Is it OK to re-tumble primed brass

[John4me05]

OK.. I am going to join the tumble the lube off your case group... Now is it safe or OK to tumble newly primed brass... I mean will the corncob media block the inside of the primer or do anything detrimental or should i re-tumble then prime...

 

[R.W.Dale]

The media will get into the flashholes and plug them up. You should tumble before priming, what I do is SIZE, TRIM, TUMBLE and then PRIME.

 

[rcmodel]

It's always best to get the lube off before priming so there is no chance of lube contaminating the primers.

But it probably won't hurt if you have already primed some.

I have never believed a single speck of corncob media would stand a chance when the primer goes off, but I can't prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt!


rcmodel

 

[tjj]

Don't tumble after priming. If you use any kind of cleaner in your media it could kill your primers or cause hangfires. Just wipe off your completed reloads with a flitz cloth if it's that important to you.

 

[John4me05]

Thats why i asked... You guys always know... I figured it would be retumble then prime but wanted to be sure..

 

[Floppy_D]

I typically tumble the spent brass with walnut to clean it, deprime, size, prime, powder, seat and crimp, and then tumble the loaded rounds with corncob to clean off excess garbage, and polish. No problems at 10k+ rounds.

I'm with RCmodel in that I can't prove any harm in the clogged primer pockets, I just don't like the idea.

Please do us all a favor and if you experience otherwise, edjumacate us.

 

[evan price]

RE: Squibs from media

I had a single .38 special of a recent batch of reloads that failed to fire; I could swear I heard the primer pop but nothing happened.

This was a 3.5 grain titegroup with win sp primers in range brass with 158-gr lead swc.

I figured at the time maybe I had a squib due to no powder.

When I broke it down it had a correct charge.

The primer was blackened.

There were several pieces of corncob wedged in the primer, also blackened.

I think specifically the problem was unique because I am using a reduced-volume powder with a very light charge in a relatively large case. The media blocked the flash holes enough that the flame from the primer did not ignite the powder.

I believe this is a very isolated incident and will be hard to duplicate.

I tumble before I load in my progressive. I dump scoops of brass from the bucket into the case collator and tubes; I have had media that gets in the feed tubes of my press and makes the cases stick and not drop into the feeder; it's possible the media fell into the primer chute and got smushed into the primer pocket when I primed the case.

 

[italian biker]

My suggestion is to tumble before you remove the spent primer. I can't see a reason to tumble with a new primer.

 

[Hoosier Reloader]

I always tumble brass before de-priming & sizing.

 

[dagger dog]

John, i can,t count the minutes i've wasted picking corn cob /walnut shell media, out of the primer flash holes!
so i guess it's small enough that it can wedge into the flash hole with the live primer installed. that enough evidence for me to tumble then prime.

you didn't state whether your tumbling rifle or pistol/revolver cases, the carbide dies are the ticket for the pistol/revolver ammo, especially if your tumbling for cleanliness, and not for looks.

there are several liquid washes for brass, if your looking for volume pistol ammo reloading that and the carbide is the way for volume. no lube needed

have fun always dagger dog

 

[ranger335v]

Remove case lube from loaded rounds with a cloth dampened with denatured alcohol. It does the job well, it's inexpensive, quick, it evaporates rapidly and does not affect the powder/primer.

 

[John4me05]

My bad

I am doing .223s.... I have about 500 to go through... Already cleaned and i am in the decapping/seperating good to go ones form needing swaged ones right now... I have always been told to retumble after depriming to clean the remaining lube off... Man this stuff is fun... I have some range brass i picked up that had turned and tarnished... 2 hours in the tumbler with a couple cap fuls of Lyman turbo bright and they all look like new brass....

 

[dagger dog]

john

yeah, they sure look nice all shiny and bright, kinda hate ta shoot 'em!

heh, heh just kiddin'

send some down range fer me!

daggerdog

 

[jmorris]

I tumble twice. The first time so the cases are clean before running through the machine and the second time (once loaded) to remove the lube. It’s not a burden to do if you have a media separator and a cheap lamp timer.