OPINIONS PLEASE ! Just starting into reloading!!

[Raiderh20boy]

OK ! Already decided Dillon 650XL. Between my wife and I , we shoot about 3500-4000 rounds a month between .22 , 380, 9, and 45. My question is about cleaning brass. Ultra sonic, rotory tumbler or vibration tumbler. all brass will be deprimed before cleaning. pros and cons on these methods please!
THANKS !!

[Kwikvette]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=211158

[JackEllis]

Until recently I've just washed the brass I collected in a solution of hot water, Dawn and a pinch of Lemishine, once before I run it through any die and again after sizing. I got a tumbler at the end of last year in hopes I could get rid of the remaining case lube and save my hands from frequent and repeated washings. TBD.

If you're shooting 3,500-4,000 rounds per month, that's at least ten tumbler loads and probably more at a couple of hours per load. If you really need to have shiny brass, get a cement mixer. Otherwise, just wash it. The fact that it doesn't look like new isn't going to affect accuracy, whereas getting it to look new again could make a serious dent in your shooting time.

[9mmepiphany]

we shoot about 3500-4000 rounds a month between .22 , 380, 9, and 45.

Using a F.A.R.T. wet tumbler, you're looking at 2 loads, combining .380 and 9mm, of 1 hour plus 20 minutes to dry each load in the oven...say 3 hours a month.

Tumbling in dry media, you're looking at 3-4 loads of 2 hours each...so, 6-8 hours

[Shab21]

I use Frankfred Arsenal's wet tumbler and got there brass dryer. Works great but I might get Harbor's Frieght 8lb tumbler so I can clean more pistol brass. I tumble for about 2 hours using 3 squirts of dawn and a 9mm case of limishine

[TexasJackKin]

if your end up dry tumbling, I'd leave the primers in, to keep from plugging up the primer pockets. If you end up wet tumbling I'd de-prime first, to aid in drying, as well as cleaning primer pockets. For the calibers you listed there is no advantage to clean primer pockets. That said, I've gotten to the point that the vast majority of my brass gets wet tumbled with stainless pins, way cleaner than it needs to be.....but yeah.... I'm retired.

[rsrocket1]

Crushed walnut ($17/50#), vibe tumbler with a lamp timer. Set it to 2-3 hours, run it in the garage to hide the noise. Take it out side to dump and sift. Throw in a couple of cut up used dryer sheets to hold the soot and dust and don't use any additives. Your media will last a lot longer before it turns black and the soot won't stick to it.

Remember, you are cleaning the brass, you don't need to make it super shiny. If you shoot that much, you obviously know it's the performance of the ammo that counts and not how shiny the brass looks. Keep the primers on the empties when you clean it. The primer punch will knock any media in the flash hole.

When you come home from the range, just dump the cases into the tumbler and start it. You can inspect the brass and cull any rejects as you put it into the press. At your rate, it's all about efficiency and minimal effort while making quality ammo.

[aspenvalley]

[23's Dad]

I prefer to wet tumble and avoid dealing with the dust of dry tumbling. I deprime 1st, tumble about 3 hours in a FART, then separate in a Dillon Separator filled with rinse water. Separating underwater is the quickest way to get the pins out of the brass without sticking. The agitation from the Dillon media separator really gets those pins out of the brass. Spread on a towel on the patio and let them sun-dry.

[TKM]

Make your wife reload the .22. Tell her it's because of her cute little fingers or something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTf62hDhefY

[Lead Waster]

Wet tumbling - gets brass crazy shiny, use soap and lemishine but RINSE WELL or they will be less shiny. Massive PITA to seperate every pin from brass (for me anyway), uses a lot of water. Super clean ... maybe too clean as they tend to stick in dies unless you use a touch of lube. Also no dust to breathe in. You need to dry them actively or let them sit for days in the sun or indoors to dry.

Dry tumbling - best if you add some car polish to media. Does a good job, maybe dusty when you separate the media, might be a concern. Leaves a fine dusting on the brass which might actually help them not stick in the dies like a dry lube. Can use the brass immediately as there is nothing to dry.


I have both, I use wet tumbling since I have it AND I pick up dirty brass at outdoor ranges (ie they have actual mud in them).

[Lead Waster]

Oh yeah, I never deprime first. I figure ... that's what my press is for, why not just do it during reloading? Seems to make no real difference in the actual rounds. But you might want to do it if you are OCD. I'm talking about pistol rounds. If I did more rifle rounds, I'd deprime them first (for some reason).