A lesson learned about tumbling mixed brass

Machineguntony · April 16, 2014, 11:13 PM

I came back from the range with about 2000-3000 pieces of brass. A mix of 9mm, 45 acp, 40, and 223.

I was lazy and just threw all the brass into my new and large Harbor Freight tumbler, which is an awesome tumbler, btw.

After three hours, the ALL the 223 was stuck in the 9mm and 40, which was then stuck in the 45. I threw out all the brass. Some of the brass was stuck hard, requiring significant effort, even with pliers. I figured my time was better spent on other things, as brass on gunbroker cumulative was still cheaper, time wise.

It still hurt to throw all that good looking brass out, especially the 45 brass.

I've had brass stuck before, usually 380 stuck in 9mm or 9mm stuck in 40, but never like this.

A lesson learned.

Wreck-n-Crew · April 16, 2014, 11:45 PM

You can buy a brass sorter or make one and save the trouble. beats sorting by hand.

Buy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du2m-su0E2A
homemade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsB7epZoGlw

Nick_C_S · April 17, 2014, 12:12 AM

Wow that really sux.

I segregate because I've learned that 38 will fit inside 40, etc. And they just don't get properly cleaned. So I'm already in the habit of sorting. I just sort by hand. I don't feel I need sorting baskets. My space is limited, and I don't mind doing it by hand. I'm a very patient person. I like playing with my brass, so to speak

Clark · April 17, 2014, 01:44 AM

I just bagged up 85 pounds of wet tumbled brass in my basement.
30 batches.
I have more on the way.
I feel like a slave to my handloading habit

MEATSAW · April 17, 2014, 03:14 AM

Dang you should have shipped that mess to me. I would have gladly taken it off your hands and given my 15 yr old something worthwhile to do

chiefr · April 17, 2014, 08:24 AM

I own more than one tumbler. Never much cared for case sex.

Shootest · April 17, 2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

I own more than one tumbler. Never much cared for case sex.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they actually reproduced. I too have scraped out enough brass not to ever do it again.

serf 'rett · April 18, 2014, 12:25 PM

There is no way (wiping tears off key board) I could have forced myself to dump that amount of brass. Disassembly would have been done during down time.

Machineguntony · April 18, 2014, 04:45 PM

I cried a bit when I dumped the brass. But, life is too short, and I enjoy my shooting and reloading hobby too much. I figured, according to gunbroker prices, I threw out about $100-150 worth of brass (my initial estimate was probably high, as last night I tumbled a verified 2000 pieces of only 9mm brass, and it was more volume than the brass I tossed). After taking 30 seconds to a minute on average to separate each menage a trois, I figured it would take me five hundred years to separate all the brass, and my time and happiness is worth more $200.

But omg tossing 45 brass was the most painful.

But alas, I just won an auction on gunbroker for some 45 acp brass. So I am happy again!

Btw, I was using the fine grit crushed walnut form Harbor Freight. I have had brass stuck before, but never to the extent this was stuck. Separation of stuck cases required lots of force with a needle nose plier to separate. I think the fine walnut somehow fit so perfectly that it made the brass very difficult to separate. I would not use the fine grit again. Also, it was way too dusty. I am going to try the course grit next time.

Airman Basic · April 20, 2014, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Btw, I was using the fine grit crushed walnut form Harbor Freight. I have had brass stuck before, but never to the extent this was stuck. Separation of stuck cases required lots of force with a needle nose plier to separate. I think the fine walnut somehow fit so perfectly that it made the brass very difficult to separate. I would not use the fine grit again. Also, it was way too dusty. I am going to try the course grit next time.

Keep the fine grit. Use dryer sheets to keep the dust down. Getting that coarse grit out of the flash holes is as much a hassle as separating the stuck cases. Fine grit solves that.

snuffy · April 20, 2014, 11:37 AM

You threw it out??¿!! I just got $1.30/pound for scrap brass, walked away with 30 bucks.

Oh, the finer grit polishes faster, and does NOT stick in flash holes when tumbling deprimed brass.

berettaprofessor · April 20, 2014, 06:23 PM

Well it's a lesson learned. But sort FIRST, polish second. I did learn from someone here or on another forum that you can polish multiple case sizes at the same time....you just need to throw the largest cases in first, tumble a minute, then the smaller cases, etc. Once the largest case fills up with medium, the smaller cases won't get inside.

JimDandy · April 20, 2014, 06:33 PM

I wouldn't buy that.

And did you toss it out, or did you take the brass to a reclamation center? At least get $X/lb for the brass.

Machineguntony · April 21, 2014, 03:33 PM

I just got the Midway sorter with the 380 plate and that thing is friggin awesome. I have no idea why I didn't ever buy one sooner.

Unfortunately, I did toss it all out. Trash day is tomorrow, as recycling bin is picked up every other week, and I may fish it out of the trash and take it to a donation center. I do feel guilty about tossing all that brass.

April 16, 2014, 11:13 PM	#1
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	A lesson learned about tumbling mixed brass I came back from the range with about 2000-3000 pieces of brass. A mix of 9mm, 45 acp, 40, and 223. I was lazy and just threw all the brass into my new and large Harbor Freight tumbler, which is an awesome tumbler, btw. After three hours, the ALL the 223 was stuck in the 9mm and 40, which was then stuck in the 45. I threw out all the brass. Some of the brass was stuck hard, requiring significant effort, even with pliers. I figured my time was better spent on other things, as brass on gunbroker cumulative was still cheaper, time wise. It still hurt to throw all that good looking brass out, especially the 45 brass. I've had brass stuck before, usually 380 stuck in 9mm or 9mm stuck in 40, but never like this. A lesson learned.

April 17, 2014, 12:12 AM	#3
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,617	Wow that really sux. I segregate because I've learned that 38 will fit inside 40, etc. And they just don't get properly cleaned. So I'm already in the habit of sorting. I just sort by hand. I don't feel I need sorting baskets. My space is limited, and I don't mind doing it by hand. I'm a very patient person. I like playing with my brass, so to speak __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

April 18, 2014, 04:45 PM	#9
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I cried a bit when I dumped the brass. But, life is too short, and I enjoy my shooting and reloading hobby too much. I figured, according to gunbroker prices, I threw out about $100-150 worth of brass (my initial estimate was probably high, as last night I tumbled a verified 2000 pieces of only 9mm brass, and it was more volume than the brass I tossed). After taking 30 seconds to a minute on average to separate each menage a trois, I figured it would take me five hundred years to separate all the brass, and my time and happiness is worth more $200. But omg tossing 45 brass was the most painful. But alas, I just won an auction on gunbroker for some 45 acp brass. So I am happy again! Btw, I was using the fine grit crushed walnut form Harbor Freight. I have had brass stuck before, but never to the extent this was stuck. Separation of stuck cases required lots of force with a needle nose plier to separate. I think the fine walnut somehow fit so perfectly that it made the brass very difficult to separate. I would not use the fine grit again. Also, it was way too dusty. I am going to try the course grit next time. Last edited by Machineguntony; April 18, 2014 at 05:01 PM.

April 16, 2014, 11:45 PM	#2
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	You can buy a brass sorter or make one and save the trouble. beats sorting by hand. Buy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du2m-su0E2A homemade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsB7epZoGlw

April 17, 2014, 03:14 AM	#5
MEATSAW Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2009 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 727	Dang you should have shipped that mess to me. I would have gladly taken it off your hands and given my 15 yr old something worthwhile to do

April 17, 2014, 08:24 AM	#6
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I own more than one tumbler. Never much cared for case sex.

April 18, 2014, 12:25 PM	#8
serf 'rett Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2009 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 1,569	There is no way (wiping tears off key board) I could have forced myself to dump that amount of brass. Disassembly would have been done during down time.

April 20, 2014, 11:37 AM	#11
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	You threw it out??¿!! I just got $1.30/pound for scrap brass, walked away with 30 bucks. Oh, the finer grit polishes faster, and does NOT stick in flash holes when tumbling deprimed brass.

April 20, 2014, 06:23 PM	#12
berettaprofessor Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2008 Posts: 1,103	Well it's a lesson learned. But sort FIRST, polish second. I did learn from someone here or on another forum that you can polish multiple case sizes at the same time....you just need to throw the largest cases in first, tumble a minute, then the smaller cases, etc. Once the largest case fills up with medium, the smaller cases won't get inside.

April 20, 2014, 06:33 PM	#13
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	I wouldn't buy that. And did you toss it out, or did you take the brass to a reclamation center? At least get $X/lb for the brass.

April 21, 2014, 03:33 PM	#14
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	I just got the Midway sorter with the 380 plate and that thing is friggin awesome. I have no idea why I didn't ever buy one sooner. Unfortunately, I did toss it all out. Trash day is tomorrow, as recycling bin is picked up every other week, and I may fish it out of the trash and take it to a donation center. I do feel guilty about tossing all that brass.