Reloading Newbie Question

BTS_PEI

BTS_PEI

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I am just getting into reloading and have purchased dies, press, powder primers etc. I don't have a tumbler though. My question is, is having one a necessity and why?
If not, why and how do some of the more experienced members improvise?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

BTS
 
I don't have a tumbler (yet).

For small amounts of rifle brass, I just chuck the Lee case trimmer base into my cordless drill and clean with 000 steel wool.

If you need to do large amounts of pistol brass, this procedure is just too time consuming.

There are a variety of "home brew" liquid cleaning solutions, vinegar cut with water and others. You let your brass soak, agitate, rinse with water and then let dry,I haven't tried any yet though.

Craig
 
Just my opinion, but I think a tumbler is something that you won't need at first, but will probably want to pick up eventually. They just make cleaning your brass easier and quicker, not to mention shiny. But they're certainly not essential.... just nice to have.
 
You can wash dirty brass with case cleaner and let dry. I have also used a small rock tumbler to clean brass prior to getting a tumbler.( garage sale find $10 ) ( a cheap case cleaner is 5ml of CLR and water ) cleans them in seconds.

But for under $100 a tumbler it worth the purchase. Its nice to have cleaned and polished brass.

How much do you re-load?
 
brass

When tumbling brass is the media cleaning the inside of the cases or only making the outside "pretty"?
 
dgal said:
When tumbling brass is the media cleaning the inside of the cases or only making the outside "pretty"?
Click to expand...

It not only makes it "pretty" but also cleans the powder/carbon residue off the case so when you run it up into your FL or Bushing Neck Die you are not depositing the sooty remains in the die. It really doesn't do anything to the inside of the case. If you want the insides as clean as the outsides then you should think about getting an ultrasonic cleaner.

If your only going to be shooting a few rounds a week/month, then I wouldn't worry about a tumbler and just wipe the cases with a cloth.

If your like me though, where you can go through a couple of hundred rounds in a week/weekend, then a tumbler would be worth getting IMHO.
 
Where on PEI are you? Do we know each other maybe (it's PEI the chances are good)
I just ordered a tumbler, I am reloading for "preceision hunting rounds" and I think clean brass is definitely a factor.
I was going to buy a rock tumbler from a friend for $15, it's still available if you want it!
In the meantime if you're close and have a bag o brasss you want to do, I can throw it in my tumbler.
Cheers
 
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