Anyone else using ss ball bearings instead of ss pins in their wet tumble?

So you have me considering changing my process now. I've never done the wet pin because I actually don't like the polish as much as my walnut vibe tumbler does. My current process involves both sonic bath and dry vibe tumble. But I was watching something the other day and see the similar idea. Though their rig is a wet vibe tumbler with some specialized type of balls. It's at the 9:45 mark in the vid. But based on your recent other posts regarding annealing you may find the entire vid neat. I realize it's a bit of an infomercial but I got a lot out of it. Cheers
Thanks for the vid , I know alot of folks say KISS and while I agree simple is good my overthinking brain just can’t sometimes so always looking for new ideas!
 
LoL you think you overthink stuff... I wonder if all those hard and heavier than brass steel pins do any work hardening? Who knows? But maybe it's one of the reasons they use ceramic balls at Peterson...? I've even been thinking of annealing twice in my process LoL... Cheers
BTW I was only getting about 3 reloads on my 270wsm HOT cartridge before neck splits prior to getting an annealing setup.
 
LoL you think you overthink stuff... I wonder if all those hard and heavier than brass steel pins do any work hardening? Who knows? But maybe it's one of the reasons they use ceramic balls at Peterson...? I've even been thinking of annealing twice in my process LoL... Cheers
Hehheh ya some of us are afflicted, so many rabbit holes to go down, I have yet to start in on the headspace and bullet seating depth yet still working on the basics but I know its around the corner for me….
Edit: damnit Jim (star trek) now i have to research ceramic balls 🤪
 
I helped a buddy out the other day with what turned out to be a head space issue he was having. He works the local Bass Pro gun counter on weekends and is a very good shooter with almost all the tools. A complete Hornady nut. But he didn't have the head space gauge set up. He gave me a couple fire formed cases from his wife's T3 270W and I made him a OACL case for measuring bullet seating then popped over and helped him pull the loads that weren't chambering and using my Hornady case head gauge set, measured up a fire formed case, subtracted .0025, resized and trimmed to spec. Tested the feed and bolt close before loading and we were good to go. It's a simple process that I do every time now. Cheers
 
I helped a buddy out the other day with what turned out to be a head space issue he was having. He works the local Bass Pro gun counter on weekends and is a very good shooter with almost all the tools. A complete Hornady nut. But he didn't have the head space gauge set up. He gave me a couple fire formed cases from his wife's T3 270W and I made him a OACL case for measuring bullet seating then popped over and helped him pull the loads that weren't chambering and using my Hornady case head gauge set, measured up a fire formed case, subtracted .0025, resized and trimmed to spec. Tested the feed and bolt close before loading and we were good to go. It's a simple process that I do every time now. Cheers
Thanks, I have been looking at the comparator set from hornady, is that different from the case head gauge set? Sorry I’m just replying/asking without even googling myself first but trying to figure out what to start with and have read some threads here and still confused as it always gets folks arguing heheh
Guess I’m derailing my own thread here but its all gun talk right? Hehhe
Feel free to pm or reply here, haven’t wanted to start a thread yet as there is so many but still was confused.
 
Your the OP. I'm the one guilty of talking about multiple things. But it's your thread to do with as you choose. And yes it's gun talk..
You made me go grab the set to check the label. It's called Lock-N-Load Headspace Comparator Kit. There are multiple brands but they don't function differently to my understanding. The bullet comparator kit requires the use of an OACL case gauge tool and case (preferably fire formed) but using the factory cases from Hornady works fine as well. I used utoobe to learn the processes. Cheers
The bullet comparator kit can also just be used to sort and check base to ogive on each bullet... but that's a walk through the looking glass IMHO.
 
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Your the OP. I'm the one guilty of talking about multiple things. But it's your thread to do with as you choose. And yes it's gun talk..
You made me go grab the set to check the label. It's called Lock-N-Load Headspace Comparator Kit. There are multiple brands but they don't function differently to my understanding. The bullet comparator kit requires the use of an OACL case gauge tool and case (preferably fire formed) but using the factory cases from Hornady works fine as well. I used utoobe to learn the processes. Cheers
Perfect thank you, I am halfway through the peterson brass video and yes I am digging it
 
Your the OP. I'm the one guilty of talking about multiple things. But it's your thread to do with as you choose. And yes it's gun talk..
You made me go grab the set to check the label. It's called Lock-N-Load Headspace Comparator Kit. There are multiple brands but they don't function differently to my understanding. The bullet comparator kit requires the use of an OACL case gauge tool and case (preferably fire formed) but using the factory cases from Hornady works fine as well. I used utoobe to learn the processes. Cheers
The bullet comparator kit can also just be used to sort and check base to ogive on each bullet... but that's a walk through the looking glass IMHO.
Thanks again, so I watched all 3, seems simple enough. So I take it I use a deprimed fire formed case instead of buying one of theirs, the fact its fire formed will get the best info for that rifle and the neck has spread to release tension so the bullet stays in the barrel ? Hope that’s not confusing hehe
 
In regards to making your own fire formed cases for the OACL ( sorry same as OAL ) you can do it with a 5/16" - 36NS tap and some basic skill with a drill and piece of 1x4 in a vise. Drill a hole for the case diameter at head to fit snug, cut the 1x4 from the hole to end to allow the vise to close the wood tighter. Drill out the primer pocket with a 9/32 drill then tap it. Cheers
Edit: oh and use a little Coolcut stick cutting compound ( it's like soft wax in a tube ) for the drilling and tapping. It won't travel onto the wood causing the case to slip like cutting oil.
 
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Hehheh ya some of us are afflicted, so many rabbit holes to go down, I have yet to start in on the headspace and bullet seating depth yet still working on the basics but I know its around the corner for me….
Edit: damnit Jim (star trek) now i have to research ceramic balls 🤪
Let me know what you learn please.
 
Here I go again hehe
After a couple batches with pins I wasn’t loving it so my overthinking brain went to work again and decided to try ball bearings out.
First go was .5 mm and it was smaller than sand so sent them back and got 1mm, still looked too small. With the goal of still being able to fit through the flash hole I ordered 1.5 mm and goldilocks found his porridge!
Theres no need to use a magnet just rinse in a small bucket and pour into a shallow container with some blue shop towel to dry and pour back in the tumbler next time.
Cleans primer pockets just fine and no peening of necks or any other negative.
Just thought I would share as maybe others aren’t loving the pins as well. View attachment 1114698
What is exactly wrong with ss pins? I've been using them for years and have never had any problem.
 
What is exactly wrong with ss pins? I've been using them for years and have never had any problem.
For me personally it was just dealing with the magnet and pins going everywhere and some sticking in cases etc, wth the balls its just roll em in, roll em out
Hehe maybe I created a problem to fix

Edit: basically just wanted the same job done with easier use
 
Sorry for the derail again.. Just cam across this.. And here I thought I was being original LoL. Though I do cut mine straighter by hand and I sink the case head flush with the wood and use cutting wax. The tap can be purchased on amazon btw and get a couple just in case.. Cheers
 
Sorry for the derail again.. Just cam across this.. And here I thought I was being original LoL. Though I do cut mine straighter by hand and I sink the case head flush with the wood and use cutting wax. The tap can be purchased on amazon btw and get a couple just in case.. Cheers
Definitely don’t just use these plastic inserts haha 😆 I started to melt it when drilling out a primer pocket for a different project so yes a wood block is best!
The other project I posted on here was a barrel cooling fan that I ran some tubing into an empty brass so it could fit directly

Edit: site won’t let me post pics now saying security error anyway its on another thread here about barrel cooling
 
Definitely don’t just use these plastic inserts haha 😆 I started to melt it when drilling out a primer pocket for a different project so yes a wood block is best!
The other project I posted on here was a barrel cooling fan that I ran some tubing into an empty brass so it could fit directly

IMG_5834.jpegIMG_3274.jpeg
Ok here it is
 
No looking back for me, got them on a-zon and no hassle returning and reordering until I got what I wanted. 1.5 mm
Side note from reading threads here I tried switching from dawn to laundry detergent and works as good or better and less suds. Took a chance ( a whole 7.50$ ) and got a big jug, love it!
I switched to laundry detergent as well. I buy the cheap Old Dutch when it was on sale for $3
 
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