Case tumbling question

Claven2

Claven2

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I've been case tumbling for years. I use a Lyman tumbler and corn cob media, typically.

I've always cleaned BEFORE resizing so that carbon crud doesn't scratch up my dies. I've just taken out the cases, wiped them down with a rag and then sized them, etc.

Something occurred to me today though... what about all the media dust and abrasive powder that's INSIDE the casings after tumbling? (after dumping out the big particles, of course)

Again, for years it's been no problem that I've discerned, but am I unduly stressing my bores? I'm thinking that abrasive powder could be coating my bores between shots and then abrading the surface a the bullet moves by?

Or is the trace media powder being vaporized when the powder charges ignite in the cases?

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Thoughts?
 
tumbling tumbleweeds

over thinking on your behalf, I tumble for an hour, then resize, then tumble for what seems like forever (I like having the shiniest brass) the trace amounts of corn cob probably burn off when the powder ignites, if it will help you sleep at night go buy one of those cans of air and blow out the insides of your cases prior to priming. Or better yet don't think about it anymore, if it has been working for you for years then it can't be all bad. As for barrel wear, well it happens anyways and thus you have an excuse to by another and another and well you get the point. :D:D
 
Claven2 said:
I've been case tumbling for years. I use a Lyman tumbler and corn cob media, typically.

I've always cleaned BEFORE resizing so that carbon crud doesn't scratch up my dies. I've just taken out the cases, wiped them down with a rag and then sized them, etc.

Something occurred to me today though... what about all the media dust and abrasive powder that's INSIDE the casings after tumbling? (after dumping out the big particles, of course)

Again, for years it's been no problem that I've discerned, but am I unduly stressing my bores? I'm thinking that abrasive powder could be coating my bores between shots and then abrading the surface a the bullet moves by?

Or is the trace media powder being vaporized when the powder charges ignite in the cases?

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

There may be a concern about what other additives are in the media like the cleaning ingredients, it's possible that it could react in some way with the powder. Washing the brass in hot water after FL sizing would solve any residue problems that may be lingering inside the case.
 
Throw in some used "Bounce" sheets (cut into smaller pieces) when you're tumbling the brass, it seems to trap a lot of the crud.
 
What's inside a used case is powder and primer residue, which is going to get all over the bore regardless of how clean the case is.

If there is any media dust inside the case which gets blasted down the bore, I can't see it causing any harm. When was the last time you saw walnut or corncob scratch steel, or brass for that matter?
 
There are those who wet tumble. Water + steel shot + dishwasher detergent. The amount of absolute crud, primer residue, etc, that is removed from the inside of the cases is amazing. After rinsing and drying, tumble in corncob. I cannot see dust from media being a problem. Don't know about the rouge and such that is sometimes added to media.
 
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