BBs for wet tumbling.

They rust real fast I and them to my dry walnut shells in tumbler work good in there

use stainless steel for wet tumbling. BBs are mild steel, whether plated or not, and will rust easily once the plating is worn away, which won't take long at all.

The original BB were copper, but I don't think your going to find any of those. Beside copper is too soft for this application.

The least expensive option over the long run are the SS pins. Work well and reasonably priced for how long they last. After 15 years mine look like the were a lifetime purchase. Just gotta have a good magnet and screen to catch them before going down the drain.

I like the way you think, but pins do a great job on the primer pockets, and are easy to get out. I have wondered if old primer anvils would be good scrubbers. I just got more pins on sale, not that that I really need them yet....the jar they came in was awesome...National Metallic Brass Cleaning Media SS Pins 2.5 lb Plastic Jar (midwayusa.com)

Mr_Flintstone said:

Has anyone ever used BBs for wet tumbling? I know they aren’t ideal, but they are available locally. What kind might work best? Copper coated or zinc coated? I worry that the zinc might react with Lemi-Shine. Anybody ever used them?

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https://www.facebook.com/southernshinemedia/
This media is superb... greatly reduces the amount of time one needs to tumble, does an excellent job cleaning, and the primer pockets come out PERFECT! Price isn't bad either.

Although I've never tried it, I've read folks successfully clean their brass in wet tumblers with no media whatsoever.

If you try it, you better leave the primer in small primer pocket cases. A small primer is .175” diameter the bore of a BB gun is .177 with the steel BB a few thousandths under.

Even if you were lucky enough they didn’t get stuck, they certainly won’t clean inside and primer pockets like the pins do.

At that point you might as well go with a no media method and just have the outside sparkling.

scott1970 said:

Although I've never tried it, I've read folks successfully clean their brass in wet tumblers with no media whatsoever.

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That's what I do, but it's small batches (<75 cases) and I have to give each primer pocket a quick twist with the hand tool to make sure all the crud is out. If I were doing larger amounts at a time I would consider adding pins to the operation.

Yes, I have used BBs.

The results were disappointing to say the least. I never tried them a second time.

If you want to dry tumble, use walnut or corn cob media.

If you want to wet tumble use low-alloy stainless steel, ceramics or (if you can afford it), bronze pins.

At the end of the day, what is most important to you?