brass cleaning

True, but I've done some pretty grungy range pick-up brass you couldn't tell apart from factory new.
As a matter of fact they look better then factory.
 
From everything I've read and seen...nothing is as good as the stainless pins. It will certainly be a little more for the initial setup. The tumbler is $230 at Cabela's here in Canada and the pins run about 55 shipped to your door from a PelletsLLC distributor here in Canada.
The upside is that you get cleaner brass inside and out as well as the primer pockets. No need to pick the corn cob pieces out the primer pockets and certainly no need for a primer pocket tool. Also, you get less noise, no dust and the pins last forever or at least a very long time.
Also, If you are so inclined, you can build your own tumbler. I created one from a treadmill I cut down.

I am actually about to tumble my first batch this evening. :) I know I won't be dissapointed.
 
Many guys who go with SS media build their own tumbler.
This is less $$ than the commercially available models and often better.
Heavier-duty and much higher capacity.

My hone built wet tumbler can handle 800 .223 cases.
That's roughly 5x what that chintzy Thumbler Tumbler unit can handle.
 
Wired leader said:
The upside is that you get cleaner brass inside and out as well as the primer pockets. No need to pick the corn cob pieces out the primer pockets and certainly no need for a primer pocket tool.
Click to expand...

Hmm, is that why people who progressive load don't clean their primer pockets ?

I'm a fairly experienced reloader, but reload mostly for rifle. But, I've been getting into pistol, and currently load 44mag. I prep my 44 brass the same as I do rifle, where I resize, clean the primer pockets, then trim if needed.

I see these videos of people progressively loading pistol and it doesn't look like they do that, making me wonder if I should bother.
 
I fire my round's, punch out the spent primer,tumble for a couple hour's,size them, another 10-15 minute tumble to remove the lube then load.
I can post pic's of the SS media cleaned brass.
 
The OP should note that both the ultrasonic and SS metheds will require that the brass be dried before reloading. Not so with tumbling.
 
I use crushed walnut and a cap full of nu-finish car polish. I do a fairly high volume of pistol brass and can't be bothered to have to dry the cases. Straight from the tumbler to stage one of the press no muss no fuss...
 
To the OP like you I considered all the options but when reducing cost is the name of the game in reloading. The best question to ask is if you want shiny clean brass or is clean brass good enough for reloading.

The steel pin well give you shiny clean brass inside an out however the cost of the system will have to be costed over a greater period of time. Controls lead and any dust.

Ultrasonic cleaner could be picked up for 1/3 of the price of the steel pins. It could get you brass clean inside/out, primer pockets. The only additional cost is the cleaning solution. Vinegar and water or pot cleaner, detergent. Controls lead dust. Won't make brass super shiny like the pins but will

Media tumbler is also quite cheap to operate only cost is exchanging media. Lots of dust but it coul be controlled. Will only get the brass clean and shiny on the out side but won't clean the primer pockets our the inside the case.

I personally went with the ultra sonic cleaner and very happy with it.
 
or dont bother cleaning your brass. I relaod pislol with a progressive and i find the brass is done long before i ever need to worry because the primer pockets are too dirty.

same for varmints. 223AI and 204 ruger are loaded in a progressive and who gives a rats ass.

for precision shooting i generally use pins although they can be a pain in the ass getting jammed inside the neck of the cases but they do clean everything reall well.
 
Conte said:
Hmm, is that why people who progressive load don't clean their primer pockets ?

I'm a fairly experienced reloader, but reload mostly for rifle. But, I've been getting into pistol, and currently load 44mag. I prep my 44 brass the same as I do rifle, where I resize, clean the primer pockets, then trim if needed.

I see these videos of people progressively loading pistol and it doesn't look like they do that, making me wonder if I should bother.
Click to expand...

Can't say really....
I reload for rifle as well and on a single stage press, but I do like clean brass though. As well, I have to assume that with a clean primer pocket, your primer will seat properly every time. In my first couple of attempts at reloading, I had a few that did not fire. I was lead to believe that the majority of the time the cause is an improperly seated primer. I had not cleaned the primer pockets, so assumed that was the cause. I now pay more attention to the pocket and ensuring that the primer pocket is properly seated....of course, I was also using a different batch of primers.
I should also clarify my earlier statement. I'm not sure that SS cleans your brass better on the outside(though it does seem cleaner), but certainly the difference on the inside and the pocket are like night and day.

My bigger issues with the vibratory tumbler was the noise, dust which you don't see, but you know that you breath it in regardless and of course wearing out a brush on my dremel for about every 50 primer pockets...after you poke the cob media out of the holes.
 
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