Just starting to get my foot in the door for reloading ammuniton for handguns. I bought a tumbler and scale today to start while I figure out which press I want to buy. Thought I could at least get a start cleaning my brass before I start. A fellow at work tumbles his brass with the old primers left in because he has a progressive press and says the decapping/capping station will remove and install the new primer. Another said it's better to remove the old primers before tumbling as this will clean the primer pocket and allow for better results in seating the primers. Any comments or thoughts on this?
Tumbling brass question.....
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Not that I really know what I'm talking about 
but I usually tumble with the primers left in for 2 reasons. The main one is that way the brass is clean before depriming/resizing so there's less chance of scratching up the inside of the die with grit left on the case. The second reason is you can get tumbler media stuck in the flash hole and not notice before priming. I don't know how bad this really is but I've heard it mentioned before.
Dirt
but I usually tumble with the primers left in for 2 reasons. The main one is that way the brass is clean before depriming/resizing so there's less chance of scratching up the inside of the die with grit left on the case. The second reason is you can get tumbler media stuck in the flash hole and not notice before priming. I don't know how bad this really is but I've heard it mentioned before. Dirt
I tumble mine without the primer, but I only reload for rifle. The only reason I tumble is to get the lube off and maybe shine them up a bit. Yes, it is a pain in the ass to clean the media out of the primer pockets.
1. tumble brass with old primer in place to clean brass before sizing and de-priming... less wear and tear on dies.
2. I re-tumble all re-sized and de-primed brass for 1/2 hour to clean lube off and give nice shine.
I am currently using a Lee single stage press... so this is "concurent activity".
This is works for me. And yes, sometimes it can be time consuming to get the media out of the prime pocket, but I like the shine of freshly cleaned brass. Plus, I use a little bit of Brasso mixed in with my corn-cob media for excellent results.
Blue
2. I re-tumble all re-sized and de-primed brass for 1/2 hour to clean lube off and give nice shine.
I am currently using a Lee single stage press... so this is "concurent activity".
This is works for me. And yes, sometimes it can be time consuming to get the media out of the prime pocket, but I like the shine of freshly cleaned brass. Plus, I use a little bit of Brasso mixed in with my corn-cob media for excellent results.
Blue
If you want to remove the primer prior to tumbling, use the RCBS Universal Depriming Die, that way you won't damage your sizing die.
I find that the primer pocket does not get any cleaner if you remove the primers prior to tumbling, it only gets media stuck in the flash hole.
I find that the primer pocket does not get any cleaner if you remove the primers prior to tumbling, it only gets media stuck in the flash hole.
Two points. If you don't plan on cleaning the primer pocket then tumble with the primers still in. That way the media won't get stuck in the flash hole. If you plan on cleaning the primer pocket, sizing for length etc., then like the other guy mentioned decap with the RCBS universal decaper and tumble after and you can clean the flash holes when you clean the pockets. I use a Dillon 550 for reloading. I have two classes of ammo. Practise junk and match ammo. The practise junk gets tumbled so my dies wont get hurt but that's it. I just pump them through. The match ammo get decapped, tumbled, resized, primer pockets/flash holes cleaned and trimed to proper length if necessary.
I follow a simmilar practice to what bluesclues described.
By the way, tumbling does not clean the primer pocket. Also, media does get stuck in the flash hole when you tumble with the primer removed - almost every cartridge. This is easy to remove with a small pick - no big deal at all.
By the way, tumbling does not clean the primer pocket. Also, media does get stuck in the flash hole when you tumble with the primer removed - almost every cartridge. This is easy to remove with a small pick - no big deal at all.
I tumble pistol cases and rifle cases with primers in. I also found that tumbling my .308 with a couple hundred 9mm cases at the same time, made for cleaner rifle cases.
after resizing/depriming, and trimming, the rifle cases go back in for another cleaning. Then they come out and I break out the Dremel, with the nylon straight brush attachment, and I clean the primer pockets. This also knocks out any media in the flash hole. I used to use the RCBS steel brush for the primer pockets, but my hands hated it. I tried the same brush in the Dremel, but the Dremel spins too fast and it just eats the primer pocket out. So I tried the nylon brush, it works much better.
Then I finish all my loading. If I have time I'll tumble the rifle brass one more time, while loaded. Usually for maybe 1/2 to 1 hour.
after resizing/depriming, and trimming, the rifle cases go back in for another cleaning. Then they come out and I break out the Dremel, with the nylon straight brush attachment, and I clean the primer pockets. This also knocks out any media in the flash hole. I used to use the RCBS steel brush for the primer pockets, but my hands hated it. I tried the same brush in the Dremel, but the Dremel spins too fast and it just eats the primer pocket out. So I tried the nylon brush, it works much better.
Then I finish all my loading. If I have time I'll tumble the rifle brass one more time, while loaded. Usually for maybe 1/2 to 1 hour.
Slavex,
I've had good success using the RCBS brush in a cordless drill.
You may want to re-think tumbling loaded rifle cartridges. To a certain extent I believe the powder manufacturers control the burn rate by coating the particles with graphite or something like that. By tumbling you may be changing the burn rate and potentially increasing the pressures. Maybe....
I've had good success using the RCBS brush in a cordless drill.
You may want to re-think tumbling loaded rifle cartridges. To a certain extent I believe the powder manufacturers control the burn rate by coating the particles with graphite or something like that. By tumbling you may be changing the burn rate and potentially increasing the pressures. Maybe....
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It just don't matter much , if a small number of large cases, I will de prime first , and pick the pockets. 6 of one kinda deal , I don't tumble every firing any more, except when getting ready some special hunting loads that I just want perfect.
Frank
Frank
