Learn from My Tumbler Mistake

[magnum12pm]

I have worn out two Lyman's in three years, 2200 & 2500 models. This time I opted for a more serious model from Dillion, I hope it lasts longer than those Lyman's did. You will notice the difference in the motors in my pics. The moral of the story is go for a serious tumbler as I have more money wrapped up in two Lyman's than the much heavier duty Dillion, should have went with it to begin with. I am a little p-ssed off at my stupidity at this point.

 

[canoeguy]

How many rounds do you load a month? I have an unknown brand tumbler I got from the Sportsmans Guide in 1992 for $39, it has been trouble free. Wild guess as to number of cases tumbled, probably 50,000 or more.

 

[505Gibbs]

How many rounds do you load a month? I have an unknown brand tumbler I got from the Sportsmans Guide in 1992 for $39, it has been trouble free. Wild guess as to number of cases tumbled, probably 50,000 or more.

I'm also VERY curious as the round count as well as wanting to know how long do you run each batch?
Unless the brass is extremely dirty I wouldn't think you'd run much more than an hour or so.

 

[magnum12pm]

How many rounds do you load a month? I have an unknown brand tumbler I got from the Sportsmans Guide in 1992 for $39, it has been trouble free. Wild guess as to number of cases tumbled, probably 50,000 or more.

I load for two shooters, 38s, 45s, 40s, and 9mm. I'm not sure how many, but doubt it would be 50K. The first tumbler motor just quit, the 2200 is still running but barely. I don't have an answer for my bad luck! It could be 50K over the entire three years, just a guess.

 

[Sebago Son]

Consider RCBS Instead.....

I have an RCBS that I bought in 1980 that has had innumerable cases tumbled in it.... both of my sons and I use it....

It will do 500 .44 or 200 30-06 cases at a time, and is in nearly continuous use.

RCBS has replaced it twice in 29 years and never without a hint of hassle.

 

[Rule3]

Why settle for a wimpy Dillion???

Cement Mixers - Portable & Electric Cement Mixers | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[magnum12pm]

Why settle for a wimpy Dillion???

Cement Mixers - Portable & Electric Cement Mixers | Northern Tool + Equipment

Don't think I didn't consider a cement mixer with my bad luck maybe I should have went that route. I am going to keep those links incase this Dillion chokes, I'll buy a cement mixer the next time darn it!!

 

[Swissman]

I did it my (dad's) way

Runs since ca. 10 years without one problem. Swissdad welded
the frame, and the tumbler. It's big and strong enough for 200 454 casull - cases. The long basket for the tumpler-media is selfmade too.

The transformer and the timer was the part, we had to buy. (US$ 60.--) if I remember it right.

Swissman

 

[LubeckTech]

I have a Lyman Pro 1200 that I bought about 4 years ago and so far have about 25k rounds thru it. The top works as a built in media seperator. Has anyone ever tried a motorized ice cream freezer as a cheap high capacity tumbler? It may not move the cases around enough sitting vertically but tilted at a 45 degree angle might work if it did could be a cheap (with Harbor Frieght #12 grit walnut shells) way to do a lot of cases.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I have had the Dillon magnum 2000 (earlier version of yours) for about 23 years now, and have tumbled an emormous amount of brass in it. It has never balked even once at doing its job. I couldn't be more pleased with any of my reloading equipment. It does the job quick too. You will be satisfied with yours too. I really appreciate the way Dillon stands behind their products. I just found the receipt from my 550B. I bought it in Sept. of 1988. It hasn't ever given me one problem either. Get the Dillon case/media seperator that is sized to match your new tumbler. It works just as well as all of their products.

 

[Bat Guano]

Back in the early 1980s I bought an el cheapo tumbler. When it very predictably conked out, I put it out of my misery with an axe. (It felt good.) I then bought a Lortone which has tumbled a LOT of brass in the past 30 (?) years. I just keep the bearings lubed and it just keeps running. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

 

[magnum12pm]

I have had the Dillon magnum 2000 (earlier version of yours) for about 23 years now, and have tumbled an enormous amount of brass in it. It has never balked even once at doing its job. I couldn't be more pleased with any of my reloading equipment. It does the job quick too. You will be satisfied with yours too. I really appreciate the way Dillon stands behind their products. I just found the receipt from my 550B. I bought it in Sept. of 1988. It hasn't ever given me one problem either. Get the Dillon case/media separator that is sized to match your new tumbler. It works just as well as all of their products.

I just tossed in about 200 9mm, to test it out as I just got it yesterday, in an hour they were looking like new. I also have a few Dillon products such as the 550B press. I also have been very pleased with their products, except went for savings on the Lyman tumbler and saved nothing in the long run. Oh well! live and learn.

 

[magnum12pm]

Back in the early 1980s I bought an el cheapo tumbler. When it very predictably conked out, I put it out of my misery with an axe. (It felt good.) I then bought a Lortone which has tumbled a LOT of brass in the past 30 (?) years. I just keep the bearings lubed and it just keeps running. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

I never heard of a Lortone.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I have had as much as 50 .416 Rem., 50 .340 Weatherby, 50 .300 Win mag (long ones), 50 /06 sized cases (.280 , 25-06 etc), along with another 4-500 rounds of various handgun cases in it at one time, and it still cleaned them all in about 1 hours time. It just flat does the job.

BTW, that used to be from just one weeks normal shooting, so it has done that on many occasions for me. I can't find enough primers to keep up that pace right now.

 

[DJINCO]

I have a Thumbler vibrating rock tumbler. It is designed for 12 lbs of rocks. It works very well for brass. Works well on rocks also!

 

[oldRoger]

My old Lyman, 20+ years, works fine but is in retirement in favor of a Thumbler's Tumbler. Quiet with a load of brass, no dust, can be used wet if you want seal is water proof.

 

[Waldo]

I purchased a Lortone tumbler from Gil Hebberd about 1975. It was made for polishing rocks but works well on brass. I still have it and it still works. I bought the big one from Dillion in the mid 1980's. It holds a lot more then the Lortone and works well also. I have no idea how much brass I cleaned with it. Last year a motor mount broke. I shipped it back to Dillion and they sent me a new one. I got my first Dillion press before they sold direct. Got it from a wholesaler in PA. I think it was a model 350. I was and am completely happy with Dillion.

 

[Amici]

Bought a Lyman tumbler 20 years ago; it's still working fine.

Corncob, walnut; treated, untreated - cleans with all of them. Just don't be insane with the amount of brass - if it's so full the tumbler cannot agitate the cases, it cannot clean them.

 

[magnum12pm]

Bought a Lyman tumbler 20 years ago; it's still working fine.

Corncob, walnut; treated, untreated - cleans with all of them. Just don't be insane with the amount of brass - if it's so full the tumbler cannot agitate the cases, it cannot clean them.

Its just that you would think a decent motor in these tumblers would last for 10s of thousands of hours, after all it really is under very little load. It simply is spinning a very light counter weight on a shaft causing vibration. I think they are just cutting cost using a $1.50 Chinese motor.

 

[Dale53]

I bought a Large Dillon when they first came out (they only had the large one at the time) and it has worked flawlessly since then (thirty years or so). I competed in IPSC (75,000 rounds of .45 ACP in five years and my two sons probably shot half that) plus all of the rifle cases while shooting three gun and big bore. I has been just a super piece of gear.

Dale53