I cant afford a case tumbler yet (though I'm working on it) so I just washed my last lot of 243 cases in the hand basin with hand cleaner. I got pretty good results i think. I was wondering what other methods you guys use??

Hay goatlips

Before I got a tumbler I used the head part of a Lee case trimmer to hold the case in a hand drill or a drill press. I used fine steel wool on really dirty cases and then some brass polish and a rag. It took a while, but my cases were prettier than they came new and it cost almost nothing but a little time. It doesn't do anything for the insides of the cases though like a tumbler does.

After borrowing a case tumbler from a friend my next purchase was a kit from cabelas on sale. Midway has a good kit on sale sometimes also. No matter what your gonna end up with a $60.00 bill in it for a tumbler and the goods to go with it. The kits have everything and they save you some money.

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Bob from Idaho

The old NRA formula works well. 50/50 vinegar and water with a small squirt of dish soap. The stuff works fastest when hot. Dump in your cases, cover with formula swirl occasionally and in 1/2 to 1 hour they'll be clean. Rinse well in clean water and spread to dry. Save the formula. It can be reused many times. I have a tumbler, but still use this stuff on badly tarnished brass. I like to deprime my cases before the soak as they dry faster without the primer holding water.

I tried the " NRA" formula and it works pretty good. The only thing is a few of the cases came out a little coppery coloured.Is this normal? Are these cases still OK to use?

Usually the copper color is due to using salt in the mix. No matter, those cases are safe to use.