The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 9, 2006, 12:04 PM   #1
dogfood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 17, 2004
Location: Southwestern OH
Posts: 239
Anyone have a "favorite" tumbler?

OK, so most of us probably don't spend much time thinking about favorite tumblers ... or tumblers at all, for that matter, as long as they work. But my Lyman 1200 is slowing down ... literally ... as in it doesn't vibrate as fast as it used to, so I can put fewer and fewer cases in it each time (otherwise, the vibrating action is severely limited, and cleaning takes a long time).

With that said, does anyone have a particular tumbler that he/she really likes? I know there are a bunch of them out there now (Hornady, Dillon, RCBS, Berry's, MidwayUSA, Midsouth, etc.). Given that my 1200 doesn't have all that much time on it, I am going to shy away from Lyman.

Thanks,
dogfood
dogfood is offline  
Old September 9, 2006, 12:11 PM   #2
rem33
Junior member
 
Join Date: March 31, 2006
Posts: 1,528
Kinda like my old Thumblers modle B, it isn't as fast as the vib's but can be used wet or dry. It's well over 20 years old.
rem33 is offline  
Old September 9, 2006, 04:52 PM   #3
JDG
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 28, 2005
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 673
My lyman 1200 has countless hours on it. I noticed the new modles, are way quieter than the older ones, and the media moves better in the new one also. How old is yours?
JDG is offline  
Old September 9, 2006, 06:29 PM   #4
kenneth owens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 17, 2006
Posts: 355
midway

I like our midway it does a pretty good clean-up job.
kenneth owens is offline  
Old September 10, 2006, 09:24 AM   #5
REDCELL
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 19, 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 174
i bought Cabela's generic brand, no complaints after 2 years.
__________________
HK: No Compromise
Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war
REDCELL is offline  
Old September 10, 2006, 09:47 AM   #6
Nortonics
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 2, 2004
Location: Murderapolis
Posts: 521
Lortone commercial rock tumblers with water, aquarium gravel and a shot of Dawn dishwashing liquid for non-bottleneck metalic reloading - can't be beat...

http://www.lortone.com/tumblers.html
__________________
Tom.
Nortonics is offline  
Old September 10, 2006, 03:57 PM   #7
dogfood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 17, 2004
Location: Southwestern OH
Posts: 239
Quote:
My lyman 1200 has countless hours on it. I noticed the new modles, are way quieter than the older ones, and the media moves better in the new one also. How old is yours?
That's good to know. I assume I have an "older" model ... purchased in the early 90's. Again, it doesn't have many hours on it, as I was out of the shooting game for several years.

dogfood
dogfood is offline  
Old September 11, 2006, 11:12 AM   #8
rg1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 6, 2001
Posts: 1,125
My Lyman 600 which I converted to 1200 by adding the larger bowl is still going strong and I bought it in the early 80's. It's been used a lot so I can definitely recommend Lyman. I have purchased the Dillon CV 2001 model as it has a 12 1/2 quart bowl that will do 500 30-06 cases at a time. If it's too large the Dillon CV 500 is smaller. The CV 2001 really moves and shakes the media and is very quick cleaning brass. It'll do in an hour what it takes 4 hours in my Lyman. However I've only had it for approx. 2 years so I can't give it the same long-life recommendation as the Lyman that has lasted approx. 20 plus years.
Have you checked your Lyman bowl to make sure it's tight on the base? It could be loose causing the bowl to not vibrate correctly?
rg1 is offline  
Old September 11, 2006, 09:22 PM   #9
pumpkinheaver
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 22, 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 294
I have used a midway tumbler for the last 7 or 8 years or so, Works great.
__________________
Just because your paranoid don't mean they aint out to get ya.
pumpkinheaver is offline  
Old September 11, 2006, 10:40 PM   #10
XD Niner
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 31, 2004
Location: Northcentral Florida
Posts: 161
I like my RCBS unit. It does a very good job and is nice and quiet.
__________________
CONSISTENCY
-It's only a virtue if you're not a complete screwup.
XD Niner is offline  
Old September 11, 2006, 10:49 PM   #11
rnovi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 10, 2005
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 401
"Thumblers Tumbler" - been using it for 15 years. Holds 600 or so .38 spec cases...


It will continue to be my favorite until it breaks...
__________________
Robert N.

"Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"
rnovi is offline  
Old September 13, 2006, 08:56 PM   #12
dogfood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 17, 2004
Location: Southwestern OH
Posts: 239
Quote:
Have you checked your Lyman bowl to make sure it's tight on the base? It could be loose causing the bowl to not vibrate correctly?
rg1: Good idea ... so I checked the bowl, and it is indeed tight. It really just seems like the springs are worn out, so the cyclic action isn't as fast as it used to be. Or maybe it's the motor ... it exceeds my engieering knowledge.

So far, nobody mentioned a tumbler they really didn't like. It's a tough call to make.

dogfood
dogfood is offline  
Old September 19, 2006, 10:17 AM   #13
Bill T
Junior member
 
Join Date: September 19, 2006
Location: Glendale, Arizona
Posts: 298
I purchased a Dillon FL-2000 tumbler back in the late 80's and it's still going strong. It will hold 1,300 .38 Special cases in a single loading. Bill T.
Bill T is offline  
Old September 19, 2006, 11:51 AM   #14
tINY
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 26, 2005
Location: Orygun
Posts: 2,589


I'm happy with my Lyman auto-flow conversion. But I'm seriously feelling inadequate looking at Jammer six's set-up....

http://www.oz.net/~jammer/Brass/index.html



-tINY

tINY is offline  
Old September 19, 2006, 10:20 PM   #15
Mr Kris
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 111
Quote:
I'm happy with my Lyman auto-flow conversion. But I'm seriously feelling inadequate looking at Jammer six's set-up....

http://www.oz.net/~jammer/Brass/index.html



-tINY
How long will it be before someone tries this in a cement truck......
Mr Kris is offline  
Old September 23, 2006, 01:06 AM   #16
SteveinAK
Member
 
Join Date: September 20, 2005
Location: Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Posts: 27
I have a Frankford Arsenal (Midway) tumbler thats been used and abused for the last 4 years with no problems. Only real complaint about it is capacity.
__________________
-Steve

Col. Colt made 'em equal,
more or less...
SteveinAK is offline  
Old September 23, 2006, 02:24 AM   #17
Jammer Six
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 827
ooohhhh...

I know where there's a concrete truck.

I didn't think of a concrete TRUCK...
__________________
"Huh?" --Jammer Six, 1998
Jammer Six is offline  
Old September 23, 2006, 09:15 AM   #18
Mr Kris
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 111
If you want to organize a group tumble, I'll send some brass
Mr Kris is offline  
Old September 23, 2006, 10:07 PM   #19
Jammer Six
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Seattle
Posts: 827
We could use the chute straight into ammo boxes...
__________________
"Huh?" --Jammer Six, 1998
Jammer Six is offline  
Old October 8, 2006, 11:28 AM   #20
sixguns
Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2005
Posts: 35
Been using an RCBS for the last 15 - 20 years with no problems. Most but not all my loading equipment is RCBS; I am happy with the company.
sixguns is offline  
Old October 11, 2006, 03:06 PM   #21
Nephilim-777
Member
 
Join Date: October 10, 2006
Location: A nation in distress
Posts: 79
I have used only one: A Lyman Pro Magnum/Auto-Flo 2500.

I use it on tile in a hallway because it will simply walk way on just about any other surface. NOTE: Don't use this on your reloading bench because it will vibrate your nails and bolts loose prior to diving off of your bench.

Quite? No!
Nephilim-777 is offline  
Old October 12, 2006, 05:27 PM   #22
hikingman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 8, 2004
Location: Alabama
Posts: 301
Lyman Turbo Pro

Strongly recommend the Lyman Turbo Pro after reading lots of forums on the subject. We use a combination of ground shells and corn cob media - both from a large pet store supplier. Then, I recommend about one teaspoon of Flitz liquid for the shine. The pet stores have much lower prices than those products that say - reloading, on the bag! And, they are 100% natural - the real deal!

Hikingman
hikingman is offline  
Old October 13, 2006, 08:41 AM   #23
BigDog(RE)
Member
 
Join Date: January 16, 2005
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 41
I had the big Lyman autoflow, but it died after two years. I replaced it with the smaller Dillon tumbler, and I am very happy. The Dillon tumbler seems to move the brass and media around a lot quicker then the Lyman ever did. I don't miss the autoflow feature, because it never really worked that well for me in the first place!
BigDog(RE) is offline  
Old October 13, 2006, 09:00 AM   #24
Nephilim-777
Member
 
Join Date: October 10, 2006
Location: A nation in distress
Posts: 79
Quote:
I don't miss the autoflow feature, because it never really worked that well for me in the first place!
Agreed, I don't use it either. It does do a great job for me. I read the the older models overheated and died. If my newer model dies too, I'll get the Dillon as well.
Nephilim-777 is offline  
Old October 22, 2006, 08:58 AM   #25
.357SIG
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 18, 1999
Posts: 1,023
I have a Lyman 2200 AutoFlo and I use the feature every time. It does not get all the media out, but if you let it run mostly emplty and reach in to agitate the brass, it will empty out all the casings...and you don't need to tip the bowl out. Mine does not walk off the bench (rubber feet) and is quiet enough that I can't hear it much behind a closed door.
.357SIG is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.11924 seconds with 10 queries