Wet Tumbling


Wet tumbling was one of the shortest lived techniques in my handloading process. It has no place in precision shooting.

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Thank you Greg. Wish I had read this 5 years ago. Despite buying an extra 5 lbs of pins and cutting rotary tumbling time to 30 minutes, I've had to neck turn the case mouths every few loadings to get rid of the lip and ensure easy chambering. Raided my wife's big bag of Calrose rice and have 50 cases in the vibratory tumbler right now.
 

Wet tumbling was one of the shortest lived techniques in my handloading process. It has no place in precision shooting.

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I tossed out my vibratory system because it left far too much residue inside & outside of the cases. Switching media only made the residue color change. I have been using the Rebel 17 tumbler with the SS pins ever since without any issues. I only occasionally tumble cases and mostly clean pistol and AR brass with it but I do clean brass for my bolt rifles too.

I find your rice report interesting and may give it a try. However, I'd like to try it in the Rebel because I no longer have a vibrating system. Have you tried the rice in a revolving tumbler?
 
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I use a RCBS rotary case/media separator to separate the pins from the brass. I place the cases on a towel on the shoe rack in the tumble dryer using the normal cycle (about 40 min). Once done, I prep the cases for reloading or if you prepped it before, you can reload the immediately once the cases are cooled down.

As for the pins, either on a towel outside in the sun, or in the dryer on a towel. I fold the towel double (over and under).
 
I tossed out my vibratory system because it left far too must residue inside & outside of the cases. Switching media on made the residue color change. I have been using the Rebel 17 tumbler with the SS pins ever since without any issues. I only occasionally tumble cases and mostly clean pistol and AR brass with it but I do clean brass for my bolt rifles too.

I find your rice report interesting and may give it a try. However, I'd like to try it in the Rebel because I no longer have a vibrating system. Have you tried the rice in a revolving tumbler?
I have it on good authority that rotary works too.
 
I use SS Chips. It is a royal pain in the ***. I will only wet tumbler my rifle cases. I use walnut for my pistol cases
 
I use ultrasound, I learned to love it when working in a laboratory. 2 rinses with RO water, then into my stainless basket sieve type.
In winter it is supended two feet above my wood cast iron stove in garage. In summer over an AC vent or the gas oven. It is a 1950s model and has pilots burning.
I clean what I have, never worry about the quantity.
 
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