when to tumble brass?

shootsafe · September 25, 2008, 08:41 PM

Do you tumble brass, before or after you deprime?

Shootsafe

Don H · September 25, 2008, 08:45 PM

Before.

DWARREN123 · September 25, 2008, 08:50 PM

Before.

Wild Bill Bucks · September 26, 2008, 09:06 AM

Most guys will tumble before they de-prime. I de-prime then tumble. By doing this, I don't hardly have any primer pockets that come out dirty. Doesn't clean them perfectly, but does it well enough so that I don't have to use primer pocket cleaning tool very much. After I empty the cleaning material out of the brass, I take my air compressor and blow through the primer pocket, to make sure there is no debris left in the brass.

No real right or wrong way, just my preference.

dtalley · September 26, 2008, 09:10 AM

Before, if I do it after depriming then I have lizard litter in the flash hole.

hoytinak · September 26, 2008, 09:24 AM

Before....I toss them in the tumbler right when I get back from the range. That way when I get into the mood to reload. I don't have to wait till they're done. Cause by the time they'd be ready I prolly wouldn't be in the reloading mood anymore. (still not really getting into reloading

)

zippy13 · September 26, 2008, 09:47 AM

Before

Ben Shepherd · September 26, 2008, 09:54 AM

Before. That saves a lot of wear and tear on your sizing die. As far as cleaning primer pockets, after many trips to the range, I've found that cleaning them is something most folks worry about too much.

Unless it's "serious" ammo, I don't worry about it.

The Lovemaster · September 26, 2008, 12:21 PM

Before, to keep the media out of the primer pockets and flash holes.

Atticus Thraxx · September 26, 2008, 01:50 PM

After...pops once told me that primer pockets are like the anus. Keep em absolutely clean and free of buildup for proper seating and trouble free ignition!

Blacklabelz · September 26, 2008, 02:04 PM

I de-prime after I tumble. Like everyone else said.. little bits of corn cob get stuck in the flashholes.

If i want to clean the flash holes of my brass i'll tumble them first, de-prime, and wear latex gloves while I use my RCBS trim-mate station to clean them up.

brickeyee · September 26, 2008, 03:26 PM

After.
Checking the flash hole is also the time to inspect for cracks and other defects.

PCJim · September 26, 2008, 03:32 PM

Before. No media in the flash hole, no dirty fingers from handling and hopefully cleaner dies.

tokarev762 · September 26, 2008, 04:46 PM

I prefer to tumble at least a few minutes before sizing and depriming. That will get rid of any dirt/grit before they go into the sizing die.

Especially with rifle brass that will have to be lubed before sizing. I'll give a brief tumble to clean, size & deprime, tumble again to remove case lube(maybe a little longer tumble to polish if I feel like it), then trim to length and if it's military brass ream out the primer pocket crimp. After deburring, the brass is ready to load.

clos · September 26, 2008, 09:31 PM

before and after. after to get the lube off, I hate wiping cases by hand.

FWS · September 26, 2008, 10:42 PM

I am a casual reloader. Therefore, time is not much of a factor.
1) deprime (no resizing at that point)
2) tumble
3) rinse with warm water (remove dust, lead, and other crap)
4) dry
5) resize, etc.
Like I said, I don't mind wasting time like that...
FWS

September 25, 2008, 08:41 PM	#1
shootsafe Member Join Date: March 2, 2008 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 86	when to tumble brass? Do you tumble brass, before or after you deprime? Shootsafe

September 25, 2008, 08:50 PM	#3
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	Before. __________________ Have a nice day!

September 26, 2008, 09:54 AM	#8
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	Before. That saves a lot of wear and tear on your sizing die. As far as cleaning primer pockets, after many trips to the range, I've found that cleaning them is something most folks worry about too much. Unless it's "serious" ammo, I don't worry about it. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

September 26, 2008, 01:50 PM	#10
Atticus Thraxx Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2007 Location: Yolo County CA Posts: 314	After...pops once told me that primer pockets are like the anus. Keep em absolutely clean and free of buildup for proper seating and trouble free ignition! __________________ "No Curling in the Squat Rack!" Looking for K98 bolt #5954 and K98 bolt #31942 for trade. DM me if you have a match. Prizes will be awarded!

September 25, 2008, 08:45 PM	#2
Don H Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2000 Location: SLC,Utah Posts: 2,704	Before.

September 26, 2008, 09:06 AM	#4
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	Most guys will tumble before they de-prime. I de-prime then tumble. By doing this, I don't hardly have any primer pockets that come out dirty. Doesn't clean them perfectly, but does it well enough so that I don't have to use primer pocket cleaning tool very much. After I empty the cleaning material out of the brass, I take my air compressor and blow through the primer pocket, to make sure there is no debris left in the brass. No real right or wrong way, just my preference.

September 26, 2008, 09:10 AM	#5
dtalley Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 36	Before, if I do it after depriming then I have lizard litter in the flash hole.

September 26, 2008, 09:24 AM	#6
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	Before....I toss them in the tumbler right when I get back from the range. That way when I get into the mood to reload. I don't have to wait till they're done. Cause by the time they'd be ready I prolly wouldn't be in the reloading mood anymore. (still not really getting into reloading )

September 26, 2008, 09:47 AM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Before

September 26, 2008, 12:21 PM	#9
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	Before, to keep the media out of the primer pockets and flash holes.

September 26, 2008, 02:04 PM	#11
Blacklabelz Junior Member Join Date: September 16, 2008 Posts: 12	I de-prime after I tumble. Like everyone else said.. little bits of corn cob get stuck in the flashholes. If i want to clean the flash holes of my brass i'll tumble them first, de-prime, and wear latex gloves while I use my RCBS trim-mate station to clean them up.

September 26, 2008, 03:26 PM	#12
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	After. Checking the flash hole is also the time to inspect for cracks and other defects.

September 26, 2008, 03:32 PM	#13
PCJim Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Location: FL Posts: 570	Before. No media in the flash hole, no dirty fingers from handling and hopefully cleaner dies.

September 26, 2008, 04:46 PM	#14
tokarev762 Member Join Date: September 15, 2008 Location: Middle TN Posts: 60	I prefer to tumble at least a few minutes before sizing and depriming. That will get rid of any dirt/grit before they go into the sizing die. Especially with rifle brass that will have to be lubed before sizing. I'll give a brief tumble to clean, size & deprime, tumble again to remove case lube(maybe a little longer tumble to polish if I feel like it), then trim to length and if it's military brass ream out the primer pocket crimp. After deburring, the brass is ready to load.

September 26, 2008, 09:31 PM	#15
clos Junior Member Join Date: August 29, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 8	before and after. after to get the lube off, I hate wiping cases by hand.

September 26, 2008, 10:42 PM	#16
FWS Junior Member Join Date: December 1, 2007 Posts: 8	I am a casual reloader. Therefore, time is not much of a factor. 1) deprime (no resizing at that point) 2) tumble 3) rinse with warm water (remove dust, lead, and other crap) 4) dry 5) resize, etc. Like I said, I don't mind wasting time like that... FWS