Tumbling media

The pins from different sources are different sizes. Mine will pass through most flash holes. A lot of guys are moving to the stainless chips. They look like they would be more aggressive.

Most of use use what we have and really can't comment on other styles of SS media. Some may speculate on other types of media but never used them.
Some may have used different types of media and can give you an honest oppinion.

i've used the pins and the chips...now both are sitting in plastic containers-
I've gone back to no pins, hot water, lemishine, and Armor All Wash & Wax
my cases are pretty much shot into a case collector 95% of the time...
Chips I found to be less likely to hide out everywhere than the pins...but the pins worked just fine. Just a pain to me to separate and collect.

Where do you get the "pins"?

I do....it gets them clean enough to reload.
Squeaky clean on the outside. I don't worry about the primer pockets for blammo ammo or pistol stuff.
It's not range pickup or been outside in the elements. My brass goes gun to brass catcher to tumbler to reloader to loaded.
Quite a few do the same thing. Precision rifle is a different process.

Wyo82 said:

So you just wet tumble with no media, just the liquids?

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I don't use the pins when doing 223/556 but I use them for everything else.

Bill

My FART came with stainless pins, but about 10% aren't magnetic...total pain in the behind. I'm considering buying the chips from AmmoBrass, 5lbs for $57.

Wyo82 said:

Thanks guys for all the info, all my brass is bolt fed, so it gets ejected and thrown into a pocket or back in the box at the bench. Not too worried about getting it super clean, just clean enough to reload and have it look good.

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Well if that’s the case, a vibratory would do just fine. If you have a wet tumbler no pins would work well enough. Either would work so use whatever you have.

it works....there's other members that do the same thing with scew top peanut jars as well. especially if you aren't letting them hit the dirt.

Where do you get the "pins"?

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https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pins+for+tumbling&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

If you just want them clean enough a vibratory is the ticket. Many of us used them for years with no problems. If you want to bring back the shine inside and out and need sunglasses to load, a wet tumbler is the way to go. Both work, it just depends on how nice you want the brass to be and how much you want to spend to get it there.

There is nothing wrong with a gallon pickle jar, hot water, dish soap, and salt stirred every few minutes for half an hour either with a wooden spoon if that is what you have. It works, is cheap, and you get a little exercise doing it.

If you have young children you may want to go to the wet system of some type to eliminate all of the lead dust.

I started wet tumbling a while back,and after checking several forums,went with chips. They do a really good job of cleaning the primer pockets,which is what I wanted for my rifle brass. Southern Shine media is where I found mine,they are stainless but still are magnetic. A large,circular magnet goes in the drain before I rinse,and as long as I’m careful,I don’t lose any chips. For pistol brass,I just dry tumble in walnut with the primers in,and use carbide dies.