Does anyone here tumble live rounds?

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

CGN Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Quebec
I thought I read somewhere where someone did this. The reason I ask is that no matter how clean and sparkling you get your brass before reloading, putting them through the dies somehow takes a little off the sparkle.

Short of putting them on Lee Zip Trim one by one and running fine steel wool, would anyone have a quicker way to get that factory never-fired look?
 
I've heard that tumbling loaded rounds can have a dangerous effect. It can break down the powder and change the burn rate, causing potentially dangerous pressure levels.

Other guys say they do it briefly with no ill effect. I like to play it safe, so I don't tumble my live rounds.
 
Factory ammo has bounced (tumbled) for at least 3-4,000 miles by time I get it. That's 45-65 hours. If something was gonna break down, I think it would start about 1/2 hour north of Manning.....:p

Just curious, why is it that important to have factory-looking reloads?
 
I tumble all my pistol ammo, I won't do it with rifle ammo.
It cleans off the lube and anything else on it. I find it usually chamber checks better ( no gunky build up ) and is cleaner to handle.
While it does clean the brass nice the lead takes on a duller, darker look.
As for concerns about the powder getting screwed up I don't think they're valid.
 
It shouldn't be a problem if the tumbling is limited in time, especially with vibratory tumblers.

Most powders have various coatings to control burn rates. Tumbling can break down these coatings and substantially change the burning characteristics of the powder. The frequency of the vibrations can cause breakdown of different types of coatings. A rotary tumbler would cause a different type of breakdown than a vibratory tumbler or even ultrasonic.

Remember that there are hundreds of different powders, so all powders may not behave the same after being tumbled.
 
Last edited:
piccolig said:
I thought I read somewhere where someone did this. The reason I ask is that no matter how clean and sparkling you get your brass before reloading, putting them through the dies somehow takes a little off the sparkle.

Short of putting them on Lee Zip Trim one by one and running fine steel wool, would anyone have a quicker way to get that factory never-fired look?
Click to expand...



Tumbling live rounds is something akin to shaving your testes with a cut-throat razor.
Yes it will do a good job.
Yes it will feel good.
But sooner or later there is a chance that you may regret the decision !
 
The argument against tumbling that I have read is that some powders have a burn retardant coating that can be affected (abraded away) and thus change the burn rate causing fast pressure climbs. As I tumble absolutely nothing I have no reason to test the information and don't know what powders it may or may not be specific to.
 
Why not? said:
I resize my brass, then tumble it before loading it. It`s simple! Just check the flash holes for media that occasionally gets stuck in them.

Ted
Click to expand...


Why wouldn't you clean before sizing? If you want the flash holes scoured out, why not use a universal decapping die.
 
I tumble my brass prior to reloading and use carbide dies. With carbide, why would you need to bother with lube? 10s of thousands of pistol rounds later, never had the need. Tumbling live rounds is probably okay, but why take any unecessary chances? With respect to rifle rounds, if you want to remove the lube from the brass, I've always found an old rag to work just fine. Tumbling live rounds can potentially breakdown the powder, which introduces additional unknown variables into the firing equation. May or may not be dangerous, but because it isn't repeatable, would certainly affect your accuracy. Not something I would want to do. As for adding Varsol to the tumbler??? Again, something I wouldn't do, not only because of fumes & potential fire hazard, but also there is a potential for the Varsol to penetrate around the primer, rendering it inert, etc... A long shot sure, but again, why chance it when you don't have to?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom