Found, lost ammo

Cleaning house preparing for downsizing, I found 700 rounds NSK DR ammo. 

Also last night I found over 500 primed 3006 cases in the bottom drawer of an old military desk that has been in my garage since 1993.  The primers are probably Federal 210s.  My guess they were primed in the 1980s before Dad became ill.  The brass is sticky grimey from old size oil, but not corroded.  Cleaning it without messing with the primers will be tough.  The cases are mostly good Winchester and LC 64.  How would you clean these primed cases? 

The desk was Dad's. I remember it as far back as the 1950s in his veterinary hospital.  Dad kept drugs and supplies in it.  Narcotics were in the built in safe behind the drop leaf front.  It still smells of B vitamin.

Multiple passes in ground walnut shells would do the job!

AP

70% or better Isopropyl alcohol while the case spins on a drill.

Load a few of them, then clean them. See if they work

Fine steel wool, changed out often. Brass or Bronze wool might be better/safer, but likely harder to find and $$$.

+1 for rubbing alcohol and a rag...

Wobbley wrote:70% or better Isopropyl alcohol while the case spins on a drill.

i was gonna say this too. It has worked really well for me couple of time

Alcohol and #0000 steel wool has worked for me. Shines the exterior up quickly. If doing 500 might be a good idea to spin them mechanically with a drill or the like. If it were me I’d just work on them by hand while relaxing on the porch or watching tv.  

You might also want to clean and inspect inside the cases. At least wipe out the necks. A flashlight with the empty rounds standing in a loading block would do well for a quick look. 

Obviously, I hate letting anything go to waste:)

I've got a Rem 721. Load the brass and spend a day or two at the range. That rifle won't care.