I got an RCBS Rockchucker Supreme master reloading kit last Christmas and still haven't gotten around to using it yet. I still haven't gotten the dies and the tumbler. I want to reload .357 & 44 mag. While shooting at the range I mentioned that to a club member and he told me I didn't really need the tumbler to get started. "That's just to make the brass look pretty". Just get the dies, powder, primers, & bullets. Wipe down the brass and make sure the primer pockets are scrubbed out with that tool. Is that true? How important is a case tumbler?

i have had a tumbler for 20 yrs. it was used once 20yrs ago. good luck jim

Yes, in my opinion you really "need" a tumbler, but perhaps not until your cases have been reloaded a few times.

It is not technically essential, but it will make your reloading so much more of a happy and relaxing experience that you will, in retrospect, feel it was essential. I.e., "How did I get along without one?" I have two, and find I am often using both at the same time, when in a hurry.

Clean, shiny cases mean reliable feeding, if dimensions are in specs. And clean cases aren't messy to handle. And you can be proud of them at the range. They also make it easier to spot contaminants, defects, and your own minor reloading errors, especially while learning.

It's nice to look at a box of reloads, tell yourself they are as good or better than factory ammo, and know in your heart that it is true. This is something not often understood by people who find excuses not to reload. Handloaded ammo honestly is better, if you are reasonably conscientious. The tumbler is a basic part of that equation.

The tumbler can clean other small parts and things if you are a handyman and do-it-yourselfer, as many of us are.

Clean cases are much easier on your sizing dies. Having a tumbler and using carbide sizing dies makes the whole reloading process a much more pleasant experience than it was when many of us started out long ago.

Be easy on yourself, if and when you can afford a good tumbler. But you can wait awhile, if funds are short.

I wouldn't reload without one, but that doesn't mean it is required. I find the tumbler an easy way to clean the brass which allows for thorough inspection.

What is important is the exterior of the brass is clean before resizing. Lots of folks use all kinds of methods to clean brass in ways other than tumbling.

Tumbling will not do much of anything to clean primer pockets.

You don't need one, but they are a real nice to have.

In a word, "no". I de-prime my 38 and 357 cases then use an ultrasonic cleaner to remove the powder and primer residue. This does not make them bright and shiny but it does clean them well enough that I don't have to be ashamed of them. That said, I plan to get a tumbler and stainless steel media because shiny cases are -- well -- shiny.

No, you do not need one. Dirty brass will load and shoot as well as clean brass.

Of course you will be getting carbon,lead and other nasty debris on you hands, dies and press and be the laughing stock at the range for have yucky looking ammo.

You can wash brass in a bucket of water with one gal of water, 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt. Let it soak for 20 minutes or so and then rinse the brass in fresh water real well(triple rinse it) Save the washing solution for re use.
Then lay it out in the Sun to dry.
Your brass will be clean but not real shiny.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

You don't NEED a tumbler, but you NEED a dial caliber and a case trimmer. In my experience, after about 3 reloads, 357 mag and 44 mag brass will grow to excede max case length. When you get an occasional sticky extraction it may be because the case is too long.

I shot a S&W M52 with dirty brass for 4 years. It was military brass butterscotch brown and worked flawlessly resized with a carbide sizer die.. After I got a tumbler, I shot shiny brass. M52 didn't care, fellow shooters congratulated me about my shiny brass. I did shoot my best score ever one night with shiny brass. I was harassed forever to "shine my brass."

Oh Final Point: I NEVER clean primer pockets.

__________________
S&WHF 366

Simple answer-YES

__________________
T. Johnson

Dirty brass will wear away on your reloading dies, especially carbide dies. Also dirty brass might cause sticking cases in any reloading die.

Also dirty bras could cause sticking cases in an auto loader or revolver therby leading the shooter to thinking they have "hot" loads.

I use a simple Lyman Turbo Tumbler with walnut media bought at the pet store, cheaper than reloading/tumbler media.

Therefore I vote "yes" you should get a tumbler. You don't have to tumble until shiny, just get the grit off.

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

I reloaded for many years without one. Once I got one I really like having clean cases and factory new looking reloads.

The tumbler really isn't needed. You can always take a rag to wipe off any really dirty cases, moisten with a little bore cleaner to get rid of any real bad stains if they bother you.

I would not run dirty brass through my Carbide dies.

It's always better to work clean than dirty. The job always comes out better no matter what the job is. Working clean is safer and like said above, clean brass is easier to examine for damage. (I guess that would be a yes for me)

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I'm a bit anal about case inspection before reloading my brass, and a tumbler (I have a Thumler's, and will never own anything else) is vital to getting the brass clean enough to detect flaws and impending splits. It looks nice, it's easier to find in the grass or on gravel, and it keeps my dies from getting grit scratches. I consider it a necessity.

Some of us wash our brass.
Some of us tumble our brass.
Some of us do both.
Some of us do neither.
Take your pick.

Personally, I don't like handling dirty brass and SWMBO likes shiny brass, so guess what I do.

__________________
Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

A tumbler is a MUST HAVE IMO

Wife & I pound ammo through our guns at matches, I just dump the dirty brass in the tumbler for a couple hours and ready to run through the resizing dies.

Frankfort Arsenal has them cheap (midway) $30 - $40

Corncob media is what I have been using and still on the first fill of the tumbler, stuff lasts a long time, worth every penny to me.

Gets the dirt mud powder residue all off in a couple hours.

Which company makes the most quietest tumbler?

The actually "vibrate" unless you get a really expensive true tumbler that goes round and round.

They all make noise. Between the major brands they are pretty much the same.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Like OCD1 said, they're all noisy.
But you can minimize the noise by placing it on a solid surface like a sidewalk or driveway.
The cement floor of a garage or basement works pretty well also, but the vibratory type puts out some dust which may contain lead residue, so be careful when using indoors.

A few 2", or so, squares of used drier sheets will help keep the dust down and keep the media clean longer.
Adding a tablespoon or so of NuFinish will also keep the dust down and kick the shine up a notch or two.

__________________
Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

I run mine in the garage on a rubber mat so it does not "walk around"

But I change my media regularly so I only need to run it 2 to 3 hours on a timer.

These people that say they use the same media for a year or more are crazy. Think of how much junk is in there and that's why they run it for 12 hours or more. How much is bulk media in the scheme of things??????

Long story short, you need to clean your brass some how or you will die a slow horrible death and people will laugh at your ugly ammo

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Purely cosmetic, you certainly don't need one (at least I haven't seen the need in the 40 years I've been handloading).

That said, I suspect you need one if you're a Kalifornian.

Some days a jigger full just won't cut it

__________________
Forum consigliere

Quiet is a relative term when it comes to tumblers...

Cabela's Model 400 tumbler is a great product. It's made by Berry's and the only difference is the Green Cabela's is cheaper than the Blue Berry's tumbler. It's quieter than most from what I've seen and it does a great job on my brass. IMO it's well worth the price.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I've loaded brass dirty & I've loaded brass clean.

IMO you need a tumbler. The crud I cleaned out of my dies from dirty brass was... welll....can't be doing any good.

I got over the shiny brass fetish. Now I just dump it in the vibrator with lizard litter (crushed walnut), a dollop of Nu Finish & let it go overnight. Clean & shiny but not the blazing sheen you get with cob.

SWMBO also likes shiny brass.

I vote yes on the tumbler.