More newbie questions

[millhouse961]

So i ordered my Lee classic turret yesterday and am super excited to start reloading. Everyone on here has been super helpful this far, so thank you in advance. My next questions:

1. how many times can i safely reload the same brass?

2. i noticed everyone talks about the brass needing to be cleaned in a tumbler but it doesn't appear that the tumbler was part of my lee kit. The kit says "everything you need to start reloading", so do I need to get a tumbler now too? What are my options?

I know this questions are very basic but I know very little about this stuff.
Thanks!

[XDRoX]

You want a tumbler. A $50 harbor freight one will work just fine. If you don't use a tumbler you will have to wipe down the brass with a damp towel to clean it.

Most straight walled pistol brass can be reloaded a countless number of times before it cracks. I have some 9mm and 45 brass that the headstamp is practically worn off of. Still hasn't cracked. I don't load very hot though. The hotter you load the less life they'll have.

Rifle brass is much different. Less than 10 reloads usually.

[millhouse961]

Ok, so the tumbler is not absolutely necessary but makes life much easier. Got it, thanks for the info!

[stilly]

The tumbler is REALLY for the Golem in us. I LOVE my shinys and I love to see the pile of them at the end of the cycle...

Recently though I DID run out of .45 shells to reload from my containers and I ended up using a few dirty ones that I was given from a brass pick one night. (the guy I went shooting with picked up brass too because of me and he gave me a bag of .45 he collected there because I shoveled 9mm into his back pack...) SO anyways, I felt REALLY bad and dirty for using brass that was not cleaned like I like to clean it, but I DID get to use my primer collection in the Lee Classic Turret. Pretty cool. Afterwards I found another full container of cleaned and ready to go LPP .45 brass. Looks like I actually had about 2 more Folgers containers of it that I did not think to look for. Now somewhere in my .45 rounds there are about 35 dirty ones...


I THINK that when you are NEW to reloading that there are many things that you can and might do just because you are unaware of the reality if you do not do them. Cleaning shells really seems more like a low priority item, but for me, it is high up on the list.

[chango17]

I have a harbor freight vibratory tumbler with some harbor freight walnut and a little bit of lyman (if im not mistaken)case polish juss to make the brass a little shinyer and while your at it get yourself a sifter and an old bucket it makes life easy and minimizes the mess. I also noticed when I run brass that hasnt been polished,running the case through the sizing /decapping die takes a little more effort

[millhouse961]

would this tumbler work?

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-rotary-rock-tumbler-67631.html

[alfred1222]

would this tumbler work?

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-ro...ler-67631.html

I dont see why it wouldnt, but i dont think you would get very much brass and media in that. I bought the Lyman 1500 with autoflo from bass from for $100, it holds 6lbs of media and approximately 300 pieces of .223 and literally all of the 45 brass i want to throw in it. i get all of my tumbling done in 4 batches, and it makes life that much easier. As for how many reloads you can get, its unlimited for pistol, but dont load super hot and check your brass. if its cracked, toss it. for rifle, 10 is the standard, ive trimmed and loaded past that, but its pushing it. i dont use rifle brass for more than 15 reloads.

[Low Light]

Not sure about a rock tumber. I've never used one or looked into doing so, but I think there are a few members here who using something similar (from 'China Freight' as well, I believe); do a search for Harbor Freight.

Seems like the upright vibratory tumblers like this one are more common:

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-lb-metal-vibrator-tumbler-67617.html

Keep an eye on the Ammo and Reloading Sales forum. I picked a Lyman up from a member about a year ago for $25; not sure what prices are running now, though.

Good luck and remember to turn your head the other way on the first trigger pull

[call-in]

You don't really "need" a tumbler, but it makes it easier, faster, and/or prettier.

http://www.www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=611777

[millhouse961]

You don't really "need" a tumbler, but it makes it easier, faster, and/or prettier.

http://www.www.calguns.net/calgunfor...d.php?t=611777

This is awesome, thanks!

[bryant]

got same one but i have to double barrel, if you get one make sure get ss media.