Tumbler with stainless media - Hornady or FA?

M

Mittens

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Interior BC
I have switched from dry tumbling, to ultrasonic (cleans parts really well, but the brass was still a little dirty), and I am wanting to take the plunge to wet tumbling. The other two methods were fine, but there is something about perfect glistening brass that gives me a semi.

Unfortunately, the frankford arsenal tumbler is a good bit more expensive than 2 years ago, so I am considering the $320 hornady tumbler. Anyone know if there is a difference as far as durability, or features?
 
I have the FA and the Lyman Cyclone. Both work fine but the FA container opens at both ends (don't ask me why) and leaks consistently unless I do the gorilla strap wrench thing. The Lyman is fine if I just screw the cap on hand tight so the FA seldom gets used any more. I think the Lyman gasket is softer rubber so it seals better. The Hornady unit looks nice but I bought these before the Hornady was available.
 
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I just recently got a Lyman Cyclone and I’ve started cleaning brass with it. So far so good. I might reduce the amount of 9mm I put in, some of the insides of the cases and primer pockets weren’t 100% clean but most were. It doesn’t fit nearly the amount of .223 as advertised.
 
I've had an FA now for 4 yrs,love it,especially the fact that it opens on both ends,after tumbling just replace the solid end caps,one at a time with the grilles,makes it very easy to catch the pins in a cheese bag and finish the rinsing over a laundry tub,do it all in the laundry room.

I shoot mainly rifle,cleaning 200 cases takes about 1/2 to 3/4 hrs,use a bit of Tide laundry detergent some lemishine and hot water,just a small amount of pins added to the mix.brass comes out spotless.

Sold my vibratory tumbler a few years ago,did not get used anymore.
 
I have the full size Frankford Arsenal that I've used for a couple of years now.

I find that its durable, but in order to get the brass 100% clean of carbon I need to run it for the maximum time on the cycle timer of 3 hours. If small primer brass, then 3 hours and maybe about 2 and half hours for large primer brass.

The brass comes out with a pristine shine, but I don't care for the way it peens and roughs up my case mouths.

Some may think case mouth peening is no big deal... but I invest a lot of time and effort in my brass for F Class T/R usage (turning necks, primer pocket uniforming, flash hole deburring, sorting, etc), and I am looking for a cleaning method to avoid trimming my necks on the 3-way trimmer after every SS cleaning.

I am probably going to experiment with a good Ultrasonic Cleaner next... I don't really care if I no longer get that super shine from SS pins anymore... 100% (or close to) removal of the carbon is all I looking to do now a days.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2043411-Keep-my-stainless-steel-wet-tumbler-or-change-to-a-6-to-10-L-ultrasonic-cleaner
 
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