Anybody have any input on purchasing my first tumbler and what type of media to use? Right now I'm leaning towards the RCBS, but only because I like green better than Red (Hornady). Is there any major difference between the major brands?
Tumblers
Started by
Stiff Neck
, Jan 20 2006 08:33 AM
19 replies to this topic
#2
ShooterJohn
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Posted 20 January 2006 - 08:45 AM
I've got four vibratory and two rotary tumblers. They are all pretty good. I like the Frankfort Arsenal ones, but I have Hornady and one RCBS. My rotary tumblers are both Loratone and I've had them both over twenty-five years. For average cleaning the vibratory ones are the fastest. Fine crushed walnut is good with a polish added. I do several cleaning steps and to get the Imperial Sizing Wax off the cases I polish them in corn cob. 
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#3
A17Shooter
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 06:44 PM
Don't get a Lyman. I just participated in a discussion about tumblers and several people, including myself, reported early failures with Lyman. A17Shooter
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#4
Stiff Neck
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 07:51 PM
I got a green one.
#5
ShooterJohn
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 08:25 PM
That would be RCBS. Not a bad choice considering you live near their plant.I got a green one.
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#6
Stiff Neck
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 08:34 PM
I know, but I had to order it from more than a few states away to get the best price...
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 08:38 PM
You should go up to the plant sometime. I remember my first tour there in 1968. It was awesome and i got my first real reloader there.
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#8
Braz
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 08:46 PM
I didn't know they did tours and I only live 3 miles away.
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#9
ShooterJohn
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 08:52 PM
They used to, we should check it was informative.
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#10
Braz
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 09:44 PM
I'll drop by there in a few days and ask. I am out of town tomorrow.
Handmade Calls by Braz
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#11
ShooterJohn
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Posted 24 January 2006 - 09:58 PM
Thanks Lynn, that would be great.
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Cranky Farmer
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Posted 25 January 2006 - 10:33 AM
That might be cool.
#13
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Posted 25 January 2006 - 11:08 AM
Sorry guys but RCBS doesn't do tours anymore due to insurance liabilities. I almost got a yes when I said it was a club group but the final answer was no. The woman did say we could always come to work there. They said they stopped the tours just a couple of years ago. The last group that went through was the gunsmith school from Susanville, CA. Darn I was really hoping to get us a tour.
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#14
Cranky Farmer
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Posted 25 January 2006 - 12:31 PM
I've got an old Midway model 1288 that has been around for 15-20 years.
#15
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Posted 29 January 2006 - 07:50 AM
I use the large Ultra-vibe 1800 the red one. So now we got green, red, and yellowLOL..Walt
I like beautiful women, fine wine and poking dead things with a stick!"If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. That's ridiculous. If I have a gun, what in the hell do I have to be paranoid for."Socialism is not a Republic.
#16
Braz
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Posted 29 January 2006 - 09:18 AM
I also use the Forester, and it's Blue!
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Posted 29 January 2006 - 01:42 PM
If you load for 17 or 20 calibers cartridges be especially careful about cleaning media being stuck in the case. On one occassion, the examination of a high pressure load resulted in a few highly compressed pieces of corncob falling out of the fired case. 
With those cases I lube the neck very lightly and check each case, with a pick, to be sure that no cleaning media is stuck in the case. Better safe than sorry.A17Shooter
With those cases I lube the neck very lightly and check each case, with a pick, to be sure that no cleaning media is stuck in the case. Better safe than sorry.A17Shooter
"A pen in the hand of this president is far more dangerous than a gun in the hands of 200 million law-abiding citizens."
The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.Samuel Adams
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Posted 29 January 2006 - 01:49 PM
Yep and it doesn't even have to be a small necked case. You should see some of the chunks that can get in your cases. I like to run my flash hole de-burrer into them to be safe. It seems to knock most everything that shouldn't be there out. Along with some huge pieces of brass every once in a while, courtesy of the manufacturer. I have a little air nozzle for previously done cases that blows most everything out too. I also run my media through sieves too so that I don't get any large pieces.
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#19
Stiff Neck
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Posted 30 January 2006 - 09:54 AM
I've just discovered the joys of getting media stuck in all the primer pockets and flash holes of my new unprimed brass.
#20
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Posted 30 January 2006 - 10:08 AM
Fun huh!I've just discovered the joys of getting media stuck in all the primer pockets and flash holes of my new unprimed brass.
I tumble a couple of times in my reloading so you may want to sift your media to help prevent that. I also tumble with different types of media. Crushed fine walnut shell charged with polish in the first go around. Then fine corncob to remove the case lube later an final high polish. 
Time waits for no one--
treasure every moment you have.
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