Can you not tumble brass?

[south]

Hi guys,

Just for arguments sake, what would happen if you never tumbled brass?

Just neck resizing and firing.

[stevy]

You could get away with it a couple of times if you were really stuck.

Constantly chambering dirty brass isn't something you really want to be doing though...

[Warrigul]

You could get away with it a couple of times if you were really stuck.

Constantly chambering dirty brass isn't something you really want to be doing though...

I get five firings out of .303 neck sizing only.

The obvious grit gets wiped off but that is all.

Tumbling is pretty much only for cosmetic purposes, many new reloaders are compelled by so called experts into buying tumbling gear when it is not strictly neccesary.

I have .308 brass that has gone 30+ firings without tumbling, ultrasonic cleaning etc etc. Excessively tarnished cases will get a spin with steel wool in the trimming chuck occaisonally but the tumbler hasn't moved in over a year.

[yoshie]

You could just give them a clean with brillo pad one at a time.

[bigfellascott]

I clean mine with a drill and 0000 steel wool and occasionally I toss em in one of those Aldi Ultrasonic Cleaners with a bit of dishwashing liquid and some cream of Tartar in it, does a good enough job for my needs, if I was shooting a heap of cases each week I'd by a SS tumbler then but I only hunt so its not really needed.

Here's some I did yesterday using the above method.

[on_one_wheel]

I've never tumbled my brass, got a batch of 200 shells that have done 6 reloads with only neck sizing and a quick wash in hot soapy water and a blow dry with compressed air with the primers removed.... oh yeah annealed after every 3rd shot and thats probably overkill. No problems yet.

[handofcod]

Before I picked up an ultrasonic cleaner I tried boiling them in water and vinegar with dish washing detergent. Great for doing a large number of cases at once if you have a pot big enough. Results were serviceable too. Not quite as good as an ultrasonic clean but definitely lifted some grim from inside the cases.

[brett1868]

I throw my used brass into a Lyman 1200 Pro tumbler with corncob media for 2 hours before full length resizing. After resizing I trim, chamfer and clean the primer pockets before 20 mins in the ultrasonic bath using demineralised water, vinegar, dishwashing liquid and a pinch of salt. Cases are then washed in rainwater with a little bicarb soda and baked in the pizza oven for 60 mins @ 100c. Once cooled they get another 3 hours in the tumbler before being admired for their better then new appearance. I know it's a long process but I don't mind as I batch it and spread it over a few night. My theory is that any junk on the case will be pressed into the chamber when fired which can't be a good thing.
Having said that I used a relatives 17 Remington a few weeks ago that was a nail driver using the filthiest brass I've ever seen that had never been tumbled and only ever neck sized so go figure.

[Warrigul]

Having said that I used a relatives 17 Remington a few weeks ago that was a nail driver using the filthiest brass I've ever seen that had never been tumbled and only ever neck sized so go figure.

When it comes to accuracy there is very little benefit to cleaning, even cracks show up better on dirty brass. I even stopped cleaning primer pockets after a National champion told me it was a waste of time, I can see no difference in my scores at 1000.


However even I will admit that there is nothing nicer than clean shiny ammo.

[bunnybuster]

I "not tumbled " brass for decades,used Duraglit wadding to clean 'em and fine steel wool on dirty necks [ hurts like hell ]

Be Safe BB

[south]

I've used the wrong word there. When I said tumble I just mean clean.

Can you never clean brass and what would happen.

Answers covered everything anyway though so all good

Thanks guys.

[Redwood]

and fine steel wool on dirty necks [ hurts like hell ]

Be Safe BB

Gloves? Not being safe for your fingers?

[bunnybuster]

and fine steel wool on dirty necks [ hurts like hell ]

Be Safe BB

Gloves? Not being safe for your fingers?

Try cleaning your neck with steel wool

Be Safe BB

[Bourt]

However even I will admit that there is nothing nicer than clean shiny ammo.

Worth doing just for that