Vibratory tumblers question

[Dermako]

The old feller that got me into reloading put it to me this way.
If you use a vibratory tumbler you are still going to have to clean primer pockets some of the cases.
These new pin tumblers do that for you on all of them in a fraction of the time.
The old feller showed me how to clean primer pockets.
I vaguely remember that learning experience.


Have used the rotary pin tumblers on rifle cartridges for years with great results.
With the lower batch numbers the drying was not really an issue.

Now doing pistol cartridges in large quantities and while the pin tumbler is very effective and cleans to expectations the drying aspect is very time consuming.

Thus my questions.
I have never used any of the vibratory tumblers and would like to know approximate run time for an appropriately sized batch?
These would all be once fired brass. No range pickups.

Corn cob:
Seems to be most popular!

Walnut hull:
For the hard to clean stuff?


TIA

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[skfullgun]

Honestly, I use corn cob or walnut - have even used a mixture.
Run them overnight. I only run small batches of 200 or so in .38 Spl.
Overnight usually works for me.

 

[baboon]

Enjoy the noise & dust!

 

[skfullgun]

Well, that's why you use it in the garage or your storage bldg while you are away and sleeping. Dust has never been a problem for me.

 

[Dawico]

Corn cob and run it all night.

You don't need to clean primer pockets.

 

[baboon]

Well, that's why you use it in the garage or your storage bldg while you are away and sleeping. Dust has never been a problem for me.

Unfortunately for me my reloading room is inside the house. If I had to go to either of your suggestions I'd never do it.

 

[Rusty Gun]

I use fine walnut bought from harbor freight. I add a little NU-FINISH car polish and a splash or two of odorless mineral spirits and that seems to greatly reduce the dust and gets the cases sparkling clean. As an example I can load 300-400 9mm in the tumbler for 3-4 hours and they are clean as new. i have the tumbler on a cheap amazon timer and just let them run out in the garage.
Does not clean the insides real good but i don’t think that is required for range ammo. I de-prime after tumbling on the Dillon 550. I have never cleaned primer pockets on handgun ammo.

 

[Axxe55]

I usually run small batches of cases. About 50 pistol cases, or about 25 rifle cases at a time.

Putting a little bit of some type of polish seems to keep the dust down, and will help shine the cases.

I also use a mix of corn cob and walnut media in my tumbler. Running for about two to three hours does a good job for me.

 

[Whistler]

Corn cob & a squirt of Lemi-shine overnight.

 

[cvgunman]

I read on a different forum where they are using "used" dryer sheets to control the dust. I have not personally tried this, just thought I'd pass it along.

 

[EZ-E]

I use a food dehydrator to dry brass. Makes life easy. Once brass is clean, i dump it into a towel to knock most the water off then into the dehydrator it goes for 2 hrs @ 150 degrees.

 

[Fishin4guns]

I use a food dehydrator to dry brass. Makes life easy. Once brass is clean, i dump it into a towel to knock most the water off then into the dehydrator it goes for 2 hrs @ 150 degrees.

What EZ-E said. I wet tumble for about an hour and a half. Rinse and separate the pins. Then into a dehydrator for about another hour and a half.

 

[Axxe55]

I read on a different forum where they are using "used" dryer sheets to control the dust. I have not personally tried this, just thought I'd pass it along.

I have read that as well.

My wife generates a lot of used dryer sheets. I just never think about them when I am using my tumbler.

 

[BigTexasOne]

I've been running corn cob since I started, I run smaller batches, like about 50 - 100 cases, never more than about 3 hours, although I will admit, longer makes them shinier. I sort calibers before and only tumble 45s with 45s. 38s and 357 together, 9mm and 380 acp together, etc. Makes the sifting and sorting after easier.

 

[baboon]

I use a food dehydrator to dry brass. Makes life easy. Once brass is clean, i dump it into a towel to knock most the water off then into the dehydrator it goes for 2 hrs @ 150 degrees.

I borrowd my chef buddies for the same thing.

 

[EZ-E]

Heres my set up for tumbling.
The basket is great for separating pins. Then just use the Frankford magnet to pick up the pins & put them back in the pvc tube.

Ive got 15lbs of pins in the tumbler & can load about 1000 9mm or about 500 5.56. It takes about 1.5 hrs to get the brass & pockets clean. I use a few drops of Dawn & a .45 case of Lemi Shine.

 

[vmax]

Wait just a minute.. you guys clean the cases before reloading them?...lol



I use a corncobb/walnut mixture and and I also use a wet as pin tumbler
Generally I'll dry clean pistols cases and wet tumble rifle

I hardly ever clean the primer pocket on a pistol case..

 

[Vaquero]

Walnut hamster bedding from the pet store. Cheaper than media, way less dust, fine enough to not block flash holes.

 

[Dawico]

I read on a different forum where they are using "used" dryer sheets to control the dust. I have not personally tried this, just thought I'd pass it along.

Cut up paper towels or used dryer sheets draw the dirt out of your media. Makes your media last much longer.