RCBS Media Separater

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$24.69

Not as cheap as the Hornady ($13 after late shipping credit)I found last week, but near the all time low price of $23.01.

Hi...
Hope it works out for you.
I bought one several years ago and it has been used a considerable amount. The plastic hinges on mine have weakened over time and now it needs to be replaced.
The only one I have found with metal hinges is the Dillon unit but it is considerably more expensive than the RCBS model.
I am still juggling the cost savings of the less expensive RCBS unit over the hoped for increased durability of the Dillon model.


https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-87076-Case-Media-Separator/dp/B000KKD1TW/ref=sr_1_102?crid=1SSP2R9BJX5JU&dchild=1&keywords=reloading+equipment+under+$25&qid=1569434443&sprefix=reload&sr=8-102
 
Mine is a colander from the Dollar Tree and an old dishwasher soap container (free) -I can live with that.
 
In 2014 when I started using my FART (Franklin Arsenal Rotary Tumbler) I very gingerly tested my RCBS Media Separator with the job of separating the heavy mass of cases and s/s media amidst all of that water.

I was delighted to find that it actually did a very good job ... so long as I focused on the task and did not apply too much force and break the relatively lightweight, not-designed-to-handle-that-much-of-a-load separator. Easy Does It.

5 years later and it still has not failed me.

So, when pointed to this $26(w/tax) price, I decided to get a backup unit.

Thanks, Chillydog! :)
 
I waited for a sale and got the Cabela's brand version of that same thing. It works very well, and keeps the dust contained.
 
I was interested to see that RCBS has added a proper, separate, closing latch to the model since I bought my original one years ago.

When I first looked at the size of the box, and then again after I opened it and looked in at the parts (and seeing that strange black latch), I was convinced that they had sent me a smaller version. <grumblegrumblegrumble>

It was not until I removed my original RCBS Media Separator from the shelf and held it close to the open box that I realized that they are the same size. :confused:

Strange. It just "feels" bigger outside of the box. :)
 
Those are made by Berry's Manufacturing in St. George, Utah. The new latch design came out several years ago when they also brought out the adjustable basket for sorting brass.

I've had my Berry's Media Separator since they first introduced them, and it's still going strong. The only caution is to not drop it on concrete when it's cold, as the plastic will get brittle in the cold. A friend did that and unfortunately threw it away. Berry's would have replaced it at no charge, since all their plastic goods have a lifetime warranty.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I jumped on one of these; compared to my colander inside a dishsoap tub, this thing is HUGE! We'll have to give it whirl (pun intended) to see how well it performs.
 
I jumped on one of these; compared to my colander inside a dishsoap tub, this thing is HUGE! We'll have to give it whirl (pun intended) to see how well it performs.
You won't regret it. I used a colander and a small Rubbermaid tote for 2 years, before ordering the Hornady that @Chillydog posted about last month. I couldn't believe the difference in time and ease. Definitely worth it!
 
... We'll have to give it whirl (pun intended) to see how well it performs. ...
Just be relatively gentle with it. Easy Does It!

These things were designed to be used with dry media, so when yours is full of cases, pins and water do not make any sudden changes in spin-speed or -direction. If you "muscle" it you may find yourself delayed whilst awaiting part(s) replacement.

That said, I have been carefully using one of these for wet tumbling since 2014 and have managed to not (yet?) break any of its parts. <fingers crossed>

:)
 
Chilly dog, didn't you buy one of the Hornady's ? Or was that the $33.00 Pro 1000 Amazon baited and switched with a cheap plastic basket?
Anyways, I have the RCBS, (and about 3 other brand names), media tumbler and it is flimsy but it is still tumbling the media out of all my brass so I guess I can't complain.
I was wondering how the quality of the Hornady media tumbler is. I expect to see it in a black Friday sale this year for some reason and may buy it.
 
I too have been using a wet tumbler for some time now. It's fact that dry tumbling brass weakens it.
I also use a media separator, works great. Also you don't have to use all types of magic potions in the water. I pick up my brass and Idaho desert brass and only use a liberal amount of dawn dish soap and a 3 hour tumble for rifle brass and can see the inside reflection of 30-06 brass.
 
If I were in the market now I'd head over to brownells

They have the Berry's brand for only $21.99.
It ain't green (RCBS), but I don't think the media or brass cares.
 
... It's fact that dry tumbling brass weakens it. ...
Uh huh ...

... well, we are waiting ... :)

EDIT: I was too slow, I see.

===

I just carefully read the The Media and additives section of the page that you linked and saw no mention of dry tumbling work hardening the brass cases.

===

BTW, that is an interesting resource that you shared with us. Thanks! ;)
 
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Here's the portion that is important, it's referring to the walnut or corn cob media being rigid. I was also told the same thing by a gunsmith years ago that only cleaned his brass with water before it was even a thing. As I've been a steelworker/ welder for years I can understand the correlation.
"The pins are smooth; they will not erode or work-harden the brass."
 
:) Cheap maybe or old fashion, in forty plus years of hand loading I never used anything but my hands to pick the brass from the tumbler. Have two of them, one the old Lyman has a built in separator. Pull the little rubber plug at the bottom and the media shakes out the bottom. Used it once, it’s faster to separate by hand. ;) Just me.
Here's the portion that is important, it's referring to the walnut or corn cob media being rigid. I was also told the same thing by a gunsmith years ago that only cleaned his brass with water before it was even a thing. As I've been a steelworker/ welder for years I can understand the correlation.
"The pins are smooth; they will not erode or work-harden the brass."
Corn cob and walnut grounds are more rigid than steel pins ? ???
 
Here's the portion that is important, it's referring to the walnut or corn cob media being rigid. I was also told the same thing by a gunsmith years ago that only cleaned his brass with water before it was even a thing. As I've been a steelworker/ welder for years I can understand the correlation.
"The pins are smooth; they will not erode or work-harden the brass."
Nowhere does it state that the use of dry media work hardens the brass ... and various "gunsmiths", being regular folks, often believe and espouse all kinds of nonsense.

With all of the reloading and, especially, dry-media cartridge case tumbling that has been occurring in the past few decades, if there were a real issue with said dry-media tumbling work-hardening the case brass we would all know about the problem by now. ;)
 
http://www.massreloading.com/reloading_wet_tumbling.html
In the media and additives section it mentions work hardening the brass. Which in turn will cause it to fracture, ie, that's why we use brass for cases because it is soft and workable.

Hyperbole to sell a product or method. Don't the pins beat on the brass to get the crud off? That peening is going to have an effect just like any other cleaning method does.

I've been reloading for 56 years, and cleaning my brass in dry tumblers (first that I built myself, and now commercial vibratory tumblers) for over 50 of those years. I think I would have found out by now if tumbling weakens brass or not. One of the 32 calibers I load for is the .45-120 Sharps Straight. The brass is expensive, but I've yet to loose a case due to "weakening" from cleaning them in one of my four vibratory tumblers in 20/40 grit ground corn cob, using Berry's Case Polish.

You use your method to clean your brass, and I'll use mine. Just don't state out "facts" that aren't scientifically proven to justify your method. It doesn't set well with those of us who have been at this game for awhile and haven't seen what you call a "fact". My round count is somewhere north of 860,000 rounds of reloaded ammunition at this point, and I think I would have noticed by now if this were a problem.

What is a problem is people using ammonia based metal polishes on cartridge brass. I've seen that make good brass brittle, to the point that it basically crumbled when crushed with pliers, or fired in a chamber.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Chilly dog, didn't you buy one of the Hornady's ? Or was that the $33.00 Pro 1000 Amazon baited and switched with a cheap plastic basket?

Yes, I got one of the Hornady separators for $13.00, awesome deal. It was a gamble that went the right way. Amazon had the wrong part number but the correct description so who really knew what we would get?

Anyway, I hope to try it out this weekend. I’ve picked up a thousand or so 9mm from the range last week.
 
@Chillydog
Let me know how it works I may want to get one. My separator is really cheap built and if Hornady's is better I will get it. I saw it on sale somewhere for $29.95 and want to get it before the sale is over.
 
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