Topic: Stainless media - update

[Nealio]

Ok I've been using the SS media for a while and I thought I'd give an update (if anyone is interested).

First of all, it cleans the cases amazingly well.  They look better than anything I've seen from vibratory media:
[attachment=1]

So I have a "12lb barrel" that I have 5 lbs of SS media in. 
[attachment=2]

I throw ~500 9mm cases in there with, Lemi Shine, a squirt of Dawn, and some water.  I let it tumble for a couple hours and you have some blinged out brass.

I was drying them on this galvanized screen
[attachment=3]

But I recently upgraded to the Ronco food dehydrator (as seen on TV!!) and I think that is going to work a lot better:
[attachment=4]

The only issue I really had was drying the primers out (because that's where the water gets trapped), but I think the Ronco is going to fix that.

At first it seemed like it was harder, but now that I have the process down its about equal work to what it took using cob and a vibrating polisher.
It probably takes a little more work per batch, but since I can do more at a time I think its a wash.

I've done 9mm, 10mm, .40, .45, and .223 and they all have worked equally well.

 - Nealio

[fj40mojo]

Looks great. Why don't you decap prior to cleaning. Water retained in primers-solved plus your primer pockets will get clean too.

[Nealio]

Looks great. Why don't you decap prior to cleaning. Water retained in primers-solved plus your primer pockets will get clean too.

Too many steps/extra time. I'm trying to keep my pistol reloading as quick and easy as possible since I go through so many rounds. For the rifle though I'll decap prior to tumbling.

[ekuo]

If you decap before cleaning, aren't you guys worried about scratching your die?  All that dirt and stuff?  I mainly clean to protect my reloading equipment -but will admit that I like bling'ed out brass as much as the next guy... 

[J Mack]

The only issue I really had was drying the primers out (because that's where the water gets trapped), but I think the Ronco is going to fix that.



 - Nealio

If you're in a hurry to dry your brass get a gallon of alcohol in a five gallon bucket and soak your brass for a few minutes before you dry. The alcohol will displace the water and evaporate quickly. 

[Nealio]

If you decap before cleaning, aren't you guys worried about scratching your die?  All that dirt and stuff?  I mainly clean to protect my reloading equipment -but will admit that I like bling'ed out brass as much as the next guy... 

For the rifle I either wash them or do a quick tumble to clean them, then do a resize/decap and tumble again to polish (which to me is a PITA).
For the pistol keeping the dirt out of my dies is another reason I do the SS media.  Since you you tumble it in soap and water it gets squeaky clean.

[fj40mojo]

If you decap before cleaning, aren't you guys worried about scratching your die?  All that dirt and stuff?  I mainly clean to protect my reloading equipment -but will admit that I like bling'ed out brass as much as the next guy... 

I tumble anything that hits the ground before it goes into the sizer, but I think I'd invest in a straight decapping die for this purpose. Decap then tumble in the SS media for bling factor.

[Grumblecakes]

besides the bling factor is it really worth it?

[J Mack]

besides the bling factor is it really worth it?

They say if you have to ask!

[RGinIdaho]

besides the bling factor is it really worth it?

I wondered the same thing myself. It looks like a lot of extra mess, gear and work. I put 1k to 2k in the dillon, buzz 'em for 1 1/2 hrs or so and they look spiffy. Toss in a cheap timer from Grover's and you can walk away and come back tomorrow or ...

[Grumblecakes]

That's what I was thinking. I switched to the fine mesh lizzarx beddi g (walnut) with some like nu, I can do about 300 9mm/40 sw or 150 223/308 in a hour. It's small enough it doesn't get stuck in the flash hole or primer pockets and I don't get that red tinge that the Lyman stuff gave me

[popsgunner]

Your suppose to clean your brass ?

[Nealio]

Well I guess it all depends on what you think is "clean enough".  The SS media will turn any brass that's been sitting out in the elements into shiny, new looking brass.  It cleans out the INSIDE of the brass, which to me is nice.  Also since its water and soap based, I don't have any dust or anything on the brass.

Last night I also noticed that the SS media cleaned brass resizes MUCH easier, so that is another plus for me.

So I think its not much more of a hassle than cob or walnut, and I think the brass is in a much better state.  I just throw a bunch in the tumbler, come back 2 hours later, separate the media, then throw them in my Ronco.  The only extra step is the Ronco, which I just turn on and leave for a few hours.  Seems pretty easy to me..

I also discovered last night that my tub holds more like 1000-1200 9mm cases, not 500 like I thought..

[Nealio]

Your suppose to clean your brass ?

Damn wheel gunners....