Couple Reloading questions

[xd45gaper]

Im looking to get into reloading and im stocking up on once fired brass at the range in th calibers i shoot. here is my question. i bought a tumbler and have been cleaning all my brass and sorting it.

Im using a red colored cleaning medium and it leaves a fine red dust on the inside of the cassing. will this have any affect when i start reloading or am i just being picky

also i have some shells and the open end of the case is bent or buckled slightly. nothing major just realy minor dents and buckles on the case and the open end of the case should i just throw these out or can they be straightend up during reloading?

 

[ocabj]

1. Are you using the Lyman walnut media? If so, throw it away. The stuff they treat it with is horrible. Use plain walnut media you buy at a pet/bird store. If you want to polish, treat it with Nu Finish and some mineral spirits.

2. If after resizing there is still damage to the case that would affect feeding and reliability, then just chuck the brass.

 

[hoghunting]

Most walnut hull and corn cob media leave some dust residue and it won't affect your reloading.

Dings in the case mouth will be straightened out in the sizing die.

 

[Idano]

xd45gaper

I use the Lyman Tuff Nut and it is fine, but add a used dryer sheet( cut into 8-12 pieces) and replace the sheet with every batch it will collect the dust and clean your media.

I have found that a 50/50 walnut or Lyman Tuff Nut and corn cob works the best and quickest with a cap full of Nu-Finish car wax and a dryer sheet. My brass comes out like new in 2 hours with a mirror finish.

Regarding the damaged brass that is a tough call. Some can be reloaded safely but until you have some experience reloading and can identify what can be saved and what can't I would recommend pulling them out setting them aside for now.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I don't know...Maybe he got ahold of some media that has jeweler's rouge in it. As for the dings, dents and wrinkles. straighten them with a tappered drift punch and resize them. If they are still wrinkled...Chuck'em. If the dent is minor, as in ejection port dings, load'em. When you shoot them the ding will come out...And you just might add another one to boot.

 

[Valkman]

Yep, used cut-up dryer sheets from the wife will take care of the dust.

 

[xd45gaper]

cool thanks alot, it was the Lyman cleaner i think it came with the tumbler, i also had some natural colored corncob median i think that i used for my shooting bags so its kinda mixed.

next thing on my list is a press with some dies

 

[The Bushmaster]

L O L...Got the cart a bit before the horse don't you? L O L Tumbler first???

 

[ReloaderFred]

Hey, Bushmaster. Don't laugh at the man for getting the tumbler first. Some don't get one until years after they start loading. I admire a man who wants to make his loads look good............ Cleanliness is next to, well, you know.....

Fred

 

[The Bushmaster]

No arguement about clean brass here. Just thought.....Well I guess I shouldn't second guess other people...I'll try harder in the future...

Hey xd45gaper...Welcome to the site and enjoy...

There Fred...Is that better?

 

[ReloaderFred]

OK, you're forgiven. Are you freezing your tail off back there?

Fred

 

[The Bushmaster]

Went from 4 degrees to 25 degrees on Monday. Went from 18 degrees to 62 degrees on Tuesday. Now it is 20 degrees at 8:00 AM Wednesday and not supposed to get above 34 degrees. Beings as how I'm from your neck of the woods and points north of you I'm kinda use to it. Not sure the horses like it though.

And thanks for forgiving me....

xd45gaper...Problem solved?

 

[Zippy06]

xd45gaper.
I'm with the other guys.
I use, the Lyman walnut, on really tarnished brass. I have been getting my brass off E-bay. I stay below Midway's price.
Dings and dents. I use a pair of small Flat needle nose pliers. The dies get the rest out. But, if there is a sharp crease. It's scrap.
Save the bad brass and primers. I read somewhere. A coffee can, full of primers, goes for $35.00(I guess, I will be cutting open the vacuum cleaner bag.).

Oh, How about a guy, that buys bullets and brass, cheap. Before he has a gun in that caliber?? .308 Win. is next. Can't decide. Rem 700 or Weatherby Vanguard.????

 

[dpart77]

Bought a tumbler three months ago. I have finally finished cleaning the two 5 gallon pails of brass I had been saving for a while. Just yesterday I ordered my complete reloading setup. Guess I was kind of ass backwards also. LOL. On the plus side my brass looks darn good!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Boy...I'll tell ya Fred...They just won't let it lie...Sure...Pick on the old guy.

Welcome to the site dpart77 (I think) You too Zippy06... L O L...And keep cleanin' that brass...

 

[xd45gaper]

lol i figured i would get a stock pile of brass while i was building up my reloading supplies and figured i would start with the tumbler first so i could have clean brass lol

 

[ReloaderFred]

Don't feel bad. In 1963, a friend had given me a couple hundred rounds of 30-06 ammunition, but I didn't have a rifle to shoot it in. I looked around until I found a cherry M1 Garand for the outragous price of $89.95 at Golden State Arms. I put it on lay-away and took 4 months to pay it off. I was only making $1.25 an hour at the time, so it was a stretch to fit that rifle into my budget. After I emptied the brass, then I had to buy a reloader to make them new again. As they say, the rest is history.

I think I'm down to 5 Garands now, since I had to sell one to buy my wife's cowboy pistols. The sacrifices we make......... Sure wish I still had that original Garand, since it had never been through a rebuild and was all original, with English proof marks. Sold it for $115.00, and thought I made a killing.....

Fred

 

[Mr White]

I know where you're coming from xd45gaper, I bought a Lyman 1200 tumbler last summer at an auction for $15. It came with a bag or that red media.

Then at a yard sale about a month later, I bought an RCBS scale for $20. Then about 3 weeks ago I got a reloading kit. Traded the scale that came with the kit for calipers, primers, powder and bullets.

Sometimes it makes better economic sense to put the cart before the horse.

A guy who's been helping me out said to use mostly walnut media and then put about 1/2 cup of the red media in to help polish the brass. It seems to work. My brass comes out pretty shiny and I really don't get much dust at all.

 

[scrat]

bushmaster omg

4 degrees. wow

its funny how a lot of people have a room to reload thier ammunition. my wife would never let me have a room for that. half the time i do it in the back patio outside. i have this saddle type of bar stool i mounted my press too. i just bring it out lay my things on the table next to it and enjoy the sun. in fact i was going to do some today.

ok back to the topic. as for the fine dust. i have a small compressor. after seperating the media. i usually take the compressor with an air nozzle and blow out the inside as well as the outside. Works very very good. Highly recomended. As far as the case mouths. once you get your press and resizing dyes that will take care of the mouths. never throw away bad brass. i keep a coffe can and just throw them in. once it fills up take it in to the recycler. brass pays good money.

can pay for a box of bullets
or a 1lb of powder

 

[Zippy06]

Hi Bushmaster.
I was just asking a question.
By the way. I am interested in opinions on rifles. .308 win.
What say you????

 

[RustyFN]

dpart77 Bought a tumbler three months ago. I have finally finished cleaning the two 5 gallon pails of brass I had been saving for a while. Just yesterday I ordered my complete reloading setup. Guess I was kind of ass backwards also. LOL. On the plus side my brass looks darn good!

Join the club I did the same thing when I started.

Oh, How about a guy, that buys bullets and brass, cheap. Before he has a gun in that caliber??

I have never bought brass other than factory rounds but I do scrounge everything at the range including calibers I don't have yet.

Went from 4 degrees to 25 degrees on Monday. Went from 18 degrees to 62 degrees on Tuesday

I will gladly trade some brass for heat. Yesterday started out at -4 and got up to 13

Rusty

 

[Zippy06]

scrat. read on one of these forums. A coffee can of spent primers, go for $35USD.
Rusty. 9 degrees at 11am. 21 at 2 pm. Detroit.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I know a lot about the .308, but it is not qualified and therefore I won't comment. I only jump in when I have some idea that I might know something (sometimes questionable ).

My main battery of rifles are the .30 WCF and .30-06.

Thanks fella's...Makes me feel like I live in the tropics...

 

[Zippy06]

Bushmaster. Wow.
I am not sure. What to type.
I was hoping you would have an opinion?
An option?
a different word?
I am left with. Do you shoot .308 Win.?
it's just a question.

 

[The Bushmaster]

No I don't have any .308 rifles. Just the Winchester and the A-Bolt Browning.
I don't see a .308 in my future. The two do what I want and if I go for another calibre I'm not sure what it will be except it won't be a .308...Sorry.