Just a heads-up... I tumbled a bunch of .45acp and .380acp in the same batch. The .380 got stuck (along with a bunch of green media) inside the .45acp rounds. I had to pull them out with a needlenose. Don't know if it happens often, but if it had been a big batch, it would have been a pita.
Tumbling multiple calibers
- Thread starter bensdad
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Jumping Frog
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That is why I will sort the cases by size, then tumble, instead of tumbling then sorting.
Last time I sorted, I had .45 acp, 40 S&W, and 9mm (with a few range castoff .380 acp for good measure). A 9mm will nest inside a 40 S&W and a 40 S&W will nest inside a .45 acp. If I had tumbled first, it wold have been a complete PITA, plus the case insides wouldn't be cleaned.
I originally learned the hard way, as well.
Last time I sorted, I had .45 acp, 40 S&W, and 9mm (with a few range castoff .380 acp for good measure). A 9mm will nest inside a 40 S&W and a 40 S&W will nest inside a .45 acp. If I had tumbled first, it wold have been a complete PITA, plus the case insides wouldn't be cleaned.
I originally learned the hard way, as well.
I think the tumbler was first invented to get every possible case nesting combination automatically.
My tumbling experience has included:
Mixed calibers nesting - rookie move.
Using media that is too big to pour easliy back out of the case - rookie move.
Getting the media too wet with an additive - rookie move. It will cake up & harden in the case.
Overloading the tumbler - rookie move - but still almost tempting.
Now I tumble as soon after shooting as possible. I also load brass & media by volume to get replicatable results.
I am still a rookie - I just have the tumbling down better
Later,
WNTFW
My tumbling experience has included:
Mixed calibers nesting - rookie move.
Using media that is too big to pour easliy back out of the case - rookie move.
Getting the media too wet with an additive - rookie move. It will cake up & harden in the case.
Overloading the tumbler - rookie move - but still almost tempting.
Now I tumble as soon after shooting as possible. I also load brass & media by volume to get replicatable results.
I am still a rookie - I just have the tumbling down better
Later,
WNTFW
After a few years reading firearm forums, I am pretty much convinced better than 50% of reloaders learn the "nesting lesson" the hard way. There is something about sorting it after it is clean that just makes sense and then whammo, an hour or so with the needle nose pliars, another has learned a lesson!
Sport45
Member
I read that you can tumble mixed calibers if you put the larger ones in first and allow them to fill with media before dumping the next size smaller in. I tried this with .45acp and 9mm. It helped a lot, but didn't entirely eliminate the nesting problem. Of course it involves sorting twice....
JMorris,
Why is that, it goes in & won't come out. Check valve type of situation.
Some stuff I mix but not a whole lot. Mainly .270 & .30-06, I do keep my brass separate from range pickup though. I keep the 20 from 1 box together & back in the same box.
Later,
WNTFW
Why is that, it goes in & won't come out. Check valve type of situation.
Some stuff I mix but not a whole lot. Mainly .270 & .30-06, I do keep my brass separate from range pickup though. I keep the 20 from 1 box together & back in the same box.
Later,
WNTFW
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