Stainless media tumbling ?

[Erik Cortina]

I used to:
1. Deprime with Lee universal decapping die.
2. Tumble with STM
3. Anneal
4. F/L size
5. Clean lube off from F/L sizing
6. Trim with Giraud trimmer
7. Prime
8. Load

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size and deprime at same time
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

I can now load much faster and have eliminated two steps from my reloading process, which saves a lot of time when loading thousands of rounds a year. I use a 21st Century Hydro press and there was no difference between annealing before STM or after.

I do not lube necks for seating bullets, but I do add about 1 oz. of Armor all car wash and wax to my water when tumbling in addition to dish soap and lemi shine. I find that it leaves a very light wax film, which helps bullet seat super smooth in my necks.

 

[Cigarcop]

Yes I agree wiping those cases off SUCKS!! Lol

 

[nhm16]

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

So there's no problem running an uncleaned fired case through your FL die? Does the annealing just fry everything off? My current workflow is basically the same as your original workflow, for step 5 I just run it through the STM for 15 minutes, but I'd love to able to only run it through the STM once.

 

[Erik Cortina]

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size and deprime at same time
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

So there's no problem running an uncleaned fired case through your FL die? Does the annealing just fry everything off? My current workflow is basically the same as your original workflow, for step 5 I just run it through the STM for 15 minutes, but I'd love to able to only run it through the STM once.

My brass never hits the ground, so I have no issues running "dirty" brass through die. I apply die wax by hand so I can feel if there is any dirt on the case. If so, I wipe it with a paper towel and lube again.

The annealing doesn't fry everything off, it simply does it's thing and the STM cleans the case like any other time.

 

[johnnyi]

I used to:
1. Deprime with Lee universal decapping die.
2. Tumble with STM
3. Anneal
4. F/L size
5. Clean lube off from F/L sizing
6. Trim with Giraud trimmer
7. Prime
8. Load

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size and deprime at same time
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

I can now load much faster and have eliminated two steps from my reloading process, which saves a lot of time when loading thousands of rounds a year. I use a 21st Century Hydro press and there was no difference between annealing before STM or after.

I do not lube necks for seating bullets, but I do add about 1 oz. of Armor all car wash and wax to my water when tumbling in addition to dish soap and lemi shine. I find that it leaves a very light wax film, which helps bullet seat super smooth in my necks.

What is the Magic time to tumble brass to not ping necks, but long enough to clean the primer pockets? Are you using expander ball when resizing?

 

[Erik Cortina]

No expander ball. I use a custom bushing die.

I tumble for about 30-60 minutes. I don't worry about neck mouths because I trim afterwards.

 

[warbird2006]

I used to:
1. Deprime with Lee universal decapping die.
2. Tumble with STM
3. Anneal
4. F/L size
5. Clean lube off from F/L sizing
6. Trim with Giraud trimmer
7. Prime
8. Load

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size and deprime at same time
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

I can now load much faster and have eliminated two steps from my reloading process, which saves a lot of time when loading thousands of rounds a year. I use a 21st Century Hydro press and there was no difference between annealing before STM or after.

I do not lube necks for seating bullets, but I do add about 1 oz. of Armor all car wash and wax to my water when tumbling in addition to dish soap and lemi shine. I find that it leaves a very light wax film, which helps bullet seat super smooth in my necks.

Hi Erik
Do you anneal the brass every time? I have annealing machine, but I use the lee colett die and it does not like soft brass.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I used to:
1. Deprime with Lee universal decapping die.
2. Tumble with STM
3. Anneal
4. F/L size
5. Clean lube off from F/L sizing
6. Trim with Giraud trimmer
7. Prime
8. Load

The problem is that I hated cleaning the lube off the sized cases, so I changed my reloading steps to these:
1. Anneal
2. F/L size and deprime at same time
3. Tumble in STM (cleans the cases inside and out, including lube from F/L sizing)
4. Trim with Giraud trimmer
5. Prime
6. Load

I can now load much faster and have eliminated two steps from my reloading process, which saves a lot of time when loading thousands of rounds a year. I use a 21st Century Hydro press and there was no difference between annealing before STM or after.

I do not lube necks for seating bullets, but I do add about 1 oz. of Armor all car wash and wax to my water when tumbling in addition to dish soap and lemi shine. I find that it leaves a very light wax film, which helps bullet seat super smooth in my necks.

Hi Erik
Do you anneal the brass every time? I have annealing machine, but I use the lee colett die and it does not like soft brass.

Yes, I anneal every time.

 

[people]

I used to:
1. Deprime with Lee universal decapping die.
2. Tumble with STM
3. Anneal
4. F/L size
5. Clean lube off from F/L sizing
6. Trim with Giraud trimmer
7. Prime
8. Load

My number 5 is 30 min in the media. I do not always trim. Granted my brass hits ground, mud, and sometimes blood.