How to Make Ammunition Brass Shine

Clean Your Brass

• 1

  Find out if your bullets are solid brass or brass plated by trying to stick a magnet to one. If a magnet sticks to your bullet that means it is just brass plated and is probably steel or iron inside. If the magnet does not stick, you are dealing with solid brass. You want to polish and clean your bullets a little more gently if they are not solid brass.

• 2

  Fill your kitchen sink with enough water to cover all of your ammunition. Mix in 1 tbsp. of gentle liquid dish detergent. Use your hand to mix the soap into the water.

• 3

  Soak your bullets in the water for 3 minutes. Remove the bullets from the water and wipe them with a rag. If your bullets are lacquered you will want to skip the soaking and instead dip a rag in the soapy water, ring it out well, and wipe the bullets clean.

• 4

  Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the water and use this to clean the bullets further.

Polish Your Brass

• 5

  Cut a lemon in half and remove any seeds. Squeeze all the juice of the lemon into a bowl. Add 1 tsp. of baking soda and stir. You want to form a paste. Add more baking soda until a paste is formed. Apply the paste to a soft cotton cloth and apply it onto the brass ammunition. Rub it gently into the brass, following the grain of the metal to remove any tarnish. If your bullets are brass plated use the lemon juice by itself for polishing. Wash the brass thoroughly and dry and buff it with a dry, clean cloth.

• 6

  Squirt a penny-size amount of ketchup onto your brass ammunition and smear it all over. Let the ketchup sit for 3 to 5 minutes and then rinse it off with water. Buff with a dry cloth.

• 7

  Coat your bullets in plain yogurt. Allow the yogurt to dry and then buff with a dry cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water.