I don't shoot a lot. Average of 500 rounds .45ACP a week (2 maybe 3 range trips). At the end of the week, I work on the brass.
I keep my dirty brass in Sterilite Tubs with locking handles. When it gets full (at the end of the week), then I pull out my two Cabela vibratory tumblers (stored in the garage on a shelf with all of the media and Sterilite Tubs for Dirty Brass (I keep separate tubs for .40S&W, 9mm Luger and other miscellaneous brass that I collect at the range). Load both with Lizard Litter (stored in a 5 gal bucket) and split the tub (keeps 5 to 6 hundred per tub) into the two tumblers. Set it and forget it. I normally allow it to run overnight because I'm in no hurry to get it done. The next morning (after my first cup of tea), then I unload / sift thru Walnut. The media content inside the tumblers goes BACK into the "used" walnut 5gal bucket (Home Depot). I then put Corn Cob w/Flitz (also stored in a "used corn cob 5 gallon bucket) in both tumblers. Split the batch again into both and let it run. Again, just forget about it for a few hours. If I am home, then it'll be done in 2 or 3, but I normally forget (ADD) so it gets checked whenever. I normally remember at some point in the day. I grab a pair of Nitrile Gloves and then empty the tumblers into the media sifter. Once the media has been cleaned off, then I'll put it into a clean Sterilite Tub. I use gloves to keep contaminants / body oils off the nice clean brass. Once inside the tub, latch the handles and bring it inside and is added to my .45ACP rotation for loading purposes.
It is almost NO work on my part. The tumblers are doing all of the work. I may spent 15 minutes total in actual labor during this process (put walnut media & brass in tumbler in stage 1, empty tumbler in stage 1, put corn cob media & brass in tumbler in stage 2, empty tumbler (using gloves) in stage 2 and put into airtight Sterilite tub w/lid.
I like shiny brass. <50% of the brass in shiny inside and out. Those that aren't, are clean just not shiny. If I start shooting more, then I may change my process a little bit. It doesn't hurt the brass to stay in media overnight so I'm not likely to change my processes much.
Post Script
I use these
Sterilite 1.2Qt to store Bullets & Boolits. I can see what is in there and I put a label on the outside with Manufacturer, Caliber, Bullet Profile Info & Date Purchased. I can put about 500 in each tub. @ $11.82 for 6, it's a pretty decent price. They stack well and my wife says it is a clean look (required since I reload in my home office)
I use these
Sterilite 2.7 Qt to store dirty brass of all calibers. I have several in the garage for dirty brass (separate by Caliber and in high volume calibers by H/S). Once clean they go onto a shelf in my office and are added to the rotation of clean brass to be reloaded.
