Wet Tumbling Rifle Brass in small tumblers?

[SKMoss]

Hi again all.

I've been dry tumbling my pistol brass and it works fine. Not looking for ultra precise loads for IPSC shooting.

BUT with the move to load .308 (hopefully for competition) I think I want to go to wet tumbling. Looking at several wet tumbling videos it seems that people with rifle brass are using the big tumblers. And the small canister tumblers are reserved for pistol brass.

I have several old loritone tumblers (small canister) left over from rock hounding days that I could use, but don't know if the length of rifle brass would work. Brass is roughly 1/3 the diameter of one of those canisters. I wonder if the brass would just align side by side and not get media inside and primer pockets cleaned.

Anyone try the small canister type on rifle brass and have results?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[BrianC636]

I've tumbled .308 in a cheap HF tumbler and it worked fine. You just don't get many pieces in the containers but they come out as clean as pistol brass.

 

[farmerboy78]

Frankfort arsenal

 

[bayou5252]

I use a Thumler's model B high-speed for wet tumbling, but I've read many reports of those successfully using the smaller HF tumbler for wet tumbling rifle brass.

 

[USSR]

The Frankford Arsenal tumbler can be bought for $150. Best bang for your buck. Will hold hundreds of rifle cases.

Don

 

[tcook90]

I've got the HF dual drum tumbler, and just yesterday I tumbled 100 30-30 cases (50 in each drum). Worked fine.

 

[rjbmjb]

Should work well for small quantities. For large quantities, a larger barrel speeds up the process. I use an old Lortone qt-nr that I found on ebay. It looks to be about the size of their 6lb tumbler. I use it for everything from 9mm to 50 BMG with good results.

 

[SwaneeSR]

I have the Harbour Freight twin tumbler mostly for rifle brass. It works ok, but in hindsite I will I would have spent a little more on something larger like the Franklin. The smaller tumbler does the job, but not enough capacity.

 

[SKMoss]

Thanks all for the responses.

Sounds like the consensus is:

A) Small canister style will work ok for Rifle.
B) Bigger handles more volume.

I'll probably go ahead with the bigger. I load a lot of 9mm and the volume will be important. But I've got several smaller canister types I can still use for lower volume.

Again, THANKS!

Steve

 

[hdwhit]

It's not a small tumbler, but this video does illustrate one approach to wet tumbling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45HdldSxxo

What I take away from this is that the brass doesn't have to be sealed up in a water-tight container to be effectively tumbled. You may come up with something around the attic or basement that could be repurposed to do a great job for little cost. There are also numerous videos on Youtube of people who have built their own wet tumblers out of odds and ends that could be a source for ideas.

By the way, I have bought brass from this company, Aardvarkreloading.com, in the past and it was in good condition, very clean and quite shiny. They sell both mixed headstamp and same-headstamp lots.

 

[salpal48]

I use a Lortone 33B . You can fit Maybe 50 30/06 and tumble. Lortone like all american made machines are work Horses. . You will find they do a Great job.. I have 6 small tumbler , from 1.5 LB - 3 Lb. running all the time. Skilcraft, Sears, Star diamond.
You will be able to do a simple days shooting without problems. Cheaper, faster and Easy
Sal

 

[SKMoss]

Hi Sal,

The B comes in 2 configs, 2 regular canisters (same that fit the A model) or 1 double capacity. Can I assume you're talking about 50 in a regular canister size?

I have to go dig my old tumblers out of storage.

 

[mdi]

Yes, container size is relative to the amount of brass being cleaned, not the method. Most containers are sealed because the opening may be below the liquid level and may leak. I have some home made drums I use on my HF dual tumbler and I have experimented with wet tumbling. I didn't buy pins to try but I had quite a few small stainless steel cotter pins (ex-boat owner). The brass came out as many say, bright, shiny, squeeky clean. I don't care for the mixing, tumbling, rinsing, rinsing, drying procedure and my brass is very clean when I dry tumble it; pop it in, turn on the tumbler, sift it out....

 

[salpal48]

Yes, I am useing the 2 3lb. The single Drum was for The Tumble BEE and can Be used Hor that Machine
What tumblers do you have in storage That you want to Get rid Of
Sal

 

[1066]

I use an old rock tumbler for my rifle brass - works very well if you're not wanting high volume:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcyAkj-LzA8

 

[SKMoss]

Yes, I am useing the 2 3lb. The single Drum was for The Tumble BEE and can Be used Hor that Machine
What tumblers do you have in storage That you want to Get rid Of
Sal

Hi Sal,

Sorry sir, my old tumblers aren't going any where. As my garage can attest I never get rid of any of my hobby stuff. Never know when I'll need it.

Kidding aside. When I retire and have time I'll probably dig out a lot of the old hobby stuff, dust it off and start doing more, so I have a collection of priceless (junk) treasures.

 

[salpal48]

Thanks . Everyone has Good Junk
Sal