Suggestions on tumbler

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Wingrider72

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Looking at getting into reloading pistol cartridges and SLOWLY getting together a station. Boss gave me the "nod" to pick up a tumbler next, just hoping for any suggestions for a novice that is starting out on a single stage and not wanting to spend a load of dough.... Probably gonna run up to local Bass Pro Shops and see what they carry this afternoon.

Thanks,
Brian
 
I have a frankfort arsenal i bought from midway whenever they had the black friday sale for $30. I would highly recommend it.
 
Check out prices at Cabelas and Sportsmen warehouse also before you buy as they have some good prices. I use the Lyman with the two bowls. You can use the smaller one with the clear plastic lid for liquid cleaner if you want to.
The Coz
 
Very happy with my Lyman Turbo 1200 - got in during a sale at Midway USA.

I power it thru a $5 lamp timer from Harbor Freight. Set it and forget it.
 
The Frankfort tumbler is LOUD unless Midway has fixed it.

I have one and retired it early because of the noise.

I now have Berry Mfg's. They are quiet and work fine. Berry sells them to others like Cabelas.

I am sure the others are fine particularly if you can get a deal.
 
"Berry's or a Cabelas, same tumbler, buy it from cabelas for a forever warranty. "

Ditto, for the best price and they have ball bearing motors. Actually, there is precious little difference in effect between any of them.
 
Cabela's, Graf and Son's and the Midsouth tumblers are all the same Berry's 400 tumbler. If money's an issue I'd get one of them. If it's not I'd go with a Thumler.
 
whatever you get, don't buy the one from harbour freight. i made that mistake once.......it lasted about 2 months and locked up. i ended up getting the berry's/cabelas brand and it's much much better. plus, the warranty is super sweet. there are some other good ones out there too but this has just been my experience.......while you're at it, get yourself a timer to plug into the receptacle too. i got mine from lowe's for about 15 bones, then you can set it so you don't have to be in there when it's runnin'......
 
The only thing I didn't like about my Lyman Turbo 1200 is it had no on/off switch.
For $5 I fixed that.

Just bought a cord switch at the hardware store.
A snip here & tuck there on the cord & it's worked for over 2 years.
 
LYMAN 1200 for around $50.
I wore out, or they broke, a MIDWAY brand and one from GRAFF-- I thought, way too soon.

I shoot and reload on a schedule so I can figure about how many hours I run them, so far.
71/2 yrs on one LYMAN 1200 > 2340 hrs
6 yrs on another LYMAN 1200 > 1872 hrs
 
I have the Lyman with 2 bowls and it's been working well for 3 years now. I also have a more recent Hornady that hasn't seen too much action yet, but it does have an inline switch which is a nice addition. I'm going to find a switch for the Lyman.
 
I have worn out tumblers- the Midway/Frankford Arsenal tumbler, The Harbor Freight is the same, a sleeve bearing motor, gets full of dust, fails. There's a couple other major brands that are basically the same tumbler with a different color bowl that have the same sleeve-bearing motor.

I run my tumblers constantly during brass season. I have had the best results from the Berry's tumblers (Also Cabelas and Midsouth Shooter Supply). Ball bearing oversized motor, heavy gauge cord with three prong plug, good switch, heavy gauge plastic, and I load 5# of media and 5# of brass in one load with a splurt of NuFinish from time to time. I have run my oldest Berry's for so far going on 4 years with only annual cleaning and a light oiling of the motor. I have standardized on the Berry's style tumbler completely for my nearly commercial operation.

#5 of brass is about 500- 40 S&W, 600- 9mm, 400- 45 auto, 350- .223 REM

--and I'm a guy who used to use a cement mixer! so I know tumbling!

The best deal right now is from the E.A.Brown company.
http://www.eabco.com/store/products...bler_Cleans_Polishes_Brass_Cases-2055-58.html

$49 plus reasonable $8.95 shipping. Cheaper by about $10 or more than even buying form Berry's direct. Only Cabelas (on sale and you pickup at the store) is cheaper.
 
cfullgraf said:
The Frankfort tumbler is LOUD unless Midway has fixed it.
I have one and retired it early because of the noise. .
Click to expand...
Yes they did. I have the old/new FA tumbler along with Cabela's tumbler and the new FA has larger bowl and runs quieter but slower.

+1 on Cabela's (Berry's 400) tumbler. It's got larger capacity bowl (1000 9mm cases but I usually run 600-800 cases for faster tumbling) with clear lid and substantial nut than FA's new tumbler with a wing nut. It has larger, more powerful/quieter motor and runs faster yet runs quieter. BTW, according to Berry's MFG (who has a plastic molding plant in-house), the 400 tumbler is all USA made except for the motor.

I also recommend the media separator (on sale for $29) that has a tight fitting cover so you capture all of the media compared to FA unit that has small "wings" that does not capture all of the media.

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s7_214213_999_01?rgn=0,0,1870,1781&scl=4.jpg 972948.jpg
 
I picked up a vibratory tumbler from Harbor Frieght. It was fairly cheap, and has worked quite well for the past 4 years or so.
 
I can tell you this I first had a cheap Smart Reloader brand tumbler from natchez and it was absolute junk. Me and my buddy both bought one and these things are nothing but a firestarter. I think they should take them off the market both of ours would get hot and shut off, after a couple months use would smell like wires melting.

I threw it away after being in my reloading room one day while it was running and smoke started rolling out of it. I would definately say stay away from these.
 
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