Why I like Rotary Tumbling

[REDLINE]

That's a good point and question.  Can anyone answer?

[DenStinett]

Most likely
Can't see how it would "load-up" or brake-down like most Dry Media" does

[gandog56]

Would I be wrong in assuming that when using the stainless steel media in a rotary tumbler that one just needs to rinse it clean every so often and it most likely has a lifespan longer than I will.   

I rinse them out after every use. When I dump the dirty water I do it through a sieve with a cheesecloth bag . The media falls through the holes in the sieve and collect in the bag. I do this while shaking the sieve and running clean tap water through so the steel and brass both get rinsed off at the same time.

[10MMGary]

Would I be wrong in assuming that when using the stainless steel media in a rotary tumbler that one just needs to rinse it clean every so often and it most likely has a lifespan longer than I will.   

I rinse them out after every use. When I dump the dirty water I do it through a sieve with a cheesecloth bag . The media falls through the holes in the sieve and collect in the bag. I do this while shaking the sieve and running clean tap water through so the steel and brass both get rinsed off at the same time.

Okay but back to my question can I assume that the SS media if cleaned bacisally will out live me and or my brass? Because if so I am jumping on the rotary tumbler SS media band wagon ASAP!!! I could go forever and not miss dealing with corn or walnut media ever again.

[gandog56]

Only thing you should need is replacement media for them SS escapees who seem to find any way they can to run down the drain, no matter how careful you are.

[10MMGary]

ganddog56, are there any particular brands or types or SS media I should purchase. I already have a good quality large rotary tumbler I have been using for rocks gemstones and such for years, but not using SSmedia. I have even cleaned/polished particularly hard metal parts in it over the years. For the most part I hand load 9MM 10MM 204Ruger 5.56/223Rem and 338Lapua. I guess my question is are ther different sizes/types of SS media I should use for differant caliber cases? Thanks in advance for any advice or help.
                                                                                                                                                                            Gary

[gandog56]

ganddog56, are there any particular brands or types or SS media I should purchase. I already have a good quality large rotary tumbler I have been using for rocks gemstones and such for years, but not using SSmedia. I have even cleaned/polished particularly hard metal parts in it over the years. For the most part I hand load 9MM 10MM 204Ruger 5.56/223Rem and 338Lapua. I guess my question is are ther different sizes/types of SS media I should use for differant caliber cases? Thanks in advance for any advice or help.
                                                                                                                                                                            Gary

Here's where I got mine.

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/?gclid=CN6x44rI67gCFeRj7AodHS8A2w

[10MMGary]

ganddog56, are there any particular brands or types or SS media I should purchase. I already have a good quality large rotary tumbler I have been using for rocks gemstones and such for years, but not using SSmedia. I have even cleaned/polished particularly hard metal parts in it over the years. For the most part I hand load 9MM 10MM 204Ruger 5.56/223Rem and 338Lapua. I guess my question is are ther different sizes/types of SS media I should use for differant caliber cases? Thanks in advance for any advice or help.
                                                                                                                                                                            Gary

Here's where I got mine.

http://www.stainlesstumblingmedia.com/?gclid=CN6x44rI67gCFeRj7AodHS8A2w

gandog56 thanks for the link, I am so going to be giving them a personal small but heart felt economic stimulus. if there claims are half as good as they look and read I am all in. Thanks again and take care.
                                                                                                                 Gary

[gandog56]

Did you see my examples of what the steel media and rotary tumbler can do from the first page? That ain't hype, this is brass I actually ran through.

Round 2

Before



After



Better shot of the cleaned primer pocket.

[DenStinett]

Looks GREAT GD

[gandog56]

Does good on nickel plated, too.

[Redneck]

I started doing the wet/pin tumbling a couple of years back and I really like how it makes even scroungy range brass look as good as new. It does have a down side from what I've been reading at another forum. It cleans the brass so well that it removed the carbon layer in the neck of rifle brass, affecting the bullet pull of some really precision loaded cartridges cause bullet dispersion (larger groups from using this method). I don't notice this shooting hand gun ammo, but if any of my rifles shot groups in the .10s or better, it would definitely be a concern.

[Mike D]

I recently switched to wet rotary tumbling, have done 4 batches of brass this weekend so far.

* 1 gallon hot water
* 1 TBSP dawn dishwashing liquid
* 1/4 TSP granular LemiShine

Cleans and polishes wayyyy better than a vibratory cleaner ever has and no media stuck in the flash holes. Cases are shiny inside & out including primer pockets.

I bought a prospectors mesh pan off amazon for draining water and capturing brass and media. Then I use my standard case/media separator to separate brass and pins. You can pour the pins back into the drum but the magnet makes it so much easier and you can pick up any stray pins.


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[Mike D]

I started doing the wet/pin tumbling a couple of years back and I really like how it makes even scroungy range brass look as good as new. It does have a down side from what I've been reading at another forum. It cleans the brass so well that it removed the carbon layer in the neck of rifle brass, affecting the bullet pull of some really precision loaded cartridges cause bullet dispersion (larger groups from using this method). I don't notice this shooting hand gun ammo, but if any of my rifles shot groups in the .10s or better, it would definitely be a concern.

I don't believe the rumors on rifle cartridges. It would be no different than using new brass. And if you use bushing dies you can control neck tension however you like.


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[Trapper6L]

For years I shot a .261x 47 sleeved Remington 700 actioned bench rifle. Being a TNT chambered rifle, the brass is never resized. You cut the brass to be an exact fit to the chamber. If you're .001 off, the brass is trash. The shoots are normally 40 shots total for a day plus any sighters. Sometimes I used the same 10 cases for all 40-50 loads using a Wilson hand die. I loaded up powder charges at home and carried the powder charges only in dusted pill bottles. After a days worth of shooting the regimen was to take the brass home, wash it in a strong vinegar solution which removed all of the powder fouling, inside and out. If there was any left on the case necks I first used a nylon neck brush and for hard stuff used a brass bore brush. But the cases were spotless, inside and out. POI was the same from week to week. For 100 yd shoots, the rifle was a true one hole rifle. At 600 yards the groups were just over .360. So I doubt that the difference between clean and dirty has much to do with the accuracy.  On a TNT rifle, if the residue is over .001, you won't close the bolt on the round. BUT, I can also tell you if a shooter thinks something is helping his groups, then it is. The placebo effect is real. FWIW, I think Bart Sauters 600 yd group of .282" is still the record.