Brass

[brett1868]

I don't think you can 'Work" brass by tumbling as your not actually squeezing or expanding the metal.

Even it does get a little worked by bumping into other cases the last step prior to priming and loading is a hot lap on the Vertex Annealer (pun intended) When you cough up almost $1700 for a set of forming dies you don't want to cause premature wear with dirty carbon encrusted brass.

Tumbling time would also be dictated by the type of media used, I use the over the counter Lyman treated corn cob which seems to do a good job.

My smaller cases generally get 30-60 mins but the ex-army used 50BMG brass takes much longer to achieve the same lustre.

[pucker]

Nah hangon, we've got a crossed wire here. I didn't mean 'work' like case sizing, fire forming etc.

Just on the comment "Some cases are bigger then others and require a little more time in the tumbler"

I mean say a 308 has 30sq cm of case surface and a 300wm has 60sq cm of case surface. It's bigger but all the surface is still getting hit by media, so why would it take longer?

Know what I mean?

[brett1868]

Nah hangon, we've got a crossed wire here. I didn't mean 'work' like case sizing, fire forming etc.

Just on the comment "Some cases are bigger then others and require a little more time in the tumbler"

I mean say a 308 has 30sq cm of case surface and a 300wm has 60sq cm of case surface. It's bigger but all the surface is still getting hit by media, so why would it take longer?

Know what I mean?

Yep, I know what you mean and had the same thought that irrespective of case size it shouldn't require any longer then a regular case to achieve the same result. These particular cases were used ex military ADI brass that could have been sitting in a bag for some years allowing the crud to harden or possibly the brass is harder then the Hornady 50BMG brass I also use. Not to matter, they are all shiny and purdy now

[Jack V]

Brass hardens just sitting in the cupboard , it's called stress corrosion ( age hardening) . That is why a lot of very old cases split when fired . The brass can also shrink in diameter especially at the neck the most stressed point if loaded . Annealing and thorough cleaning cases is a good idea before long term storage in air tight containers that don't promote corrosion as some plastics do . I have found that food grade plastic bags and containers are usually good.
Certain chemicals harden brass like ammonia and all amines. Never use Brasso in tumble media . Never clean cases with Sweets solvent. Never leave traces of Sweets solvent or any ammonia based solvent in the chamber .

[brett1868]

Brass hardens just sitting in the cupboard , it's called stress corrosion ( age hardening) . That is why a lot of very old cases split when fired . The brass can also shrink in diameter especially at the neck the most stressed point if loaded . Annealing and thorough cleaning cases is a good idea before long term storage in air tight containers that don't promote corrosion as some plastics do . I have found that food grade plastic bags and containers are usually good.
Certain chemicals harden brass like ammonia and all amines. Never use Brasso in tumble media . Never clean cases with Sweets solvent. Never leave traces of Sweets solvent or any ammonia based solvent in the chamber .

Some good information there, thank you. I bought one of those food vacuum sealers and anything I'm not planning to fire for a few months I vacuum bag it. I annealed 100 Barrett 416 case this afternoon, loaded 40 and vacuum bagged the remaining 60 cause I probably wont be needing them for several months. As an added bonus bagging them makes for easier storage. I saw this process on "American Preppers", happened to be the first and only episode I saw of it.

[Jack V]

Thanks mate, you are welcome. You seem to have it under control . I don't watch that preppers show so I never saw that episode but it was good advice.

Months will not cause any major issue . It takes years usually to see any issues. I once did a 10 year trial on reloaded ammo in storage that had been fired numerous times and case neck shrinkage due to age hardening was quite obvious. Unfired annealed brass will fair much better in storage.

[Grated]

I once did a 10 year trial on reloaded ammo in storage that had been fired numerous times and case neck shrinkage due to age hardening was quite obvious.

f*** me, you're patient