Case Cleaning

[Sub95]

SS media tumbling works great, I can size/de-prime first and no more cleaning primer pockets out.

to dry i use a Colander with fan on top and shake a few times every few mins.

[bluenoise]

Can SS media be used in a vibratory tumbler? Can it be used dry?

[hayaku]

Can SS media be used in a vibratory tumbler? Can it be used dry?

per their faq, no to the vibratory question. it's too heavy to use once you add water. i don't know about the dry part...

[SoCal AJ]

I have a Cabela's vibratory tumbler and it works great. But when I got more into it, I decided to go with Stainless Steel media for tumbling and won't go back. Who knows if it improves any accuracy, but my brass look better than brand new. When I debated on a Ultrasonic or SS, SS wins hands down. My brass is now 100% clean inside and out, including the primer pockets. A regular tumbler works perfectly fine, but I will never go back.

Here's a quick pic of what the brass looks like after a 3 hour tumble in SS media.

I agree, I'm a big a fan of the SS tumbling after comparing my walnut media in a standard vibratory tumbler compared to what my buddies Thumler + SS did.

I'm curious if you are popping the primer and resizing before tumbling or if you are running the dirty brass through that first die?

I've heard other people comment about not liking to run any dirty brass through their dies so I'm looking for an easy way just to pop primers and then I'll tumble them in the SS.


*** Eh, sorry, I didnt get all the way through the thread and then when I went back to read the rest of the posts I see your link and that you're using a Lee Universal Depriming & Decapping Die on step 1. So I'm going to go find that, thanks!!

[Stoopy]

I tumble my brass for 2 hours then full length size and decap then tumble for 2 to 3 more hours to clean the primer pocket and remove the lube from sizing. I use the stainless steel in a wet rotary tumbler. I just lay the brass out on a towel to dry. I take my time when I reload so I do t get in a hurry. I have blown out cases with an air compressor if I want to reload right away.

[damndave]

Another way to instantly dry brass is to dunk them in some alcohol. I have also just layed them on a towel after wiping them down and putting that in front of a foot heater. they dry in a few minutes.

[G-Man WC]

SS media tumbling works great, I can size/de-prime first and no more cleaning primer pockets out.

to dry i use a Colander with fan on top and shake a few times every few mins.

Correct me if I'm wrong. I thought that running dirty brass in any die will ruin or scratch it. One would think that you would want the brass clean before the size de-prime step. Or you could deprime in a dedicated cheap single stage before going in the SS. But I also read that de-priming is not good with standard media, as it gets caught in the primer pocket. -g

[ds272]

Or you could deprime in a dedicated cheap single stage before going in the SS. -g

I deprime the dirty brass on a Lee single stage -using a deprining die, clean brass using wet method -ss media with a squirt of diswashing detergent and a 9mm case full of lemishine, and let dry overnight. I don't want any dirty brass near my carbide dies!

After resizing, I run the cases through a standard tumbler with corncob media for 15 minutes to remove the sizing lubricant. I then prime and reload.

[thomashoward]

I'm new to reloading and in the process of getting my Dillon and a single stage set-up on the work bench.
I've yet to buy a case cleaner and looking Cabela's new shooting bench mag. I spotted sonic or ultrasonic case cleaners.
Anyone have any dealing with these new toys?
Should I just go old school vibratory tumbler and any cost savings in the media used either way.
Thanks
-g

I wondered about the stainless,because they don't wear out or loose their potency like ultrasonic or walnut media.The initial investment in the SS media was a little spend -y, but I went ape and cleaned 800 cases in the last couple of days in my old rock tumbler and I'll never go back.
Clean better than new inside and out including the primer pockets. I taco a towel and run brass from one end back to the other several times.That dries the outside,then I put my clean brass on a cookie sheet (caught hell for that too) and set it on the wood-stove for a few minutes. In 5-10 minutes the cases were very warm to the touch but you can handle them ( don't get too hot) and you are done
Follow the demo video

Correct me if I'm wrong. I thought that running dirty brass in any die will ruin or scratch it. One would think that you would want the brass clean before the size de-prime step. Or you could deprime in a dedicated cheap single stage before going in the SS. But I also read that de-priming is not good with standard media, as it gets caught in the primer pocket. -g

Carbide sizers don't scratch.
the 5 primer pockets that get something in them are not a problem to remove. Part of the case inspection. Not like you will miss seeing it if you are doing your job.