Rifle Reloading Basics Pt1: Safety and Brass Tumbling

[@abee.s.corpus2455]

Two comments on vibratory tumbling: If you must use a liquid polish to dry media (I avoid it), run the tumbler for a few minutes before adding the cases so that any clumps will break up. I’ve seen wet clumps make their way into cases to dry like concrete. It can cause a squib or worse. Second, I run the vibratory tumbler outdoors and by all means avoid breathing the dust when sifting. Lead styphnate from the fired primers is not something you want to breathe.

[@PS-rr2jt]

I’m surprise he didn’t mention the lead contaminated dust when talking about safety. Lots of people aren’t aware of the primers containing lead and breathing it in is a very common way for reloader to get high levels in their blood.

[@jmythngdmb]

Good call, I’ve had that happen. Super annoyed when I saw it, glad I noticed though.

[@Vintage-406]

I actually had no idea about this.

[@jaredodell6768]

That's good to know

[@hoffmiermp]

Bingo, hence the reason I switched to wet tumbling w/steel pins.

[@406gunnut9]

Corncob media and a cement mixer. Yes you read that right, a cement mixer. I just finished cleaning 1,600 pieces of .223/5.56 brass in about 3 hours. Great channel guys, keep'em coming.

[@charlesgiles4447]

That is a new one I have not seen that used.

[@redrock425]

@@charlesgiles4447 Jerry Miculek cleans his brass like that.

[@fartinthewind933]

Literally the only thing I use to clean my brass is Dawn soap, lemi shine, hot water, snd this weird container I got with bumps on the inside. That's it and I shake vigorously for 2 or 3 minutes every 10 minutes for 45 minutes. I'm poor we got to make do with trash.

[@6Sally5]

Nothing wrong with being cash low. I have found I am more inventive when I can’t afford to buy stuff.

[@fartinthewind933]

@@6Sally5 it's definitely more work than a tumbler and all that fancy stuff. Some of them I even got to hit with Brillo pad. But it works.

[@SALTYCOMBATDIVER-ExInstructor]

We tumbled brass in an old cement mixer.

[@edwinlongwell]

My wife had a harbor freight rock tumbler that I inherited when she upgraded. Works great.

[@novicereloader]

The plastic Tropicana container was my go-to for exactly the same method for almost two years. Fits the hands really nice. No shame in saving money.

[@aaronpage2662]

Frankford arsenal wet tumbler. Dose an amazing job in just a couple hours. Very nice polish on it as well.

[@The10thManRules]

Like gold!

[@porkburrito]

I use mine for 30-40mins. 2-3 hours beat up my case mouths pretty bad. Warm water, stainless media, dawn dish soap and a tiny bit of lemi shine does the trick 👍

[@porkburrito]

I bought some stainless jewlers tumbling media and use that instead of the pins. They’re still a pita lol I just take a spaghetti strainer to catch most of the media while shaking the container over it. Then shake each case upside down to make sure there aren’t any left in the cases. Rinse them off, put them on a cookie sheet in the oven for a couple hours on convect at 170 degrees. When they cool off I start to anneal.

[@FVPS904]

Can’t go wrong with the FART and stainless steel pins

[@atvgod82]

I have a Dillon media separator I fill with water and tumble the cases in the water. Easy to clean up the media after the fact too. Pick up with a magnet and on to a towel to dry

[@tracycastleberry9040]

I got into reloading over 40 years ago mostly for accuracy. Components were cheap, the price of a decent single stage press was not outrageous. I enjoyed reloading like you said lock yourself away from distractions and zin out. After I got married I would hang a Do Not Disturb sign on the door of my gun room and told my wife this applies to you. Yes we are still married and she got me back she put the same sign on our bedroom door.

[@hugostiglitz2388]

$1.39 for a 100 box of primers and now they're encroaching on $20.00.

[@Liamisdead99]

@@hugostiglitz2388I get them for 10 dollars

[@tonydevich7937]

L9l

[@stonerman15]

Thank you for making a beginner series!

[@guyminer2384]

You're welcome. We were all beginners once and I'm still learning, many years later.

[@FrankJewelry]

Looking forward to see the whole series. I am personally completely away from dry media polishing. I only do wet tumbling with polishing media like spheres on different sizes and also pins. Comes out perfectly polished and you can also deprime before. After that air dry for 2 or 3 days and it's perfect. If you are in a hurry, a good heat bath in the oven works great too. I am a goldsmith and have all polishing tools that are necessary. Tumbler polishing is best. Give it a try!

[@spyderxtra777]

For me the proper tumbling time is from whatever time I put it in there until whatever time the next day I get back to it. I use crushed walnut lizard bedding material from the pet store (much cheaper than the same stuff sold to reloaders) and a squirt of liquid car wax to keep the dust down and add a nice shine 👍

[@mikeolinger9227]

Obvious by the number of comments this is a great topic. Been reloading for 4 decades.....still a corn cob media fan. Load a variety of handgun and rifle calibers.

[@kurthunter2427]

Nothing beats lemi-shine, dishwasher detergent and stainless steel pin wet tumbling!

[@jeremychapman6468]

I like to decap first. I’ve found the Hornady media is fine enough to not get stuck in the flash hole. I put a touch of the Hornady polish in there too. Then I retumble after resizing to ensure I get all the case lube off.

[@gordonhood6265]

Walnut media for an hour or so, resize and deprime, trim to length, chamfer and deburr and finally into the rebel 17 with stainless steel media for a few hours with dawn and lemishine, rinse thoroughly, and dry. Results are brass that is spotless. I look forward to the series, your views and opinions are very helpful and well researched. Thank you.

[@stephenheersink6778]

I use a wet tumbler with Dawn dishwashing detergent and Lemi-shine. I tumble for four hours and dry the brass in a food dehydrator. It gets the inside, outside and primers very clean. I only use a vibratory tumbler after I have resized my brass to remove the lubricant.

[@janbloemendaal9299]

I’m glad you are coming out with this series. I have been loading for many years but it is nice to step back and look at someone’s else’s approach. I like how you labeled your powder throw. I do the same thing. I’m a wet tumbler with stainless media to clean my brass. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the rest of your series.

[@jaymiller393]

Well done Guy!

[@tonydevich7937]

Yep,that's good advice

[@jessdurfee3817]

I find reloading very cathartic. I have to concentrate on what I am doing during the process and therefore cannot worry about the troubles of life. I come out usually feeling refreshed and calm.

[@foonus406]

Tumbling dry with walnut sand blasting media from princess auto. Works as well as the expensive stuff, little bit more dust. Cobb and the Frankford arsenal brass polish gets them really pretty if that's yer thing.. Tried both wet pin and ultrasonic before and found that getting too much carbon off the inside of the necks was actually detrimental to the bullet seating and (if you do it) expansion mandrel. Thanks for the video, looking forward to more in the series!

[@patrickschultz8820]

This series is going to be great. I know Guy will do a great job. I started doing 20 cases at a time by hand, then got a newly released Hornady sonic cleaner, then a dry media tumbler, then I bought a 7 liter Frankford arsenal wet tumbler with stainless steel pins which I currently use exclusively.

[@2pugman]

I cleaned the brass for decades with a vibrator tumbler and then switched to sonic and finally to wet tumbling. The Franklin Arsenal wet tumbler is my favorite cleaning method. Plus, I don't have to breathe the dust from vibrator to aggravate my COPD.

[@johnkissam8312]

Lots of good info/insights in these comments. Never occurred to me that tumbling brass in media required precautions. Thank You fellas!! I also just started to use disposable gloves. Handel a lot of lead bullets for my .38. Great addition to the channel !! Keep it coming

[@bethandbillgardner7843]

Wet tumbler here. SS pins with Dawn & LemiShine. Looks better than new when finished. Only problem I have ever had is with relatively soft brass (e.g. Hornady). If you don’t fill the tumbler full enough the neck can get damaged while tumbling. Fill the tub 3/4 full or more and the brass comes out beautiful!

[@billylee2312]

I bought the same kit this past year. I have been collecting components throughout the year. I bought a table and set the press up this week. I still haven’t finished getting everything set up but I’m working on it. I’m in no hurry but I should be ready to load in the next month.

[@billylee2312]

My goal is to eventually be able to load the most accurate load for my guns. I don’t expect to be there for awhile. Plinking ammo will be good until I learn the ends and outs. Plus I’m waiting on a chronograph to come in. If anyone has a lead on a caldwell g2 I am in the market.

[@BigDmike24]

Lyman is good stuff. All the major MFG. Make good equipment. Mix and match , be patient. You will be fine and have fun.

[@billylee2312]

@@BigDmike24 I plan on taking my time and learning all I can!

[@jasonkilgore1977]

I dry tumbled for years and was never very satisfied with the results. I bought a cyclone wet tumbler with the stainless steel pins and 2 oz of ultrasonic cleaner per wash and I was blown away. I will wet tumble for the rest of my life the results was amazing. For everyone reading this you must dry your brass very well before reloading it. So, this is how I do my cleaning wet tumble with primers , ss pins and cleaner 1-2 hours. I then separate it and put in my dehydrator immediately for three hours. I get cases that look new inside and out.

[@marcrobert2603]

I predry in a towel and i put them i a cheap airfryer at 90to100gr Celsius for 30min and leave them cooling down.I use water from the washingdryer.And only 1/15 vinaigre and ultrasoon for only 6min. RELOADERS please avoid dust or touching corn. It will kill you

[@sixtofive]

I've settled on wet tumbling with stainless steel pins. Hot water, a little dawn dish soap and a pinch of lemishine gets the brass looking brand new.

[@farmerwayne1404]

Very nice! Thanks Guy!!!

[@mikebrumbelow3245]

Great start on a reloading series. Keep up the good work. You ask we comment on what we use to clean cases. I've moved on to wet tumbling with stainless pins. Use dawn dish soap and a small bit if Limeashine. Knock out the primers first and the primer pockets come out extremely clean. Cleans the inside of the cases just as well as the outside.

[@6Sally5]

Back when I first started reloading, I cleaned using a vibratory tumbler with walnut shells and a couple capfuls of Brasso….make the brass shiny. I now only wet tumble with stainless steel pins and few drops of liquid car wash n’ wax. MUCH better results. Deprime with a decapping die first.

[@Funsuff724]

I use RCBS wet tumbler with stainless steel pins , I think it works great , can’t wait for the rest of the series , thanks Guy

[@wayne-oo]

Frankford arsenal makes an incredible hand de-priming tool you can sit while de-priming ! Hope you cover it…

[@billmounce458]

I have a Lyman 1200 tumbler that I bought in 1978. I use corn cob media. It has cleaned untold thousands of brass. Everything from 25 ACP to 45-70. Still runs like a top.

[@A.C._Taylor]

I add strips of used dryer sheets in with the media. They will collect a lot of the dust that is produced. Keeps the dust to a minimum and your media will last longer.

[@stevefisher2121]

I use both walnut and corn mixed (75% walnut and 25% corn) - best of both worlds!!! I have never had an issue doing it this way so I have never changed. Looks to be a great series!!!!

[@ConstitutionalPatriot]

I use the Lyman wet tumbler with Dawn and Lemeshine on deprimed brass. Afterwards, a quick turn in a dehydrator. I end up with brand new looking brass.

[@DomRovito]

Love all of your content, you and Gavin are terrific. Gotta say, if I have a choice between dry or wet tumbling, I have to go with wet!!! I use a Frankford Arsenal, but I'm sure they're all similar. The stainless pins with a little Dawn and a tablespoon of citric acid powder give amazing results, even the primer pockets. I use a food dehydrator to dry them to avoid spots. The only thing I'd use the vibratory tumbler for is to polish the brass if it's been sitting a while or you care what it looks like.

[@UnCoolDad]

I use a mix of walnut, corn cob, a teaspoon of jewellers rouge powder, and a squirt of liquid car wax. I also tumble with the primers out so the pockets get a bit clean too. Occasionally I need to poke out some media stuck in there, it not a biggie. They come out gleaming.

[@wadelandeche8632]

Guy, I had some old well used media that was loaded up with dried polish on the media (mixed walnut and corn cob). I loaded the vibrating tumbler with the old media and added a tablespoon of charcoal lighter fluid to the media and let it run till there was no wet clumps, just smoot media running. Adding the brass allowed this charcoal lighter fluid to really clean the carbon and activate the old polishes cleaning and polishing the brass! By the way, the media was in so much better condition after the process. I use about 10 or 12 1" squares of Scott's Blue Shop towel in the media while it's running to collect excess and almost all the dust. Reasons why I'm not a fan of wet tumbling...While the wet brass cleaning methods with steel pins can do an awesome job, I have seen where the pins can get stuck in some cases and even have seen the liquid form a surface tension wet bubble inside that didn't drain or dry out. If not inspected the cases after, adding powder with this liquid bubble inside is going to ruin the powder charge.

[@guyminer2384]

Thanks Wade!

[@jamestcampbell610]

I do wet tumbling using car wash with wax and stainless media plus lemon shine. I deprime them first and they come out beautiful. Smooth and shiny.

[@IANMAX88]

Can’t wait for the rest of this series, always good to go back to the basics. Corn cob and a few tablespoons of liquid car wax works great for me

[@Friedbrain11]

Yay! Knew a little about reloading but need this type of vids to get it all tied together and to learn.

[@robertdykman685]

Looking forward to more of these basics videos.

[@B-rad303]

I let my tumbler go all day with some type of abrasive polishing agent added. I also take my primers out. Yes. The media gets stuck in the holes. Unless your using corn cob media. But I like to get all moisture and get as much polished as possible. Then I blow out my cases with air. Good video for the beginner's our there! We all started somewhere.

[@unclebob540i3]

This is going to be a great series! Thank You! I'm going to share this with a lot of people. I use an ultrasonic cleaner. Walnut media if I want a shine. I throw them in the tumbler before I head to work and my brass is nice and shiny when I get home.

[@teslafreak]

I use the smaller FA wet tumbler, distilled water, stainless pins, and some cleaning solution from Hornady. Does a beautiful job.

[@DannyWalker1949]

Hi. I've been reloading since the 1960's and I Love It T00! Gives Me Time Away From The BattleAxe ha ha😅😆🤣😉 I use a Mixuture I came up with away back when....I use Walnut AND Pecan Hulls I ground up myself and You ain't never seen such Bright & Clean Brass before👍🏼

[@WoodyWagon]

I wet clean my brass, Dawn, Lemi Shine, steel pins. It comes out like brand new. After reloading, I dry tumble for several hours to polish the cartridge. They look awesome, like brand new.

[@twwtb]

Very nice intro. I have a Dillon CV 500 vib tumbler. They don't sell the 500 anymore, but they have other sizes . I generally use walnut for a while followed by a shorter time using corn cob with polish. It's hard to say how long. Really tarnished range pickups might take 3 or more hours in walnut to come clean. I run the cob/polish usually for about 30 minutes. I have tumbled deprimed brass and maybe 1 case in 20 will have a piece of walnut stuck in the flash hole. I prefer to clean before depriming as stated in the video. Finally, I use a Dillon case/media separator to separate out the brass. I like dry tumbling ok and will probably stick with it. To do it all over again, I would at least look into the wet cleaning with steel method.

[@bobmcelver1484]

I started into handloading on my uncle's stuff back when I was in my mid to late teens, maybe 1970 or so. I got heavy into it back in the very early 80's, as well as casting bullets. Early on, I always tumbled my brass and did it for years. About 3 or 4 years ago I started pin tumbling with a Frankford Arsenal Platinum unit at the behest of another loading buddy. I was the head instructor for our counties Sheriff's Dept., and ran the range for many years. During one of our range cleanup's, I had several 5 gal pails of the blackest range brass that you could imagine and it should've probably been tossed out, but I kept it. It had filtered down into the range gravel and had been there for years. I remebered it being down in my shop and brought it up to give the pin tumbler an "acid test". After loading up the tumbler with brass, hot water, a tablespoon of Dawn, and a teaspoon of Lemmie Shine, I ran it purposely for 3 hrs. I think. When I finally emptied the barrel, the water was literally blacker than India ink.......the brass looked better than new........from that point on, I was sold. Now I use my pin tumbler every 4th or 5th cleaning, and vibratory tumblers in between.

[@jessdurfee3817]

I use either walnut or corn in my tumbler. I usually throw in some Frankford Arsenal brass polish when I tumble, about every 5 or 6 times I tumble, gives the brass a nice sheen.

[@jimabel7458]

I started reloading before websites and internet. Been 48 years now at least. The earliest form of case cleaning was vinegar water and boiling on the Colman stove. The next method was the rock tumbler with some corn cob media. I now use a vibrating tumbler now. Over the years I’ve paid for a lot of equipment. Do it long enough and you seem to have a couple of everything.

[@TractorsNStuff]

I love this series, even though I cannot recommend a vibratory tumbler after doing wet tumble with stainless steel chips. The reason I love this series (or I'm going to love this series) is because I know that UR is trustworthy on information, and since this is geared towards new shooters/reloaders, I can point them to this series for great information to get them started. Here is an example: I have a friend who has recently decided to get into PRS with me. He wants to shoot a 308. I helped him with picking out different aspects of his rifle and helped him build it. A nice rifle. After a few matches with me, he decided that he wants to do more of this and has really gotten himself in to the shooting sport. Up to this point, I've been reloading all his ammo. He wants me to teach him how to do it. One problem I have with teaching friends or family, is they don't really consider you an expert on the subject. Even though you have been doing it for years, and in some cases, a true expert. I can instruct perfect strangers and they will take my teachings and apply it to their needs. Instruct a good friend or family member, and you're just Joe Bob Goodfriend who has a 'hobby' even though they came to you for help. My friend is like this. I can now point my friend to this series, and he can glean this info from a source who I trust to convey trustworthy information. He will get a base understanding, and once he knows the concepts, I can start to point him in the direction of more advanced topics/techniques. Thank you for making this series!

[@richardphelan8414]

Good sound basics to live by ,Now to the expenses ,trying to wring out the best your rifle can do ,can and will get expensive ,I'll leave that here for a future follow up from you guys when you get into bench rest or competitive rifle shooting for that specialized gear

[@boricuaarecibo9259]

I deprime before I tumble so it's easier to shake out the corn cob afterwards. I clean the primer pockets as another step. I reload because I enjoy it you do save money on buying ammo especially these days. There are cheaper ways to reload but I did go that route. I started with a dillon XL750 and use it for 8 calibers. I can't imagine reloading 300 rounds on a single stage press. Although I do have a single stage lyman brass smith ideal press for hand loading. .308 and 6.5 Grendel

[@wayne-oo]

I only ultrasonic clean deprimed brass !

[@nichtelse]

I start cleaning with hot water, a lilbit citric acid, dishsoap and steelpins, after drying out i tumble with walnut granules and a 1/2 spoon chrome polish. After sizing and triming i gonna wash 'em again in alcohol.

[@n.u.t.y.]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with Simple Green --- mainly because I already had it in the shop!

[@christiansmith9414]

Great video Guy. Cant wait to see the rest of the series. Lyman is my go to company and love the Ideal press and the digital powder measure.

[@AlmightyThor82]

Cleaning brass I use walnut media and a couple capfuls of NuFinish polish in a cheap harbor freight tumbler.

[@briancowan4318]

Looking forward to seeing the entire series. I used to dry tumble, and when I did I used walnut media (available from your local pet store) with Nu-finish liquid car wax. I have since moved to a wet tumbler and use stainless steel media with .45 ACP casing full of lemi-shine. Wet tumbling really cut down of the dust generation.

[@danpeppers5564]

I used to clean like the vid shows, I have since changed to de-capping, them use a solution of water, white vinegar, dawn dish soap, and salt. I let them soak and I shake the container every now and then, and take them out after a couple hrs. Then rinse well with hot water and let dry over night. the cases do not shine like buttons ready for military inspection, but they are very clean. I then inspect, rarely does the primer pocket need more cleaning.

[@robertpowell2746]

Stainless steel pins wet tumbling with dawn soap and Lemishine.

[@The10thManRules]

I wet tumbled in bulk because I collect huge amounts of brass from private training events. I clean it even though I don't immediately need it.

[@ethancuny3913]

I actually not too long ago just bought this Tumblr and I'm using it in my Tumblr I actually use one of media that I get for my mother-in-law who's got it a walnut orchard in California and then I grind it up with a coffee grinder very fine and make my own Walnut media and then I also use some corn cobs ground up and a little bit of brass and steel polish to clean up the brass a little bit.

[@CplSkiUSMC]

Not sure why you didn't talk about wet tumbling and ultrasonic cleaning, but they are very effective. I wet tumble and my brass comes out super clean inside and out. I also de-prime before wet tumbling and use stainless steel pins so the primer pockets are super clean as well. If I want super shiny brass I will run them through my vibratory tumbler with corn cob media and Flitz polish... but as mentioned, the media will stick in about 10% of the flash holes so I do have to go through and clear them. My reason for reloading is accuracy. I don't shoot competitions, but I'm always out for that highly accurate load so that when I squeeze the trigger, I know where that bullet is going... it makes a big difference at 1000+ yards.

[@jungleno.]

Wet tumbling is overkill. Not necessary.

[@CplSkiUSMC]

@@jungleno. I would disagree but to each their own. I like actual clean brass, it's easier on your dies. I used to just vibratory tumble brass in corn cob media, but wet tumbling is far superior.

[@chairrider2462]

Walnut media and let tumble overnight. Bright & shiny in the morning! Then I hand de-prime. Great info here! Thank you!

[@JaredHempfield]

Nearly all my brass is NV desert range pickup. I use a 6 inch pvc rock tumbler for everything, all my brass is found in the dirt so I go 4 hrs walnut to clean, put a leaf blower on them to remove any dust, deprime/resize then after brass work I tumble overnight in corn media. Wet cleaning for 20 minutes in the hot summer months so I dont need to put in the dehydrator, just set outside in the sun. I set all my brass head up in trays before priming to poke out flash holes and quickly hit the pockets with a small dremel steel wire brush.

[@WoodyWagon]

Also, you definitely need to deprime first, so that primer pockets can be cleaned. Yes, media can get stuck in the flash hole. It is easily removed, and gives you another opportunity to examine your brass.

[@jeffroginsky4695]

I agree, and the primer pockets need to be inspected on every case. I run a metal pick around the pocket then inspect.

[@Alberta_MTN_Bear]

Agreed. It can be removed with canned air?

[@waynebrown2546]

@Woody Wagon.. do you use a deprime only die then resize after it's clean? I haven't started any used brass yet, just new until I get the back half of the process down ( and create more 1X fired brass)

[@dougharlow6037]

@@waynebrown2546 I agree.

[@hugostiglitz2388]

That's the way I've always reloaded...it also gives the tumbler the opportunity to clean resizing lube off the cases.

[@donl5158]

I'm new to reloading. Hornady AP press look forward to your tutorials. I've tumbled brass with crushed walnut and then capfull or so of auto polish

[@rajoshusse]

First I use a ultrasonic cleaner. No 2 I inspect the brass. No. 3 I calibrate and trim, deburr and brush the neck carefully. .Then they ride in the tumbler and are checked so there is no crap in the ignition cap position. Finally, I pull an expander to get it right neck tension. And then the reloading starts.

[@shawlimarlittle7325]

If you going use dry media deprimed That media does get in the flash and cleans the primer pocket When you size if pushed that media out

[@randytrudeau952]

This is great and I look forward to seeing the other videos. I initially stumbled across the Ultimate Reloader series when I first started hand loading about 5 years ago. I've learned a lot and improved on some of the initial gear I bought but I still use my my old lyman 1200 tumbler and corn cob medi, just like this one in the video. I reload more more now so I change out the media more often then I used to and I usually add a cap full of Dillon Rapid Polish 290 just for good measure.

[@moushunter]

I've been reloading for 40+ years. I use Lizard Litter from the pet store which is crushed walnut just like the stuff sold on reloading sites. I buy it when it is on sale...usually buy 2 get one free. I store it in 6 gallon food grade buckets with gasketed covers. I initially treat it with a cap full of ceramic car polish and a cup of odor free mineral spirits. I let it run in an open tumbler bowl for an hour then shut it down to dry. This media will run a couple dozen batches of brass before it gets recycled in the mulch pile (ornamental plants only, not in the veggie garden.) I have 3 tumblers with different size bowls. I find the brass cleans faster when the bowl is full with brass. Not over-filled but full. In my Lyman 2400 that is about 700 9mm, or 600-800 .223 cases. In the midway 1292 it is about 200-250 9mm cases. I add half a used dryer sheet to the tumbler which collects a good portion of the fine dirt and walnut media dust. I usually run the tumblers for an hour or 2. I'll set them up and go do something else. I use a Lyman 1200 with corn cob media to polish loaded rounds before boxing...only for hunting rounds. I use the same cap full of polish to treat the corn cob but no mineral spirits. Treat the corn cob and let it dry well before using. It lasts a long time in the tumbler. The handiest off book reloading tool I ever bought was a stack of pharmacy grade trays...the kind they put the prescriptions in when the pharmacist is done filling them. They are about 6" w x 11" l x 3" deep. They nest when you stack them so they don't take up much room. I bought them for 5¢ each at a yard sale and they hold 500+ pcs of .223 brass. Perfect for sorting dirty range brass, moving clean brass from the tumbler to the reloading bench, dumping loaded ammo into off the press etc. I bought a 3 foot tall stack of them. In all the abuse I give them I've had only 1 break in 20 years. Handiest tool I have for reloading. One important thing to emphasize about cleaning brass doesn't mean putting a bright finish on it. You're just getting the carbon and powder ash off. It doesn't have to look pretty.

[@guyminer2384]

That's good info! Thank you.

[@trehawker4045]

I'm sorry, you tumble what? Loaded rounds?

[@reloadrefine]

I prefer the ultra sonic cleaner and oven. Brass comes out clean in minutes. Cook in the oven for short period of time to dry. Time is money.. Jerry Miculek makes a great video on bulk processing as well.😎

[@kd6qaz]

From the range I dry tumble for about 30 minutes. Next I use a Lee decapping die. Then a RCBS sonic cleaner with Lyman turbo sonic cleaning solution.

[@thrivealist9458]

Been waiting for this series since the unboxing. I’m using walnut before sizing then corn after to remove lube

[@Jeff_Seely]

Thank you Sir. I really going to enjoy this series as I do love to reload, like it's an illness 🤣. I am reloading for high accuracy mostly. I prefer to use my Frankfurt arsenal wet tumbler with 5 lb of Southern Shine stainless media. In my opinion, this material is far more efficient at cleaning deprimed cases and I do not have to meticulously pick it out. I am completely sold out to wet tumbling though. I think it's terrific at cleaning up brass.

[@bubba7626]

I like to use my tumbler with walnut first then decap and run through my new wet tumbler. Then I size, trim, case prep. I really like Lyman products and always like to hear safety and review the basics. However I have gone into the weeds and also anneal, shoulder bump etc.. but I do enjoy it and like getting tight groups!

[@charlesgiles4447]

I am using a Dillon tumbler with corn cob and I add flitz or Dillon case polish I tumble them over night with primers out I use a Redding de-priming die. I am very picky about my case work so I inspect and I de-bur flash holes uniform primer pockets anneal after every firing. I enjoy case work it relaxes me.

[@charlesgiles4447]

When I de-prime I use a old Rock Chucker with a Redding de priming die that way I keep the trash out of my other press.

[@larryreinke6136]

I use corn cob to clean brass. Also use corncob with Flitz media polish after cleaning, been doing this for years with excellent results.

[@0BAAC0]

Walnut for me. But I deprime so the primer pocket gets cleaned, too. You just need to take a dental pick to the few flash holes that get blocked. It's a quick process.

[@Joeatsaco69]

I usually use a walnut media. As my brass starts to get not so shiny I like to put a small stream of brass in my media (without brass) and run it for an hour to evenly mix it. Then I add my brass. I use a fill cover on my tumbler as I do not get the dust you can get later in the media life span.

[@jaredodell6768]

I've been using acorn media and 1shot it does a really nice job of cleaning and shinning my brass

[@64samsky]

I reload because I never want to get caught with my pants down. Obummer, 2012, recent times, take your pick. I reload everything with a beam scale.

[@Robert-sw1xx]

Corn cob media, Dillon rapid polish, and hybrid solutions chrome polish. Makes for a very nice clean and polish system. I do run about a bottle of each per 7lbs of media (a box at bass pro).

[@masonmcneill3969]

I sonic clean everything, it because I think it’s the best or anything it’s just what I have

[@wyattzielinski7189]

Frankford tumbler with Lyman corn cob and Lucas oil brass polish, And a plastic case neck brush before sizing.

[@charlesgiles4447]

With my Lapua brass I use alcohol and a swab and clean out the cases before sizing.

[@brianheeter9344]

I use a home built wet tumbler with SS pins. I use dawn dish soap and lemishine. Even the nastiest brass comes out looking great.

[@bob_mosavo]

Thanks, Guy 😁

[@Fishman138]

Thank you! I really needed this, I'm a serious rookie.

[@kruppert54]

I have a couple of friends that like to use a sonic cleaner for polishing their cases. My choice in cleaning media is Walnut shell. I load for pistol, so I separate my cases, brass from nickel. I begin using a new bag of shells and the more batches of cases I clean I will add a teaspoon of Hornady brass polish. The brass comes out so shiny that it’s hard to tell the difference between it and the nickel.

[@steveehabibi1]

I use a tumbler, lemishine, a few drops of Dawn detergent, and stainless pins. I DO de prime first. I rarely have issues with material in the primer pocket and my brass is bright and shiny.

[@dennisholle1005]

Thanks for the information. I look forward to watching the series. This is just what I am looking for because I am trying to decide weather or not I ever want to get into it. To me it looks like a good hobby to geek out and become more intimate with the shooting experience. But it also looks like one of those things that once you start, shooting will become an even more expensive hobby because one will always want a little better widget to make just a little difference.

[@joesaad3089]

Looking forward to a great series

[@m118lr1]

I use the dry tumbler on my pistol brass and I use wet tumble for my rifle brass after I deprime it. It cleans the primer pockets. Now I will say that I have been having a little trouble with the wet tumbler. When I first got it and used it, it worked GREAT. It go the brass real shining. I wet tumble some rifle brass today and it was NOT as shine. Not sure what is going on. Looks like another good series.

[@charlesgiles4447]

I had that issue and I found out that I needed to clean the drum the rubber liner was nasty. I used hot water and dawn and it came out clean and haven’t had that issue again.

[@m118lr1]

@@charlesgiles4447 THANKS. I will try that. I just have NOT been getting the brass as shiny as I use to.

[@johnnybarbar7435]

With recent prices, saving money is easy if you don't go crazy with high end equipment mixed with low to mid volume ammo needs.

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

Always deprime first. Then dish soap & water, rinse, air dry and inspect. Recently got an ultrasonic unit & Hornady brass cleaner solution. Still have to rinse.

[@jerrynighswander899]

I use stainless steel pins, dish soap and water to tumble mine in a Thumber Tumbler

[@1320pass]

Thumblers model B, SS pins, dawn, Lemi, de-primed brass, half hour later sift and dry, inspect, measure, size and bump, measure. Then measure some more.

[@pogeegitz]

I'm just getting started, but so far from what I've seen and tried I like to inspect and hand clean each case (I keep them pretty clean in the first place), then size and decap before throwing them in a wet tumbler with pins. My reasoning is that it cleans out the primer pockets well, and also cleans the lube off the case. They come out of the tumbler ready to load.

[@keyrat401]

I'm using simple green & Charmin with a little elbow grease works great 👍