Tumbling after sizing.

ted_dent said:
Wow, and I thought I was anal about case cleaning. :eek: I just tumble the cases to get them clean, then lube and size them. To remove the lube I throw the cases in lacquer thinner, swish them around for a couple of minutes and spread them on a towel till the lacquer thinner evaporates (doesn't take long as it is pretty volatile). I use Lee case lube which is lanolin based and dissolves in nothing flat. If you decide to tumble lubed cases it's going to contaminate your media pretty fast so be prepared to buy it in bulk as it won't be good for very long.
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Yes and yes.

I find I change the media about every 20 times or so. Probably use a liter or so at a time of fine crushed walnuts I got at Princess Auto. It is so fine it does not plug flash holes. I like that.

As for cost, a 50 pound bag cost about $30, so I am guessing about $5.00 a year in media cost.
 
Toggles said:
Yeah I do. I also have to waste my time reading your NON - constructive criticism... I started this thread just to have some input on other ideas/personal preferences.

Thanks goes out to all that answered my question without judgement.
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Sorry, didn't mean to offend. All I can do is try to correct it by adding that I use a stainless pin media in a thumler's tumbler, usually after resizing full length or neck. Though I have also tumbled live bullets, my only advice there would be to make sure you're not tumbling hollow point bullets, as I ended up with a whole pile at the end with pins in the hollow point. They still ended up firing okay, but I wouldn't want to have been using them for precision shooting.

Welcome to the forums, sorry to be the downer, there's lots to learn on here hope you enjoy your stay.
 
With the calibers that you mention especially since you are only neck sizing I would say wet tumble after sizing.
If it were semi auto rounds that could be exposed to sand and dirt I would use a universal decapper to prevent dirt from getting in the sizing dies.
After tumbling and drying I would then size the cases and maybe re tumble to remove the lube.

I typically re tumble in stainless if trimming is required since it will remove all the brass trimmings which could get trapped in the cases.

If you are new to reloading and have not yet purchased a tumbler look into stainless wet tumbling.
It has a higher startup cost but the stainless media is for life.
All that you will need is some dish soap and a little Lemishine which can be found at your local grocery store or crappy tire.
 
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thump_rrr said:
exposed to sand and dirt I would use a universal decapper to prevent dirt from getting in the sizing dies.
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That is a good idea... I never thought of that.

I'm reloading 338 LM. For now I tumble, then de-prime,neck bump,lenght check/trim/clean primer pocket. Back in the tumbler. Prime , powder, bullet seating. I only tumble before de-prime cause I want the crap out of the brass before it goes into Neck die. But your idea for a universal deprimer can save a tumble step.

Thanks a lot.
 
I wet clean twice. I dont like to run dirty brass inside the sizing die. The expander ball runs smoother with clean necks, and it makes for a more thorough inspection with clean brass. First, I thread down my decapping rod so it only pops out the primers and does not resize. (Side note: wet cleaning with primers in is a PAIN. Almost impossible to get the water out because of hydrolock!) This will allow the primer pockets to be cleaned as well. Then I clean the first time. Then I resize, trim, ect. Then clean again to get the lube and metal shavings out. LOAD!
 
+1 on the wet washing comment! if you are gonna do sonic washing, pop out the primers first so the case can fill with water easier and not have a big air bubble inside that wont allow the water to clean that spot... and then when your done, its a TON easier to get the water out...
 
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