Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Case Cleaning Tumblers and Media

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have never used a case tumbler to clean my brass cases. Now, I'd like to use one.

Which case tumblers have you used (RCBS, Lyman, etc.), and which media (walnut, corn cob, etc.) works the best.

I have some old R-P 300 Savage brass that really needs to be cleaned up, and I thought I'd experiment on that brass.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Midway tumbler

Lizard bedding

http://www.petco.com/product/102881/Zilla-Ground-English-Walnut-Shells-Reptile-Bedding.aspx

healthy squirt of Mequiars mixed with the media before dumping in the brass

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/a1216-cleaner-wax-liquid/

Oh yeah, don't sue me if not satisfied.

If I was to start over, I'd be looking at stainless media and the rcbs tumbler. Throw in a Dillon seperator and call it good.

Me too. But then I would have to offer a brass cleaning service to help offset the capital expenditure.

I have a couple of big Lyman tumblers

one with Petco walnut for heavy cleaning

the other with Petco corncob mostly used for cleaning sizing lube from loaded ammo

Thumblers Tumbler with stainless steel media is the only way to go

Lemmi Shine and a squirt of dish soap

I'm seriously considering getting this:

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/products/media/stainless-tumbling-media.html

and this:

http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html

The cheapy tumbler requires a bit of maintenance, but a lot of
brass can be cleaned for $100!!

Everyone, thank you for all of your insight and ideas.

That stainless steel pin media looks interesting.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

Great idea, thank you, DannoBoone.

I've got a couple of '90s era Midway tumblers and one newer version. Use walnut and corn cob media from pet or farms stores. Cheap and works well.

I should add that it would be good for anyone considering the
above mentioned tumbler to read the reviews on that site prior
to making a decision. There seems to be a weight limit to
observe and maintenance for any kind of life longevity.

Have been using a Thumblers Tumbler UV18, for 23 yrs very well made!

This is what I teried. RESULTS: Got rid of regular tumblers in a hurry. I'll never go back to a vibrating tumbler with media. PS with the stainless steel tumbling it cleans the primer pockets as well.

This is the way to go. I just cleaned a batch of LC43 30 carbine brass this afternoon. It looks like it just left the factory.

405wcf

I use the solid green stick of jewellers rouge from home depot.

I just built myself an extreme heavy duty rotary tumbler. Had an AC motor lying around, so I ordered some pillow blocks and two 1/2" shafts off EBAY, then bought a belt and ordered just the tumbler barrel from Thumlers. Took an afternoon to build it and it works great! I can load a bit heavier than a normal Thumlers and NO belt slippage. Cost was minimally more than what a complete Thumlers is.

I'm relatively new to reloading, 6 years now, and went through 2 RCBS tumblers before I bought a Thumlers UV18. Very quiet and does a much better job than the RCBS or my Buds Lyman. I'm gonna have to try out the SS media though

YUP!

I had two midway tumblers which didn't last very long. Now have a Cabelas tumbler. Really like this one. Sounds stupid but the knob on the lid is a great idea. Can spin it instead of turning a wing nut slowly turn by turn. Hard to loose it too.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Model-Vibratory-Case-Tumbler-Kit/731769.uts

Question do you resize and de prime then put your brass in the tumbler