Tumbling media driving me crazy

[Rob]

yeah, I dual tumble right now.  once prior to sizing, and once more after sizing/trimming/and reaming to clean out lube and brass bits.

It is the second tumble that causes me issues.

I have been using a similar process of poking a hand held de-capping tool through the flash hole after tumbling, but 80% of my brass is clogged so that takes quite a while.  using a decapping die and running them through the press is faster, I am looking for an even faster method.

I like the idea of using a rotary tumbler with stainless.  That may be an upcoming upgrade. 

Thanks everyone

[JJD]

Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing

This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.

Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway.  Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize.  Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all.  I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing

This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.

Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway.  Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize.  Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all.  I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal.

stainless media cleans primer pockets to new looking

[HighlandLofts]

I bought the regular tumbler from Harbor Freight with their 20% discount coupon and then the 25# box of coarse walnut hull media. I mix in a little Simple Green and some Brasso Brass Polish. It does clog up the brass with the large primers, not so much with the small primer brass.
I picked up the small 3 or 4 piece pick set from Harbor Freight for about $4 and use the one with the straight pick on it, looks like a small ice pick to clean the primer pockets.
I deprime my brass before tumbling.

I did buy a Hornady Sonic Cleaner and a Frankfurt Arsenal Stainless Media Tumbler but am waiting for the sun to come back before I start using them. I will be taking a piece of 2x10 or 2x12, mark a grid pattern in it about every 3/4s inch maybe 1 inch and screw in treated deck screw so in can put the brass on the screw and let nature take it's coarse out in the sun on the picnic table.
I'll see what the average brass count is and make my drying rack accordingly.

I did buy some Lyman Corn Cob Media, but haven't tried it yet. Maybe next time.

[hunting4sanity]

The stainless steel pins make nasty brass look new again. Rice as a dry-media can also do a very nice job, slower than stainless, but some guys claim they get better results across the chrono with rice cleaning. Rice will block some flash holes, but with the right size it's not very many.

[HighlandLofts]

Do you dry tumble with the rice in the viberator tumbler?

Also does any one use the ceramic media available at Harbor Freight?

[JJD]

Or try a universal de capping die to clean the flash holes after tumbling. Or clean before resizing

This is what I would do. I just throw my brass in the tumbler when I get home from shooting and then decap everything before running it through the sizing dies.

Exactly, the tumbling media does not clean the primer pocket anyway.  Tumble, decap, clean primer pocket with cleaning tool(rifle), resize.  Most guys I know who reload pistol with progressive presses don't bother with primer pockets at all.  I have not used one but I'd be willing to bet that an ultrasonic cleaner would be the ticket if having squeaky clean primer pockets is your goal.

stainless media cleans primer pockets to new looking

SS cleaning media does not work in a Vibrating cleaner.

[AWS]

If tumbling your brass is such a pain why bother.  I've been loading for 50= years and have yet to tumble any brass,  I wipe and dirt or dust off my brass and load it.  My loads aren't pretty but they are very accurate and I haven't ruined a die yet and still win and kill stuff with my reloads.

[CP]

I gave up tumbling decades ago as well.  I usually just give the brass a spray of Hornady One Shot - size them, then wipe them clean with a rag.  The One shot cleans them pretty well.  If the brass is extra filthy I run them through the sonic cleaner with hot water and Dawn dish soap.


 

[Magnum_Willys]

Just ran first batch with pins.  Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of.  Two hours was probably too long ?   Will try one hour next time and also try without pins. 

[jrebel]

Just ran first batch with pins.  Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of.  Two hours was probably too long ?   Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.

Did you put dawn and lem shine in the water with the pins.  I ran my first two batches yesterday and they look new....very shiny.  I have a post going with pics if you want to take a look. 

[coop2424]

Just ran first batch with pins.  Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of.  Two hours was probably too long ?   Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.

I have ran some longer than 3 hours so time shouldn't be the issue..  Should come out very shiny.

[Magnum_Willys]

Just ran first batch with pins.  Yes clean and newish looking but not shiny - look sandblasted kind of.  Two hours was probably too long ?   Will try one hour next time and also try without pins.

Did you put dawn and lem shine in the water with the pins.  I ran my first two batches yesterday and they look new....very shiny.  I have a post going with pics if you want to take a look.

I did .  They look fine just surface not as smooth as I expected ?

[Magnum_Willys]

Maybe its that weatherby brass I'll see how the lapua does.

[jrebel]

This is mine from last night.  Approx 3 hours.