Tumblers question

I have read reviews of the Thumbler model B and the Rebel 17.
A. Which tumbler do you recommend for cleaning pistol brass?
B. Do you recommend the 110 volt or the 220 volt models?

Thanks

I have the model B 110v.  Use for rifle as well as pistol.  I usually run 200 45ACPs at a time.

Midway usually has a good price on tumblers. Other places to check are MidSouth Shooters Supply, Graf & Sons, Widners, and Cabella's. No doubt, I'm leave out a lot of others.

I have a Thumbler Model B and run 500 cases of 45 acp at one time wet tumbling with SS pins. Never a problem.

I would go with the 110 model.


Virgil

This is what I use. I've used it for decades. I'm thinking that it will outlast me.
http://www.rocktumblers.com/rock-tumblers/rotary-rock-tumblers/lortoneqt12rotaryrocktumbler12lbcapacity.cfm

I got mine from Gil Hebard Guns.

Frankford Arsenal platinum series drum tumbler?  On sale at Midway right now. I've used mine 4 times-it'll do more cases and it's easier to use. - Now to see how it holds up -    Russ

To answer your question: I haven't seen the red one. - - I think the Rebel 17 is well made. The drum has a slide out rubber liner. --Russ

BE Mike wrote:This is what I use. I've used it for decades. I'm thinking that it will outlast me.
http://www.rocktumblers.com/rock-tumblers/rotary-rock-tumblers/lortoneqt12rotaryrocktumbler12lbcapacity.cfm

I also use a Lortone QT-12 that I bought used off ebay for around $100. I like the barrel because it has one screw to remove the lid and has never leaked.

How about the idea advanced by Jerry Miculek using a cement mixer?  I've seen the small plastic tub variety on sale at Home Depot or Lowes for about $200.  You might even be able to find a used one for less.  Or this from Harbor Freight (yuk).
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html

I like the large Dillon.  The cases are clean, dry and ready to inspect in an hour and it handles 700 cases at a time with ease.
If very shiny cases are needed go with the ss pins. 

Gus

I watched Jerry Miculek's video about how he cleans brass.  He processes 5 gallon pails full of range brass per batch.  He does wet tumbling in the cement mixer to clean the brass for 1 hour, drys the brass in an old oven for about 3 hours at 200F, then trims the rifle brass with the Dillon trimmer die in a single stage press, then polishes it in a vibratory with corn cob polish.

The interesting thing that he does is he wet washes the dirty corncob media in his cement mixer with dishsoap and he lets it dry for 3 days on a screen and it's good to re-use!  Who'd have thought about that!

Shooters,

I learned a long time ago that I do not have the time to surgically clean brass.  The owners of Star in San Diego convinced me to just wipe off the loose dirt and proceed with reloading.
RR tests with super clean brass vs "as is" showed no difference.

Miculek is a pro-- most of us are not.  The time I save can be devoted to my family or other
hobbies.

Do not construe my ravings to those who are involved with bench rest rifle reloadings.  It
is a whole 'nother world.  Those perverts can spend 12 hours preparing 50 BR cases before
reloading-- and they do!

Jerry

The only real tangible advantages are that shiny brass is easier to find and it shows faults quicker IMHO. I do take pride in my reloads and shiny brass looks nice, as well as, make me feel better when I chamber it in a nice expensive custom pistol.

Mike,

I do not take pride in my reloads, only in the X;s and 10s.  I do not feel any better when
I load them in my 40 year old Clark or Giles.

What doth the Good Book sayeth about PRIDE?

Jerry

Wait till you guys see my latest "invention".  The worlds cheapest wet tumbler!!
$10 2-gallon weed sprayer tank
2 scrap lengths of copper tubing wedged in the sprayer for agitators
$35 5lb bag of magnetic Stainless Steel tumbling pins from e-bay
$3 bottle of dawn
$3 container of lemi-shine powder

I set the weed sprayer tank on my treadmill and run it at 2mph for 2 hours and the brass comes out looking like brand new!!  I clamped a piece of wood across the track to keep the tank on the track.  Very fun.

Although Jerry Lehrer sees it as a waste of time I had fun rigging it up.

Oh, the batches are HUGE.  I ran 2 batches today and it's gotta be 5000 rounds of brass done already.  I shouldn't have to clean any until next spring!!

Stance,position,grip,sight alignment,trigger control and breath control. I don't remember reading anything in the book about pride. We are talking about the AMU pistol manual right?

lets not hijack the tumbling thread with an "I'm better than you cuz I'm practicing while you waste time cleaning brass" argument or "pride isn't for shootin".

Rob,

Wow, I'm afraid that I could not run at 2MPH for 2 hours straight.  My right knee has been destroyed by arthritis.

HAHAHAHA!  2mph is hardly a "run"!!  Sorry to hear about your knee.

Spent a previous shooting life NEVER cleaning brass.  Starting out my second life as a shooter I like my brass clean.   While I don't think it really matters my brass is dropped off downstaris to be cleaned before it can even come up stairs for loading.