Tumbler suggestions?

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Classified00

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Howdy all,

I'm looking to buy my first tumbler and I'd appreciate any suggestions. I expect to clean 200 rounds of .44 mag or .45 ACP per month.

Also, are the primer pockets for .44mag and .45 ACP small or large? (I want to pick up a primer pocket cleaner)

Thanks!
:cool:
 
Vibrating cleaners, aka tumblers, are not rocket science. I would stay away from the cheap ones. The expensive ones are probably great but the extra money might be better spent elsewhere.

I have a Berry Mfg which works well and is reasonably quiet. I had a Frankfort Arsenal unit that I could hear at the other end of the house. With RCBS, Lyman, Dillon, et al, you are probably paying some for the name but if you have some problems early in the life of the tumbler, it may be easier to get it corrected.

As a rule, I avoid Harbor Freight stuff. I have never been burned, but most of things I have bought from them have not lasted well. But others have had good luck with Harbor Freight stuff.

Generally, 44 Magnum and 45 ACP brass have large primer pockets in them. But, occasionally, someone makes brass with small primer pockets.

Hope this helps.
 
I have a Lyman and a Berrys. Very happy with both of them. My first Lyman (1200) lasted a very long time.

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I have two of the Cabelas ones, work great and are quiet. Plus if one fails you can put it back in the box and head up there and exchange it on the spot.
 
Classified00 - I'm going to suggest the least expensive route for the low volume of cleaning that you indicate you're going to do. Get a SmartReloader NANO tumbler for $25 buck from here http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant...ct_Code=vbsr005-7&Category_Code=Case+Tumblers

Go to your nearest feed or pet store and buy a big bag of crushed walnuts, usually found in the lizard bedding area. Lastly, make a trip to Walmart or your favorite 99 cent/Dollar store and buy a large pasta/noodle strainer that will fit over the mouth of a bucket. You'll have all you need for less than $50, and it has a 2 year guarantee. It may be a few bucks less at Natchez Shooting Supply, but it is currently out of stock and the shipping charges may not be as low as F&M Reloading.

I have one, and tumble a minimum of 150 rounds of 45ACP and 150 rounds of 9mm every week. Works like a champ, relatively quiet and low cost. Sift the casings through the pasta strainer over the bucket, rattle them around by hand to empty the casings, and away you go.

The Lee primer pocket cleaner may be your best and low cost option for the small number of priper pockets you'll be cleaning. I've found that it isn't necessary to clean every one of them (I deprime before tumbling), and the Lee tool cleans large and small pockets.

Just my input.
 
Classified00 - I'm going to suggest the least expensive route for the low volume of cleaning that you indicate you're going to do. Get a SmartReloader NANO tumbler for $25 buck from here http://www.fmreloading.com/Merchant2...=Case+Tumblers
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I'll take exception to this. Why buy a chinese knock-off being sold by an Italian Company? Buy the Cabelas mentioned in post #4, same thing as a Berry's, if fact made by them, made by Americans, sold by Americans, guaranted by Americans. True it does cost slightly more but not that much being as you end up with everything you need. Plus Cabelas will stand behind it forever, read the warrenty of the smart/reloader, it says to return to Italy. Ya, sure.

As far as more media, here you go, $23 bucks and change for 40 lbs shipped to your door free of charge. Plus this is the size that won't plug bottle neck cases, primer pockets, or flash holes. http://www.drillspot.com/products/521055/econoline_526040g-40_40_lbs_blast_media

Hope this helped.
 
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I recommend Dillon tumblers. They are the best made and quietest tumblers available. You can watch TV while tumbling brass in your living room.
 
There's precious little difference in vib tumblers; cast plastic bowl, base and lid, cheap shaded pole motor, half dozen springs and a power cord. How long any one lasts depends on the individual motor and that's chance, not brand.

How much noise a tumbler makes depends on how tight the few screws, nuts & bolts are. The usual culprit is the nut holding the bowl down, seems a lot of people assume the makers set it "right" and are to timid to tighten it enough to stop the rattle; I'm not, so both of my two Lyman tumblers run pretty quite.
 
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I don't think so. Dillon's plastic is five times thicker than the rest and of better quality. The motor is made in Japan, not China and is twice as quiet. It's like comparing a BMW to a Yugo.
 
That's nice. I had two Midway units. The first lasted a week. The second lasted 17 years. When I bought my Dillon, I was shocked at the quality. Shocked. I always thought the same thing, overpriced Chinese crap, but boy was I surprised.
 
My Cabelas "made by Berry" has been humming along just fine for 8 years now with no let up yet. If and when it ever gives up the ghost they'll replace it, no charge. All this for my orginal cost of $39.00. I fail to see how It can get any better. Yes I know the motor is from china but all other parts are made in the U.S.A.

Can you say the same for your computer?

It's like comparing a BMW to a Yugo.
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I assume the Dillon is the BMW, what brand of tumbler are you comparing to a Yugo, which BTW was a rebadged Fiat, assembled in Yugoslavia.
 
I'm comparing Dillon to the rest which are built with the same level of quality.
 
The Cabela's tumbler can be had for $49.99 instead of $65 like in the link above if you don't want the other stuff. The Cabela's 400 tumbler is the same exact 400 tumbler as Berry's except in green, they make it for them. (and it costs less) I bought the Cablea's tumbler when my Dillon took a dive and I'm very happy with it. It's strong and it's quiet.
 
WOW! Talk about being biased. Nothing but Dillon is good enough! Its amazing the rest of the reloading manufactures are able to stuggle enough to stay in business.
 
Talk about inexperience. Have you even looked at a Dillon up close?
 
Talk about inexperience. Have you even looked at a Dillon up close?
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Are you suggesting I'm inexperienced? You do not even know me, we have never met. I've been reloading since the latter 50's early 60's, I forget just when I started. I own equipment from all mfg, encluding Dillon.

Have I even looked at a Dillon, YUP I have, yes its built heavier, but the Cabelas gives just as good a warrenty with a third less cost.

Like your sig states WANTED:

People to know what they are talking about before they post.
 
i skimped and got the harbor freight tumbler. it did great for several months, but then one day i ran it for about 8 hours straight and it got really hot. Also ate up the threads on the post in the middle where the wingnut goes. i think i overtightened it. i put a spacer on so i can still tighten the wingnut and it still works. it's a little louder now. i got the $10 replacement plan, so i plan to take it back and get a new one when that is about to run out.

i found a cabela's tumbler that had hardly been used for real cheap on craigslist. it is much quieter.
 
I have a Hornady M2 that I use with Harbor Freight's walnut media, only noisy if I put too many cases in it.
 
I have the Thumler's Tumbler Vibratory. Bought it used for something like $75, this thing rocks. I can leave it running for weeks and not care. It won't get much past nice and warm. The plastic of the bowl is over 1/2" thick. Shows no signs of wearing out, and I am the second owner!
 
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