new to reloading, need advice on tumblers

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blitztech

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Hello all,

I'm new to the forum and reloading and was just needing some advice on tumblers.

I'll be reloading 9mm, .223 & .308 in low quantities. I need a tumbler that can clean 100-250 casings at a time for a reasonable price. I'm willing to spend more for a better quality product and I have no experience using them. I've seen some that also say they are ultrasonic. Does this mean they don't tumble and are quieter? Any wisdom on the subject would be much appreciated. Thanks!
 
I'll be reloading 9mm, .223 & .308 in low quantities.
Click to expand...

Based on this statement, I recommend the Lyman "Turbo Pro 1200" for around $70. I have been using one for over 20 years and it does me just fine.

Hope this helps.

The Dove
 
blitztech said:
Hello all,

I'm new to the forum and reloading and was just needing some advice on tumblers.

I'll be reloading 9mm, .223 & .308 in low quantities. I need a tumbler that can clean 100-250 casings at a time for a reasonable price. I'm willing to spend more for a better quality product and I have no experience using them. I've seen some that also say they are ultrasonic. Does this mean they don't tumble and are quieter? Any wisdom on the subject would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Ultra sonic cleaners don't used corn cob or walnut media like a tumbler. Instead they use a liquid solution and sound waves. There are store bought solutions that you mix with water or some people make their own blends. Then you have to rinse the brass in clean water and dry it. Tumbling is generally easier.
 
I loaded for many years with no tumbler. I just wiped them off with a rag. Then my son, who polishes rocks, gifted me with a Lyman Turbo Pro 1200. (walnut media) I have been tumbling my brass for a couple of years now and this unit works fine. Something in this class would be good for your size of operation.
 
I have a 1200 twin tumbler. It is only a year old, I think it was $57 on Amazon at that time.

It is loud. When I use it I put it in the shower(small apt) and close the door. It will run 250 .223 cases easily, 2 hours and brass looks beautiful.

Vibratory tumblers are the way to go unless you have deep pockets and/or shoot a whole lot.

Cabela's sells a nice one I hear, so does Berry's(Berry's bullets), there has been good feedback on those(same manufacturer). I think Berry's has a deal with a separator too(A sieve that shakes out the tumbling media from the brass).
 
I agree vibrator cleaners are the way to go. I use fine grit walnut hulls from Harbor Freight with a squirt of Nu-Finish car polish from Wally world. Not my idea, but a good one! They come out bright and shiny.
 
Brass sure looks good out of a rotary tumbler with stainless media, but drying brass always seemed like it would be a PITA to me.
I have a Lyman Pop Top vibratory tumbler with the clear lid. I like it, but it's small. We got it used is why we went with that one. If I were buying a new one today, I would go larger. The Lyman is a good one though.
 
I've been using a Ultra Vibe 10 for a long time. It's very quiet, and it is of high quality, they have a cooling fan and have an isolated motor, no oiling necessary. I think they are about $90? I run mine sometimes for several days straight.
Other than that, Harbor Freight has some that are quite affordable, they get the job done, from what I hear.

GS
 
I gave up on tumbling almost 20 years ago and never looked back.

I wash all my brass in cleaning solution made of 1 cup of vinegar in a gallon of water, plus a spurt of dish washing solution.

Soak the brass for an hour, rinse in water till there are no suds, and dry the brass in the sun.

Shiny brass doesn't shoot any straighter.
 
Well this is all good info. I was looking at the Lyman's on midwayusa.com and they were getting a lot of comments about motors burning out quickly. I'm afraid that things aren't made as well as they used to be. I have a cabelas about 45 min from me and a harbor freight very close by. I will go check them out. Anyone bought a Lyman recently that's had trouble with it?
 
Spend as much as you like...I have a Frankford arsenal and a Hornady tumbler and they both do the same thing. I was gifted another one from smart reloader and it was NIB. I used it only once and sold it as even though it was free I couldn't get past the fact that it was made (marketed) by SR, but believe it or not it was actually quieter than the Hornady or FA tumblers.
 
Cabela's tumbler is made by Berry's. It's a good model and inexpensive. Even cheaper at Midsouth Shooters Supply, but rarely is it in stock...

You have a few options: vibratory, sonic (cleaner) and stainless media. The latter is probably the best overall for clean, shiny brass (inside & out).

Let your wallet decide. If you plan on loading more and more, then consider it as a longer-term investment, and plan accordingly.
 
I bought a Midway vibrator unit 20 years ago and still use it 3-4 times a week. A few years ago I bought a second Midway/Frankfort vibrator kit with sifter - also works great.
 
I have a Lyman 1200 and a Dillon CV-500. I use the Dillon most of the time as it is not nearly as loud as the Lyman. They both do the job.
 
Arkansas Paul said:
Brass sure looks good out of a rotary tumbler with stainless media, but drying brass always seemed like it would be a PITA to me.
I have a Lyman Pop Top vibratory tumbler with the clear lid. I like it, but it's small. We got it used is why we went with that one. If I were buying a new one today, I would go larger. The Lyman is a good one though.
Click to expand...
If you only have enough brass to shoot and reload right away then your money is better spent elsewhere.
If you have enough brass to wait a day then SS tumbling is the greatest.

I deprime, tumble, and towel dry after rinsing in hot water.
I then dump them in a bucket and reload them when I get around to it.

The brass is cleaner than tumbling in walnut or corn cob.
There is no dust like vibratory tumbling.
There is no media to wear out and need replacing.
There is no damned vibration like a vibratory tumbler.
 
Based on this statement, I recommend the Lyman "Turbo Pro 1200" for around $70.
Click to expand...

$70 ???? if you paid that much, you got ripped off.
It should run you about $55

and I agree, the Lyman 1200 Turbo Pro is a good one.
I have one & it's provided years of good use.

I even dropped it a couple of times.
cracked the cover & bent the rod, but it still runs.
 
Brass sure looks good out of a rotary tumbler with stainless media, but drying brass always seemed like it would be a PITA to me.
Click to expand...

i've posted my drying method on here dozens of times. not sure why no one else seems to have thought of it.

i strain the water off and pour the brass out on a towel. pat off what you can with the towel. throw the brass in a mesh lingerie bag. sandwich one side of the bag in the top jamb of the clothes dryer door. run it 15-20 mins (maybe more or less for your particular dryer) and it'll come out ready to load. i'm told new dryers even have stationary racks for drying things like shoes, which would be another good way.
 
Kempfs reloading has a tumbler,sifter, and a couple pounds of media for $59. I believe it is a frankfort tumbler. I was going to get one to back up my 20 year old layman when i picked up a used horandy...the layman is loud...the horandy is very quiet..
 
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