CMV
Member
I'll add this since I didn't see it mentioned about the HF tumblers: http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-drum-rotary-rock-tumbler-67632.html
This is the rotary rock tumbler with 2 drums. You can use it wet but you can also put some fine walnut media in it & tumble dry & get the same results as a vibratory tumbler. Doesn't hold as much, but you can get a decent amount in a batch & would suit your 200-400 cases just fine depending on caliber.
It is very quiet in operation. It does take longer than a good one, but it's quiet enough to let run overnight in the next room & it won't bother you. I have this and the FA vibratory. One thing I notice about the FA - really torquing down the wing nut (not ape enough to break anything, but good & tight) really quiets it down & improves the cascade action a noticeable amount. I use the FA most since it holds more, but it's nice to have both for the wet option, or to tumble 2 calibers at the same time you wouldn't want in the same batch like 9mm + .380, or to have a spare.
$44 w/ coupon is a pretty low cost option. They also sell the walnut media at HF but you have to pay attention to what 25 lb box you get. They have fine & medium. The fine is great but the medium will get stuck in flash holes like crazy.
Having said all that, If I had it to do all over again knowing what i know now, I'd get one of the larger capacity Lyman units & consider the higher price money well spent. Not only the capacity, but the more 'violent' action inside is a lot faster. When my FA dies some day (still going strong), that's what will replace it.
This is the rotary rock tumbler with 2 drums. You can use it wet but you can also put some fine walnut media in it & tumble dry & get the same results as a vibratory tumbler. Doesn't hold as much, but you can get a decent amount in a batch & would suit your 200-400 cases just fine depending on caliber.
It is very quiet in operation. It does take longer than a good one, but it's quiet enough to let run overnight in the next room & it won't bother you. I have this and the FA vibratory. One thing I notice about the FA - really torquing down the wing nut (not ape enough to break anything, but good & tight) really quiets it down & improves the cascade action a noticeable amount. I use the FA most since it holds more, but it's nice to have both for the wet option, or to tumble 2 calibers at the same time you wouldn't want in the same batch like 9mm + .380, or to have a spare.
$44 w/ coupon is a pretty low cost option. They also sell the walnut media at HF but you have to pay attention to what 25 lb box you get. They have fine & medium. The fine is great but the medium will get stuck in flash holes like crazy.
Having said all that, If I had it to do all over again knowing what i know now, I'd get one of the larger capacity Lyman units & consider the higher price money well spent. Not only the capacity, but the more 'violent' action inside is a lot faster. When my FA dies some day (still going strong), that's what will replace it.
