Does tumbling the brass actually make a difference?

[dwightlooi]

OK, I am cheap and I don't care if my Ammo "looks" good.

My reloading setup is about as basic as you can go ($150)...

• Lee Handpress w/Ramprime & #2 shell holder
• Foster BR Full Length Sizer Die
• Foster Micrometer Seating Die
• Redding #5 Powder Trickler
• Lee Powder dipper scoops kit
• Electronic scale with +- 0.02 grains accuracy

I only load 308 right now (even though I also have dies for 45 ACP). The standard load being:-

• Sierra 155gr #2156 BTHP (seated to 2.805")
• 50.0 Grains CFE223 or 46.2 grains 4064
• Federal #210M primer
• Recycled cases are usually Federal Gold Match or PMC

I don't have a tumbler and I don't tumble my brass. I used to wash them with detergent infused boiling hot water, dip them in jewelry cleaner, rinse them, brush out the cases by hand, rim the primer pocket with a hand tool, let dry for a week, then re-size and load them. Then I got lazy and simple brush them out and load them without ever washing or tumbling them.

I haven't noticed any accuracy reduction. I was told by some that this may be dangerous... that somehow stubborn residues in the case may reduce case volume and create dangerous pressures. Somehow I really doubt it, but I'll like your opinions.

[jj805]

The main reason for tumbling brass is to clean the grit off of the brass so it won't ruin your dies. There are plenty of cheap ways to tumble brass. If you need ideas of cheap ways to tumble brass, there are a few threads on the subject that are currently active.

[gunboat]

When I started reloading there were no commercial tumbler/vibrators - The method then was to wipe the cases with a solvent dampened cloth - Or if they were really dirty, just wash them in a bucket with laundry soap - then dry in the sun -- clean but not brite -
Don't over think the hazards of reloading -- Lot of chicken littles on this forum

[Clever]

Its great for cleaning brass after sizing and trimming, as case lube and brass chips are left on and inside of case. It's a must in my reloading protocol..Plus they look fantastic!!

[jglabe]

You can rig just about anything into a tumbler of some sort. No need to go out and spend a ton of money on it. Plus the media is cheap, and a bag will last most people a lifetime. No, it's not a necessity though.

[stilly]

I have found brass that was really clean and did not even bother to clean it, I just reloaded it. But the main reason to clean it is to get the dirt and foreign matter out of it so it does not scratch the inside of your dies. DOES it happen? Not a lot I am willing to bet very little if any, but why take a chance if you have nice expensive dies? If this were Walking Dead I would say to get a rotating Thumler because it is quiet enough to not draw walkers, but the vibrating ones will be a lot louder and you are likely to get a visit... :\

So anyways. I clean my brass because I like clean brass.

[Clever]

You can rig just about anything into a tumbler of some sort. No need to go out and spend a ton of money on it. Plus the media is cheap, and a bag will last most people a lifetime. No, it's not a necessity though.

Really? you would load brass with case lube on it? Even worse with microscopic brass matter from trimming, dry lube and hand oil from handling? It's impossible to be seen with the naked eye or cleaned with your hand. All due respect I will not feed my rifle with ammo loaded in that manner. Accuracy is hard enough to achieve
much less making it harder.. I would Tumble my Brass rather than take a chance.. I think it's necessary for all practical reasons, a clean bench an clean loading protocol is 2nd to none.

[dwightlooi]

OK, let me put it this way...

As stated in the original post, my reloading setup is cheap. It is also very compact. Since I don't even use a bench mounted press, it disappears into a shoebox and tucks away in the drawer.

My loads are OK, but I am not sure if they are as good as they can be. I load them hot -- mainly because I noticed that hot loads burn CLEANER not so much because I really needed every last fps -- but I stop about 1~1.5 grain short of Max book values. I don't load them to kiss the rifling. I don't load them until I see pressure signs to get the most velocities like some guys do with their 30" barrel BR rifles in an all out effort to stay supersonic at 1000. They shoot with decent accuracy -- about 0.6~0.7" from the semis about 0.5" from the bolt gun. Actually I think the 175s are slightly more accurate, but I like the 155 because it kicks a little less and I have less bullet drop.

I am thinking of getting a Hornady Lock n load Concentricity gauge and truer. People think I am crazy and that I should get a tumbler and some media instead. Claims that "dirty" cases -- even when I brush the insides out good -- will have enough baked on crud to cause dangerous pressures...

I think it's BS, I just want to be sure.

[Clever]

OK, let me put it this way...

As stated in the original post, my reloading setup is cheap. It is also very compact. Since I don't even use a bench mounted press, it disappears into a shoebox and tucks away in the drawer.

My loads are OK, but I am not sure if they are as good as they can be. I load them hot -- mainly because I noticed that hot loads burn CLEANER not so much because I really needed every last fps -- but I stop about 1~1.5 grain short of Max book values. I don't load them to kiss the rifling. I don't load them until I see pressure signs to get the most velocities like some guys do with their 30" barrel BR rifles in an all out effort to stay supersonic at 1000. They shoot with decent accuracy -- about 0.6~0.7" from the semis about 0.5" from the bolt gun. Actually I think the 175s are slightly more accurate, but I like the 155 because it kicks a little less and I have less bullet drop.

I am thinking of getting a Hornady Lock n load Concentricity gauge and truer. People think I am crazy and that I should get a tumbler and some media instead. Claims that "dirty" cases -- even when I brush the insides out good -- will have enough baked on crud to cause dangerous pressures...

I think it's BS, I just want to be sure.

Tumbler first and then Get the Sinclair Concentricity gauge,truer and comparators with bump gauge body. The baked on crud can and will give you problems Period.

[jglabe]

Really? you would load brass with case lube on it? Even worse with microscopic brass matter from trimming, dry lube and hand oil from handling? It's impossible to be seen with the naked eye or cleaned with your hand. All due respect I will not feed my rifle with ammo loaded in that manner. Accuracy is hard enough to achieve
much less making it harder.. I would Tumble my Brass rather than take a chance.. I think it's necessary for all practical reasons, a clean bench an clean loading protocol is 2nd to none.

Ummmmm........ Tumbling is not the only way to clean brass. I will let your imagination do the rest.

[Clever]

I don't wash dishes. There is an invention called a dish washer. Imagine that. Evolution is upon us come aboard. Enjoy the technology given to us. Imagine that. I disagree with you as I take my craft seriously like my father and his father before him. Good luck with your journey to accuracy.

[jglabe]

I don't wash dishes. There is an invention called a dish washer. Imagine that. Evolution is upon us come aboard. Enjoy the technology given to us. Imagine that. I disagree with you as I take my craft seriously like my father and his father before him. Good luck with your journey to accuracy.

So by your standards, the only way to to clean brass would be to use stainless media right? Since it is the only way to completely clean the inside of the case. I guess that 95% of reloaders are doing it wrong.

Tumbling does make them shinny, and a lot of people like shinny brass. I get it. I have a stainless tumbler myself for that reason. However....... The OP is asking is "tumbling" necessary? He already said he cleans his brass with soap and water, and doesn't care if they are shinny. If you can prove that shinny equals better go for it. I am all ears. If he can save the money that he would spend on a tumbler to buy something else that would serve his needs better, I say go for it. That's just my opinion, and you are entitled to a different one.

Not everyone has money laying around to buy the latest and greatest equipment. And, he has already stated that his setup is basic and he is "cheap". So, we can either help him with his question, or argue about how everyone should only have the best equipment to reload.

[toyotaguy]

The Lee Reloading book says you shouldn't tumble brass as it removes the carbon that can help make resizing easier, they say to simply use a bit of steel wool to clean up cases. I did this when I first started reloading and had fine results. I now run everything through the tumbler twice, once to clean and once to remove case lube.

[Eljay]

He already said he cleans his brass with soap and water, and doesn't care if they are shinny.

Well, no, he said he used to and then recently he stopped washing them.

[mark501w]

I've got a thread about how great RCBS is, that's how I screwed up the dies they replaced, no tumbling. I don't know how Forster's warrantee is but, I was lucky I bought into a good co. It's an investment in your equipment.