Advice For A Brass Tumbler

Wet tumbling has a huge advantage, getting lead particules in liquid instead of airborne
Still sold the wet tumbler, as it made my brass sticky

In 9mm this means lubing your brass before processing in dillon 650. Then you either have to wipe it off or end up with gummy ammo.
In 308, this means my necks were too dry and clean, making bullet seating inconsistent. It would seem like graphite lube would cure this but i didn’t care to try as i was sick of dealing with over-cleaned brass.

Going back dry tumbling after have processed 20K wet tumbled casings is a real relief
 
Dunno what you're doing with your wet tumbling to leave sticky residue on your brass. Maybe you're using too much liquid soap? Either way, everyone has their preferred technique.
 
Sticky brass does not equal gummy
Brass was squeeky clean, too clean
Would stick in pistol sizing dies without lube, would stick in rifle neck sizing dies which should be used without lube, seating bullets required efforts.
Was doing the popular recipe, dawn plus lemi shine, well rinced, dried in brass dryer etc...

It produced the best looking brass i have ever had period
It also made brass a pain to deal with
 
I find that brass which has been wet tumbled can stick a little but only on the powder funnel/expander. Some use lube to cure the problem but I just power through it and I'm no Hercules, lol. Since I don't like lubing my brass I undersized my Dillon powder funnel/expander slightly and polished it with Flitz which made the the sticking problem almost nonexistent. I find wet tumbling fairly efficient but having the proper tools definitely speeds up the process (separator, magnet, sieve, etc.). Starting is easy. Throw all that crap into the tumbler, fill with water and detergent(s) of choice, set for the desired time and let 'er go. Separating can be time consuming but that's where the tools make a difference. I found the FA wet/dry separator saved me a bunch of time. I drop everything into the separator, turn the handle a bunch of times, then pour out the separated cases onto a towel and let them sun/air dry. After transitioning to wet tumbling I can say with completely confidence that I will never go back to dry tumbling. It's a "whatever floats your boat" situation.
 
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Seperating as always been ultra efficient for me

Media seperator half way full of water (the actual brass basket dipping halfway into water), turn about 20 times
Drain water
Turn about 20 times

Never found an SS pin in 20K+ casings
Also helps “pre dry” them and it moves water out of casings


I used to muscle on the dillon and was ok.
When i got doing 308 and had inconsistent tensions, which dry tumbling cured, tried a batch for 9mm and now my dillon 650 is ultra sweet to operate. I have the roller handle and can cycle the press easily with one finger.

I do agree, whatever floats your boat situation
 
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