Re: tumbling, does it matter?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I started off cleaning cases with vibration tumbler, used that method for 5 years, switched to SS media and a rotating tumbler with water soap and Lemmie shine, I have even tried US, now I back to vibrating tumbler cleaning or cleaning cases by hand with a Krazy Klothe for precision rifle rounds, and SS cleaning pistol and blasting AR15 ammo, what I have found is brass gets too clean from SS or US, the carbon left inside the necks aids in consistent bullet release, chrono numbers don't lie, dry neck lube helps, but just brushing the big stuff out and not polishing the inside of the neck is best. The club I belong to has a number of world class Benchrest shooters, I have watched these people clean the same 20 cases by hand, brush out the necks, FL resize there cases(custom die), prime, throw charges, seat pills and shoot little bitty groups out to 200 yards, those same 20 cases might get reloaded 700 times in a season, yes 700 times, the inside of the case is never cleaned, so really there's nothing gained by super clean brass, just figure out what's cheapest and easiest method to get the brass clean so you can shoot more often. </div></div>
I agree with the above 100%. I don't understand the motivation for highly polished cases unless you just love to display and admire your gleaming little ICBM's.
I use a bronze bore brush on the case necks, but have not done studies, brushed versus not brushed as to accuracy differences. As far as I'm concerned, it's intuitive but I don't get that feeling from ultra polished cases, no matter how it's done.
The argument about protecting dies is kinda puzzling. Yes, you want to remove mud and cowshit before resizing but that does not necessitate a several hundred dollar investment for the other 98% of your cases that are perfectly serviceable with barely a wipe off.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it, and by the way, my handloads are sexy enough without SS polishing; because I take care of them. BB