I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

[want2Baccurate]

Hello all, I finally stepped into the reloading ring. Ive had my equipment for a while, but haven't really had it setup. Well today I sat down and de-primed a lot of brass and fed some into my tumbler (Hornady vibratory tumbler). Its been 2 hours and although the outside is very shiny and nice, the inside and primer pockets both have grime. Is this normal? If not, what can I do to clean them up? Just let them tumble longer?

I am using walnut media with a little polish, and have it in a 4/1 ratio of media to brass.

Am I just worrying too much?

 

[doubled]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

The insides of your cases are not going to get very clean in the vibratory tumbler but that isn't a huge issue.

The primer pockets are going to require you to clean them with either a primer pocket cleaner which you can buy or you can make one out of an old flattened and shaped .223. Just crush the end to be like a "flathead screwdriver" and shape to fit inside of your primer pockets and then use it to scrape away the carbon. You are just trying to remove enough debris so that the primer seats properly and evenly.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

its normal


if you want the insides clean, you will need to go with stainless steel tumbling or an ultrasonic cleaner

 

[want2Baccurate]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: justinbaker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">its normal


if you want the insides clean, you will need to go with stainless steel tumbling or an ultrasonic cleaner </div></div>

How long does the stainless media last? Does it ever need changed?

 

[doubled]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

you won't need to change it, over time you may need to replace some here and there due to losing some of the pins but it's a reusable media that does a fantastic job.

before and after pictures are all over the place - here are some .50 cal cases that i cleaned.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: want2Baccurate</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: justinbaker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">its normal


if you want the insides clean, you will need to go with stainless steel tumbling or an ultrasonic cleaner </div></div>

How long does the stainless media last? Does it ever need changed? </div></div>

from what iv read it lasts a lifetime.

iv only had my setup for a month or so

and its amazing, it gets the brass perfectly clean

 

[want2Baccurate]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

I was reading the SS Tumbling media website and it cant be used in a vibrating tumbler.

I pulled my first batch of brass from the tumbler. it came out nicely polished. There are still a couple of tarnish marks on some of the brass, but I don't think that will affect its performance.

I have an even dirtier batch of brass in the tumbler right now. In the mean time, I managed to cut down a .223 case into a primer pocket scraper and have been working on the first batch.

I have about 200 cases of .45acp (mixed head stamps) that I was planning to use for plinking/practice ammunition in my pistols. I was wondering if I needed to sort these, or if I could just load them all the same and shoot them. I am not looking for max pressure loads, just plinking ammo. I read through my Hornady manual and I believe it suggests that using the minimum powder load is safe for this. Am I wrong? Id hate to have my pistol blow up in my hands because I bulk loaded practice ammo too hot.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: want2Baccurate</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was reading the SS Tumbling media website and it cant be used in a vibrating tumbler.

I pulled my first batch of brass from the tumbler. it came out nicely polished. There are still a couple of tarnish marks on some of the brass, but I don't think that will affect its performance.

I have an even dirtier batch of brass in the tumbler right now. In the mean time, I managed to cut down a .223 case into a primer pocket scraper and have been working on the first batch.

I have about 200 cases of .45acp (mixed head stamps) that I was planning to use for plinking/practice ammunition in my pistols. I was wondering if I needed to sort these, or if I could just load them all the same and shoot them. I am not looking for max pressure loads, just plinking ammo. I read through my Hornady manual and I believe it suggests that using the minimum powder load is safe for this. Am I wrong? Id hate to have my pistol blow up in my hands because I bulk loaded practice ammo too hot. </div></div>


your fine not sorting cases for pistol rounds, at least i never do

just make sure you dont have some the 45 rounds that used small primers.

as far as the load, just start at the book minimum and work up

i wouldnt just load a whole bunch at the low charge, you want to make sure they will cycle your gun

 

[want2Baccurate]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: justinbaker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
your fine not sorting cases for pistol rounds, at least i never do

just make sure you dont have some the 45 rounds that used small primers.

as far as the load, just start at the book minimum and work up

i wouldnt just load a whole bunch at the low charge, you want to make sure they will cycle your gun </div></div>

Thank you for the info. I checked my 45acp cases, all are large pistol primer. I think that tomorrow I will work up a few batches at different charges, then test them in my pistols. I have several Winchester and corbon cases, so I might save them for the higher pressure loads.

 

[judgedelta]

Re: I have my first batch of brass in the tumbler

Whenever they're clean enough for you, they're. done. Some people don't clean at all and do very well just by washing. A clean case is easier to spot defects (cracks, etc.). 2 hours is about the minimum I have heard of vibrating. Some run them 6 or 7 hours or even overnight. I use stainless steel with a tumbler and keep my vibrator to remove sizing lube. Welcome to the addiction...