You mentioned special muzzle loading 209's. What's special about those? Where do you get them? I've been using some basic Federal 209 shotgun primers. Why aren't those ok to use?

30-06man · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:28:58 PM »

The 209 can move your Sabot. Take your ram rod and put a patch behind it and put a primer in (make sure its unloaded) and point into a safe direction and fire. Your ram rod will etiher move a lot or out of the barrel. The 209 does that to your load. The primers he is talking about are Winchester Triple 7 primers. There is nothing wrong with the 209's you are using now if you do not wish to change them.

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2007, 03:05:47 PM »

Quote from: gila_dog on December 19, 2007, 02:24:12 PM

Thanks for the education. Now to reveal more of my ignorance. You mentioned special muzzle loading 209's. What's special about those? Where do you get them? I've been using some basic Federal 209 shotgun primers. Why aren't those ok to use?

Federal standard 209 primers are the "hottest" of all the standard primers. If there is a problem with the primer being too powerful the Federal is the leader of the pack.

30-06man · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2007, 03:10:47 PM »

There made for shot shells. I would like that in a shotgun though. But for blackpowder I would want the Winchester or .25acp. Ill be getting another 25acp conversion for another encore of mine.

ChuckC · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2007, 08:35:36 AM »

I have thought of getting the .25 cal conversion BUT... I am getting under MOA groups with my T/C Omega using Federal 209 primers and am not going to mess with a good thing. The conversion just seems like more unnecessary messing around and expense when I am getting groups this good.

Hey, whatever works.

30-06man · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2007, 09:23:40 AM »

That's why I didn't change my newest encore yet. I might.

Varmint Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2008, 08:14:20 AM »

Well now that Winchester is about to release their new BP substitute, "Buckhorn 209", we'll all have to switch back to regular 209 primers again. Supposedly the Buckhorn 209 powder is non-corrosive (hooraaaa), very consistent and bearly fouls at all. However, it needs the full spark of a regular 209 primer for consistent ignition.

Heck - I haven't even got around to trying the 25 acp conversion yet and my brand new 777 primers are outdated!

30-06man · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2008, 11:35:55 AM »

Well I am glad to see all this new tech coming to ML it has been long due.

Slufoot · « **Reply #24 on:** April 01, 2008, 03:56:19 PM »

I have no experience with the 25acp breech plugs but I'm interested in them, so if some of you that have these could answer my questions I would appreciate it.
Does the breech plug have a vent liner or something similar to a flash hole to keep the powder from going through to the firing pin, or do you have to keep a 25acp case in the breech plug when loading?
Thank you very much!
Slufoot

Semisane · « **Reply #25 on:** April 01, 2008, 05:28:41 PM »

Hey Slufoot. The breechplug retains the same very small flash hole used for the 209 primer. Just visualize the 209 primer hole in the breechplug enlarged just enough to fit in a 25ACP case, and the rear of the plug shortened a little so that you can grab the rear of the ACP case. The hole for the case is just deep enough that the rear of the ACP case is tight against the breech face with the action closed.

Here's a picture of the plug for my Lyman Mustang with a 25ACP case fully inserted.

Slufoot · « **Reply #26 on:** April 04, 2008, 02:26:35 AM »

Thanks Semisane, so if you look through the hole in the breech plug it would be very small, about the size of a flash hole in a cartridge case, correct?
I'm assuming it needs to be this way so you can load your gun without a 25acp case in place and to keep the powder from going through the plug and getting into the action?
I would think that the 25acp case is alot easier to remove after firing the gun than a 209 primer, is this correct?
Thank you very much for your response and for the picture!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

Odinbreaker · « **Reply #27 on:** April 10, 2008, 04:34:36 AM »

Semi correct me if I am wrong. To make your own 25 acp adapter I used a standard TC breech I put in a 209 measured it. I than chucked it into a lathe using an( L) drill bit. I drilled it out checking depth with a 25 acp brass until it measured the same as the 209. I usually left about 2000ths less so the brass would cup when loaded it seems to seal blow back better.

AndyHass · « **Reply #28 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:28:34 AM »

I forgot what bit size I used (just used a standard drill bit) but yes, the overall length with the ACP case in is what is important. I had an ACP plug I bought before I had access to a lathe so that simplified it for me.

Semisane · « **Reply #29 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:12:52 PM »

Quote from: Odinbreaker on April 10, 2008, 04:34:36 AM

Semi correct me if I am wrong. To make your own 25 acp adapter I used a standard TC breech I put in a 209 measured it. I than chucked it into a lathe using an( L) drill bit. I drilled it out checking depth with a 25 acp brass until it measured the same as the 209. I usually left about 2000ths less so the brass would cup when loaded it seems to seal blow back better.

Exactly right. That's what I did.