Does tumbling the brass actually make a difference?

['ol shooter]

I consider reasonably clean brass just good loading hygiene. If you like your ammo rat nasty, by all means, go for it. I certainly don't go for turning mine into "bling", but clean can be nice.

[NorCalDustin]

I find it easier to spot wear on brass with it extremely clean.

[krwada]

You are going to the effort to purchase and use a concentricity gauge? If you really want accuracy, you need clean brass to load in. If you do not do this, then your quest for accuracy will be in vain.

There are very good reasons why the bench rest folks do what they do. The rest of us mere mortals usually take some small subset of what the bench rest shooters do, and apply it to our sporters ... with a healthy dose of common sense of course.

A lot of folks diss me when I say what I say. I am NOT a bench rest shooter. I do learn a lot from them however. Folks usually start of by saying "I do not want to do bench rest precision ..."

Think of the bench rest shooters as those rarefied types, in our sport, that go and do the high $$$ and research stuff for shooting. The techniques and practices they develop can be used quite successfully for normal sporter shooting.

I know of quite a few folks, who frequent the range where I shoot; who are primarily hunters, and are interested in making sure their rigs are properly sighted in this time of year. Quite a few of these hunters employ some of the BR techniques to make sure they are getting consistent sub-moa groups out to 100 yards. They tell me that this removes a big variable when they are attempting to get that 300 yard clean kill. Also, a friend of mine, (guide in Montana), tells me that at 300 yards, you do not need to be ultra super careful with your stalking ... However, it is imperative that your rig shoots straight, and that it does well.

[daringescape]

There was a guy on here or another board, I don't remember - who just bought an ice cream machine at a yard sale for $3.00 and is using it as a tumbler. There are super cheap options out there, you just have to think outside the box a bit!

[mark501w]

The old rock hounds all built their own tumblers same idea for brass.

[tigerfu]

I'd like to clean powder/primer residue from the outside of my brass before doing anything to reload, as that stuff contains lead dust. I don't shoot a lot, a few dozen rounds for each trip to the range, so I don't do real tumbling. Most of the time I just wipe down the brass with denatured alcohol while wearing blue nitrile glove. Recently I experimented with a "hand tumbler" and I kind of like it.

It is a wide-mouth ice tea plastic bottle. The decapped brass will go in there, mixed with water, stainless steel media pins, a few drops of dish detergent, and a few drops of lemon juice. Close the lid and shake/tumble the content for 10 minutes. It works.

Occasionally I will do real tumbling. But I only do wet tumbling with stainless steel pins. I don't like the dust associated with dry tumbling. Lead poisoning could be a real problem if you are not careful. My gunsmithing friend had massive problem a while back.

-TL

[HTLP]

I have recently started reloading and have been using a method I found on YouTube that costs me nothing besides a small amount of space in my washing machine and dryer while washing clothes. I put my sorted, decapped brass in a cheap woven nylon bag which I then tie up so it cannot come open in the process. then I simply toss the bundle into the washing machine on top of the load of clothes. When I move the clothes to the dryer the bag of brass goes with it and comes out pretty clean. I have noticed that a small amount of carbon stays trapped on the flat portion of the primer pocket, so this method does not get the brass as clean as stainless tumbling but I have yet to find powder residue left in the washed and dried cases.

[krwada]

I have recently started reloading and have been using a method I found on YouTube that costs me nothing besides a small amount of space in my washing machine and dryer while washing clothes. I put my sorted, decapped brass in a cheap woven nylon bag which I then tie up so it cannot come open in the process. then I simply toss the bundle into the washing machine on top of the load of clothes. When I move the clothes to the dryer the bag of brass goes with it and comes out pretty clean. I have noticed that a small amount of carbon stays trapped on the flat portion of the primer pocket, so this method does not get the brass as clean as stainless tumbling but I have yet to find powder residue left in the washed and dried cases.

ummmm... Your wife is OK with this?

I would get skinned if I did this.

[HTLP]

ummmm... Your wife is OK with this?

I would get skinned if I did this.

I do all the laundry for the wife, three kids and myself. No one has said a thing about it so far Actually it is very rare that anyone but me goes in the garage (where the laundry area is. The only problem I have had is when I did not tie the bundle up tight enough and the bag opened in the dryer. That is when my son whose room shares a wall with that part of the garage came to me saying the dryer must be coming apart. I laughed and went to work separating brass from laundry, a tedious chore.

[Clever]

You are going to the effort to purchase and use a concentricity gauge? If you really want accuracy, you need clean brass to load in. If you do not do this, then your quest for accuracy will be in vain.

There are very good reasons why the bench rest folks do what they do. The rest of us mere mortals usually take some small subset of what the bench rest shooters do, and apply it to our sporters ... with a healthy dose of common sense of course.

A lot of folks diss me when I say what I say. I am NOT a bench rest shooter. I do learn a lot from them however. Folks usually start of by saying "I do not want to do bench rest precision ..."

Think of the bench rest shooters as those rarefied types, in our sport, that go and do the high $$$ and research stuff for shooting. The techniques and practices they develop can be used quite successfully for normal sporter shooting.

I know of quite a few folks, who frequent the range where I shoot; who are primarily hunters, and are interested in making sure their rigs are properly sighted in this time of year. Quite a few of these hunters employ some of the BR techniques to make sure they are getting consistent sub-moa groups out to 100 yards. They tell me that this removes a big variable when they are attempting to get that 300 yard clean kill. Also, a friend of mine, (guide in Montana), tells me that at 300 yards, you do not need to be ultra super careful with your stalking ... However, it is imperative that your rig shoots straight, and that it does well.

Nice write up..

[Clever]

Tumbler

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.

Ok given money is an issue. But to say its not needed because he can't afford it? Or it's just not needed.. Are you still all ears? Is this good advise or misleading. How would a person new to this GAME absorb advise catered to a certain few which improvise due to financial issues.
Shinny Brass? Clean Brass is very important! I can go on but we are all on the same side. I am not trying to argue with any ones approach, to me its misleading and has no benefit for our members that are learning. Give them basics thats all..

Now JGlade as for your OPINION
When did I even mention shinny equals better accuracy, 95% of re loaders? Do you even know what you are talking about. I have not even made a comment as to how I clean my brass.. "So, we can either help him with his question, or argue about how everyone should only have the best equipment to reload."
This is your statement correct? So best equipment is stated where, did I even mention a manufacturer to dictate price or as you put it "the best equipment to reload". Your reply is sheer nonsense, nothing that you have touched on has anything to do with my post. Were do you see metal media in my post. Are you insinuating that I don't know how to reload? Nor do I know procedure to it's highest performance? What is it.. Would you like to put me to the test according to your standards?

[micro911]

I use walnut media to tumble my brass. And, clean the inside of the mouth with a nylon brush after tumbling. It doesn't have be shiny, but I want it free of other debris.

[uhlan1]

Everything sure seems to glide a lot better through the dies after I've tumbled.
Done it both ways.

[CK_32]

Like you I use to hand clean my brass.

Get taxing after a while. A tumbler isn't needed but if you hav the funds it will pan for it self with ease.

The reason I tumble is because it cycles cleaner in my guns and dies and looks better. As far as accuracy I havnt noticed anything.

But again if you have the fund or can get the funds buy a good $50 tumbler. Good investment.

[dwightlooi]

OK, maybe I haven't been clear on what I do...

• I used to wash and dip in jewelry cleaner my brass
• Today, I got into the habit of simply sticking a brush inside the case and give it a good five twists
• I also chase the primer pocket and hole

Here's what it boils down to...

• I think I already have my charges VERY accurately measured
• I also have the bullet very precisely seated
• Will cleaning the brass benefit accuracy or will maintaining as high level of concentricity help more?
• Is not tumbling the brass dangerous from a pressure perspective?