Tumbling completed rounds

[Squ1dward]

So, I have noticed that the case lube I used during the reloading process makes for some very dirty and grimy hands when loading rounds at the range. Not a huge deal, but a bit annoying.

I have heard some guys dry tumble their completed rounds to remove the excess case lube. I have also heard it could cause a round to discharge ( I highly doubt that). I tumbled about 500 rounds today for about an hour and it did a good job removing the excess lube

Is this a good practice, and would 20 minutes do the job, let's say?

What say you?

[09cs]

I usually size and trim as one step then toss back in the tumbler for that reason to get the lube off

[Ferrum]

This has been brought up quite a few times... Some will say don't do it, some will say do it, it will break down the graphite on the powder, doesn't make a difference... I don't think you will get an affirmative answer.

FWIW... I tumble completed rounds.

[___M|9||___]

tumble

[Seven_Duce]

There's a good thread at arf pm me and I'll give you the link don't know of it's ok to post

[Hvac_dude]

I do it with no issues.

[jwest]

[Voo]

I get an old towel (or Tshirt) and soak the middle of it with simple green. I then pour the rounds onto that and wrap the towel around the ammo. I then shake, swirl, and do as if I'm cleaning a bowling ball. This degreases them in about 20 seconds. Not only is it faster, it's way easier with little to no mess.

Ive been reloading for 20+ years and I've never been a fan of tumbling for no other reason other than it's still messy (and I'd rather not gunk my media with case lube) I've tumbled 1000's of rounds for HOURs and not one has ever gone off. They say the ammo becomes "hotter", since the tumbling action 'breaks' the powder down into smaller pieces. I've never seen a difference.

[boomer135]

I used to do that when I first started loading rifle ammo. Now I Resize/Deprime, trim, chamfer, deburr, and then tumble for about an hour. Once case lube is removed via the tumbler I then proceed to reload the cases.

['ol shooter]

I use Imperial Sizing Wax on pistol cases, and it is pretty much gone by the time I have loaded them, just from the handling. Last, I wipe them with a paper shop towel, rolling them between my fingers as I put them in the ammo boxes. I use that nasty RCBS case lube on rifle cases, slick as snot but hard to wipe away. I found that using a paper shop towel moistened with odorless Mineral Spirits takes it right off, and it flashes off quickly so there is no risk of damaging ammo. Then, I wipe them off as I do with the pistol cases.

[Citadelgrad87]

Ammo is transported via ground. I can't believe that the hour tumbling in a vibratory tumbler is so show different than the truck ride from lake city to wherever.

Even more so with mil surp ammo, that stuff has led a hard life and it's almost always fine if it looks like it's been taken care of.

Plus a buddy once tumbled a bunch of ammo for very long times, then pulled the projectiles and photographed the results in a thread on falfiles.

It's no big deal, but that is only my opinion

[uechikid]

I found this article.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2008/09/why-you-should-not-tumble-clean-loaded-ammo/

[Grunt81]

I used to do that when I first started loading rifle ammo. Now I Resize/Deprime, trim, chamfer, deburr, and then tumble for about an hour. Once case lube is removed via the tumbler I then proceed to reload the cases.

I agree. If you want to tumble to remove the case lube, I would do it immediately after resizing.

I found this article.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...n-loaded-ammo/

Good article. I don't think it's biased at all, just honest opinions and information.

If you're an accuracy nut and are using stick powders, then it's totally possible to change the burn rate when sticks are broken. If this varies significantly round to round, then you might expect a significant increase in burn rate.

Most factory ammo, including Lake City NATO, is loaded with ball powder. This allows better metering at the factory. I don't think any factory would measure stick powders by hand. If they did, they probably wouldn't be in business for too long. Factory ammo loaded with ball powder, is probably as small as it is ever going to get, regardless of 3 hours of tumbling or a 20 hour truck ride.

It's probably not an issue for ball powder, but all of my heavier bullets in .223 and .308 are loaded with stick powders. I wouldn't tumble loaded rounds at all nor have I ever done it.

[stilly]

I found this article.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...n-loaded-ammo/

There seems to be a consensus among the ammunition manufacturing engineers that a minute or two of vibratory cleaning has no discernable effect on burning rates, especially for loads that are compressed, or nearly so. However, all have emphasized the need for EXTREME CAUTION not to overdo the process.

They also pointed out that

I was just getting ready to call out BULL**** on the tumbling process. If you toss your loaded ammo into a rotating tumbler with corncob or walnut or whatever rice you want then there should be no issues because the powder will not really have any chance to hit with force and break apart. If you let it spin for days then MAYBE there could be an issue, but it looks like from that article you are clear to chuck your loaded ammo into a vibratory cleaner, but please only for a few minutes, not for all night long and most of the next day. Unless you are spiffy like me and have a timer that shuts it off after 15 minutes...

Vibrating tumbler though, I dunno. Well, I just said the answer so I guess I am speculative but that is just me hypothesizing an option based on available data from a credible source. (hey it was on the internet so it must be true...)

[Gun Kraft]

Short answer is vibratory tumbling for 5-10 minutes to remove case lube has no detrimental effects. If you have concerns regarding the exact powder you use, try tumbling 20 of your reloads. Take one out, pull the bullet and examine the powder after 30 min, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc. I'll be surprised if you notice a difference.

For what it's worth I use Dillon case lube when reloading pistol and tumble finished rounds for 10 minutes to clean them off. I haven't experienced any problems.