Achieving Pristine Reloading Brass: The Ultimate Guide to Lyman Corn Cob Plus Case Cleaning Media

For any serious reloader, the foundation of consistent, accurate, and safe ammunition begins with impeccably clean brass. Dirty, tarnished cases aren't just an aesthetic issue; they can lead to a host of problems, from inconsistent powder charges and improper bullet seating to excessive wear on your reloading dies and even potential firearm malfunctions. This is precisely where the right case cleaning media becomes an indispensable tool in your reloading arsenal. Among the most trusted and effective solutions available, Lyman 7631307 Corn Cob Plus Case Cleaning Media (2 lbs) stands out as a premier choice for shooters and reloaders who demand excellence.

This comprehensive guide will delve into why clean brass is paramount, how Lyman Corn Cob Plus provides an unparalleled cleaning and polishing experience, and how to integrate it seamlessly into your reloading workflow for optimal results. If you’ve ever wondered, "What's the best way to clean my spent brass for reloading?" or "How can I ensure my reloaded ammunition performs consistently?" then this powerful cleaning agent holds many of the answers.

Why Immaculate Brass is Non-Negotiable for Reloading Success

Before diving into the specifics of Lyman Corn Cob Plus, it's crucial to understand the critical role clean brass plays in the reloading process. Here's why preparing your cases properly is essential:

• Enhanced Die Life: Spent cases often have carbon fouling, primer residue, and general grime adhering to their surfaces. Running these dirty cases through your sizing dies can act like sandpaper, accelerating wear on the highly polished internal surfaces of your dies. Clean cases, on the other hand, glide smoothly, extending the lifespan of your expensive reloading equipment.
• Consistent Powder Charges: Residue inside the case can affect the internal volume, potentially leading to slight variations in powder capacity. While seemingly minor, even small deviations can impact velocity and pressure, directly affecting shot-to-shot consistency and accuracy.
• Reliable Primer Seating: Primer pockets are particularly prone to accumulating carbon and primer residue. A dirty primer pocket can prevent a new primer from seating fully and flush with the case head, leading to misfires, hangfires, or inconsistent ignition. Clean pockets ensure primers seat correctly and securely every time.
• Improved Bullet Retention: The case mouth needs to be clean and free of debris to ensure proper bullet seating and neck tension. Contaminants can compromise the concentricity of the loaded round and the crucial bullet-to-case grip, which is vital for accuracy.
• Reduced Chamber Fouling: When firing ammunition made with dirty cases, some of that external grime can transfer to your firearm's chamber, leading to more frequent cleaning requirements for your gun and potentially affecting reliable feeding and extraction over time.
• Aesthetic and Professional Finish: While not directly impacting performance, clean, polished brass simply looks better and conveys a sense of professionalism and attention to detail in your reloading practices.

Lyman Corn Cob Plus: The Science of Shine

Lyman has been a trusted name in reloading for generations, and their Lyman Turbo Case Cleaning Media Corn Cob Plus is a testament to their commitment to quality and effectiveness. This particular media is engineered specifically for superior brass preparation.

What is it made of?
Lyman Corn Cob Plus is crafted from natural, processed corncobs. Corncob media itself is a staple in vibratory and rotary tumbling systems due to its natural abrasive properties, which are gentle enough not to remove case material but effective enough to clean surface grime.

The "Plus" Factor:
The key differentiator for Corn Cob Plus is the integrated polishing agent. Unlike plain corncob media, which primarily cleans, the added polishing agent actively works to impart a brilliant, mirror-like shine to your cases. This eliminates the need for a separate polishing step or additive, streamlining your case preparation process. The polishing agent adheres to the corncob granules, ensuring an even distribution and consistent results throughout the tumbling cycle. It's a non-abrasive formula that removes oxidation and tarnishing without causing any measurable wear to your valuable brass.

When activated within a tumbler, the unique texture of the corncob granules, combined with the polishing agent, gently scrubs away dirt, carbon, and oxidation from every crevice of your spent casings, including the often-stubborn areas around the case mouth and head.

How to Achieve Flawless Brass with Lyman Corn Cob Plus

Using Lyman Corn Cob Plus is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced reloaders. The process is most effective when paired with a vibratory or rotary case tumbler.

Step-by-Step Tumbling Process:

1. Gather Your Materials:
   • Lyman Corn Cob Plus 2 lb media (UPC: 011516813077)
   • A reliable case tumbler (Lyman Turbo Tumblers are designed to work perfectly with this media)
   • Your dirty brass cases
   • A case/media separator (highly recommended for efficient post-tumbling sorting)
2. Load the Tumbler:
   • Ensure your tumbler is clean and free of old media or debris.
   • Pour the Lyman Corn Cob Plus into the tumbler bowl. Refer to your tumbler's instructions for the recommended media fill level, but typically, you want enough media to cover the brass during operation. For most standard tumblers, a 2 lb bag is an ideal starting quantity.
   • Add your dirty brass cases. A good rule of thumb is to fill the tumbler with a mix of media and cases, ensuring there's enough media to circulate freely and contact all surfaces of the brass. Avoid overfilling, as this can impede the tumbling action.
3. Start the Tumbler:
   • Secure the lid of your tumbler and turn it on.
   • The vibratory or rotary action will cause the media and cases to agitate, allowing the corncob granules and polishing agent to work their magic.
4. Tumbling Duration:
   • The typical tumbling time for dirty brass with Lyman Corn Cob Plus is 2 to 4 hours.
   • For extremely tarnished or heavily fouled cases, you might extend the time to 6-8 hours.
   • For light cleaning or just a quick polish of already relatively clean brass, 1-2 hours might suffice.
   • You'll know the process is complete when your cases exhibit a bright, polished luster.
5. Separate Cases from Media:
   • Once tumbling is complete, turn off the tumbler.
   • Carefully pour the mixture of cases and media into a case/media separator. These separators are invaluable, quickly sifting the clean brass from the media, which can then be reused.
   • If you don't have a separator, you can manually pick out the cases or use a sieve, though this is less efficient.
6. Inspect and Store:
   • Inspect your cleaned cases to ensure all media has been removed, especially from flash holes and primer pockets. A small pick or decapping pin can help dislodge any stubborn media.
   • Your cases are now clean, polished, and ready for the next steps in your reloading process: decapping, resizing, priming, powder charging, and bullet seating. Store them in a clean, dry container to maintain their pristine condition.

Common Questions and Expert Advice for Optimal Results

To further optimize your case cleaning routine and get the most out of your Lyman Corn Cob Plus, consider these frequently asked questions and expert tips:

• "How often should I replace my cleaning media?"
  • The lifespan of your media depends on how dirty your brass is and how frequently you tumble. As the media absorbs dirt and grime, its effectiveness will diminish, and it will eventually turn dark. As a general guideline, replace your Lyman Corn Cob Plus when it consistently fails to produce the desired polish, or when it becomes visibly dark and dusty. Many reloaders replace media after several dozen hours of tumbling or when the 2 lb bag is simply exhausted from repeated use and occasional replenishment.
• "Can I add anything to the media for better results?"
  • Lyman Corn Cob Plus already contains an integrated polishing agent, so additional additives are generally not necessary. For extreme tarnish, some reloaders might lightly mist the media with a small amount of brass polish solution designed for tumblers, but this is usually not required with the "Plus" formulation. Avoid using liquid polishes that are not specifically designed for tumbling media, as they can cause clumping.
• "Is corn cob media safe for my brass?"
  • Absolutely. Corn cob media, including Lyman Corn Cob Plus, is a non-abrasive natural material. It cleans and polishes without removing any brass material, preserving the integrity and lifespan of your cases for multiple reloading cycles.
• "What's the difference between corn cob and walnut media?"
  • Walnut shell media is generally more aggressive and is excellent for removing heavy carbon fouling and ground-in dirt. Corn cob media, especially with a polishing agent like Lyman Corn Cob Plus, excels at fine cleaning and achieving a high polish. Many reloaders use a two-step process: walnut media first for heavy cleaning, followed by corn cob media for a final polish. However, for most general-purpose cleaning and polishing, Lyman Corn Cob Plus alone is highly effective.
• "Can I mix different media types?"
  • While technically possible, it's generally not recommended to mix corn cob and walnut media within the same batch. Their different densities and abrasive properties mean they perform best when used separately. If you opt for a two-step process, ensure you thoroughly separate the cases from one media type before transferring them to the other.
• "Should I decap my cases before tumbling?"
  • Decapping cases before tumbling allows the media to clean the inside of the case neck and, more importantly, the primer pocket area. This is highly recommended for achieving the cleanest primer pockets and ensures consistent primer seating. However, many reloaders tumble with primers still in if they are only concerned with external cleanliness or if they plan to decap and clean primer pockets in a separate step.
• "What if my cases are really dirty or corroded?"
  • For extremely grimy or corroded cases, wet tumbling with stainless steel pins might be a more effective initial step to remove heavy crud, followed by dry tumbling with Lyman Corn Cob Plus for a final polish and dry finish. However, for standard range brass or once-fired cases, dry tumbling with Corn Cob Plus is usually sufficient.

The Lyman Legacy: Trust and Innovation in Reloading

Lyman Products has a rich history dating back over a century, consistently providing reloaders with innovative and reliable tools. The Lyman Turbo Case Cleaning Media Corn Cob Plus (2 lbs) (MPN: 7631307) is a prime example of their dedication to improving the reloading experience. By using Lyman media in a Lyman Turbo Tumbler, reloaders are utilizing a system designed for synergistic performance, ensuring that every case emerges impeccably clean and perfectly prepared for subsequent reloading steps. This commitment to quality and user satisfaction has made Lyman a go-to brand for serious shooting enthusiasts and competitive shooters worldwide.

Ensuring your brass is perfectly clean is not just about aesthetics; it's a fundamental step towards crafting consistent, accurate, and safe reloaded ammunition. Lyman Corn Cob Plus (UPC: 011516813077) simplifies this crucial process, delivering professional-grade results with minimal effort. This product is an essential investment for anyone committed to precision reloading and extending the life of their valuable brass casings.

For all your reloading needs, including the full range of Lyman products, you can find Lyman 7631307 Corn Cob Plus 2 lbs and other essential case preparation tools available at DEGuns.com. Elevate your reloading game and experience the difference that truly clean brass makes.

Lyman Turbo Case Cleaning Media Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Lyman
Model	Turbo Case Cleaning Media
Function	Cleans & Polishes Cases
Media Type	Corn Cob / Polishing Agent Blend
Weight	2 lbs
UPC	011516813077
MPN	7631307