Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Bullet tumbling

How long do you leave you tumbler going to polish up your cases? And what type of media do you recommend? Thank you in advance.

I usually let mine get pretty cruddy before polishing so I use walnut hulls for about four hours. Corncob will make them shinier but doesn't clean as well for me.


BCR

I'm new to this, but have polished about 200 cases in a rock tumbler I got from HarborFreight.com, I also used Walnut media for about 4 hours with good results. I noticed a big difference in sizing the brass afterward as I use a Lee handpress, much more pleasent after polishing. More than 4 hours dosn't seem to help anymore, as I let one batch tumble overnite with no difference.

I mix walnut hull and corncob media about 50/50 and run about 45 min. before resizing. Not like-new but good enough. I think the mixture gives a nice polish but a lot faster than corncob alone, and lasts longer.

After resizing I run 'em about 10-20 min. to take off the lube.

I usually just turn on the tumbler and go do something else -- I'm absent-minded so these times are minimums!

John

I also tumble brass for 4-hours. I bought one of those security gadgets that turn lamps on and off to control the tumbler. I think I paid 6 or 7 bucks for it at the hardware store.

Spending the future savings from the electric bill, I bought a Dillon CM-500 media separator. I figure to break even in another 43.6-years, but I really like the separator.

A thinkin' man hasta have a plan...