Did you know? .41vs.223

45 acp and .223 is similar. It's something you only try once.

A .40 S&W will cover the base of a .223. Seems every run of 300 .223, I miss 1 .40 that gets in the tumbler and covers the base of a case.

I made that mistake with 10mm and 223

I’ve had to start sorting anything before it’s tumbled. Seems like everything fits inside everything else around here

Never tumble or wet clean before sorting. Amazing how stuck them cases can get.

I got tired separating cases stuck in another case so I never tumble combinations of cases that might nest. In fact I rarely combine different cartridges in the same tumble session as I don’t like to spend time sorting them.

It is realatvely easy for me though as I keep my fired cases separated from other cartridges and I don’t shoot where there are cases left by others to pick up, aka my back yard.

My mistake was 9mm, 40, and 45 together.
I figured it was just pistol brass.
It was a joyous occasion.

.380 and .40 or .45 together is no fun. The .380 doesn't even stick out enough to grab...it was entirely accidental, but will never happen again.

Kinda like the little Thumblers tumbler I've had for years. Never used it, but decided to try a small batch. Worked ok, but didn't smell the best. Put it out in the laundry room on top of the washer... Apparently the rubber that holds the cap in place was hardened just enough to not seal up.

Messy. And skimming media out of the washing machine with my minnow dipper for hours wasn't the most fun I've had.

My .454 brass eats a lot of other brass in the tumbler.

Barbaroja said:

I’ve had to start sorting anything before it’s tumbled. Seems like everything fits inside everything else around here

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I always sort by which cases tumble without getting stuck together.
Spent a week, one afternoon, separating tumbled brass .

9mm into 40 into 45 nest nicely but if you really like puzzles tumble a hand full of 45 gap with 50 BMG.

This was one of the times I was lazy and found a new use for my Dillon kinetic hammer that came in handy. One whack usually poped them rite apart.

25 fits in 380 fits in 40 fits in 45. Lots of fun combinations that nest, and they all suck. Now I sort by case mouth size and no more problems.

Actually, the .378” case head lends itself to being cut and filled with a molten lead core.
Sized to .375”, makes a splendid ..375 soft point!
Have made several (300gr), and fired through my .375Ruger
Just to see...

I found out the hard way that 45acp brass will eat any 9mm that's in the tumbler and refuse to spit it out. I'll have to remember to load the bigger stuff first next time.

Been there, done that... I no longer tumble rounds that can nest.. 9/40, 9/45 or 40/45 It's not worth the time to separate them. Worse still not seeing the nested pair and sizing them and breaking a decapping pin.

Yeah. Separating them first is worth the time and effort. Saves time and effort on the other end.

On high volume calibers I wait until I have a load of one caliber before tumbling. With low volume I just do them by caliber when I need some. Don't mix them anytime. About a quart or quart and a half of pistol brass usually makes a nice load in my Rockford shaker.
Lafitte

I usually separate my cases by caliber but if I'm only tumbling small amounts of brass I will put a few calibers together. Things like 45's in with 44's, 10MM and/or 40 S&W in with 41 Magnum, 38/357 in with 9MM, ect all seem to play well together.

Whenever I have cases that nest together it because they got mixed accidentally. They can be sneaky little buggers!!!

Thats a good idea using a hammer type bullet puller to separate them.

Bfh_auto said:

My mistake was 9mm, 40, and 45 together.
I figured it was just pistol brass.
It was a joyous occasion.

Click to expand...

The first time I ever cleaned brass I did exactly that.
I bet I had just as much fun as you did.