Bought my first tumbler in '83(?) and it's still going strong.All these methods will clean the brass and make it pretty,but I wouldn't put it in the washing machine or the dishwasher [emoji33]
Newbie Questions/Pistol Reloading
- Thread starter Redcoat3340
- Start date
gregintenn
Member
Clean brass isn't necessary.
Whatever 38 bullets you find a good price on will be fine.
I shoot 148 grain hollow base wadcutters, 158 grain wadcutters, and 158 grain lead round nose. They all pretty much shoot to the point of aim. Bullseye is a great powder for these.
My Rossi rifle won't reliably chamber wadcutters, so I mainly shoot the round nose in it.
3.6 grains of Bullseye topped with a 158 grain LRN is an accurate plinking load in my revolvers and rifle.
Loading handgun rounds is easier than rifle rounds because you rarely need to trim the brass, and with carbide dies, you don't need case lube. Just size/deprime, flare the case mouth, reprime, add powder and a bullet. I set my bullet seating die to crimp in the same operation as bullet seating. Some will tell you this isn't a good idea, but it works for me.
Whatever 38 bullets you find a good price on will be fine.
I shoot 148 grain hollow base wadcutters, 158 grain wadcutters, and 158 grain lead round nose. They all pretty much shoot to the point of aim. Bullseye is a great powder for these.
My Rossi rifle won't reliably chamber wadcutters, so I mainly shoot the round nose in it.
3.6 grains of Bullseye topped with a 158 grain LRN is an accurate plinking load in my revolvers and rifle.
Loading handgun rounds is easier than rifle rounds because you rarely need to trim the brass, and with carbide dies, you don't need case lube. Just size/deprime, flare the case mouth, reprime, add powder and a bullet. I set my bullet seating die to crimp in the same operation as bullet seating. Some will tell you this isn't a good idea, but it works for me.
Last edited:
JonF
Member
I clean my brass by tumbling using "lizard Litter" bought at the local pet shop. About $10 for a very large bag.
Couple of used dryer sheets absorbs most of the dirt and dust.
No scoring in any of my cylinders from crud on the brass.
Couple of used dryer sheets absorbs most of the dirt and dust.
No scoring in any of my cylinders from crud on the brass.
gregintenn
Member
Me too. A dash of NuFinish car polish really shines them up.
MasterTech1960
Member
I like to load clean brass. I think this makes the final product look better , may not help it to shoot better. I do not think it is hard to dump a couple hundred cases in the tumbler for a few hours. I then take it out side to empty and sort and check, leaving the dust out there too. When I shoot I leave the lead out there so I don't think the dust will matter 
David Milisock
Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
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reloading and clean brass
Loads here work for my revolver ONLY test your revolver first!!
I've been reloading for 30 years and tumble everything as a matter of practice, I then inspect all cases for damage, some of my brass has been shot many times. For the 38 (I have a model 10-5) I bought a couple thousand Winchester 125 grain JSP many years ago and use 3.5 grain of American Select for plinking. For field work I use the Hornady 125 grain XTP with 5 grain of American Select. I love my 38.
Loads here work for my revolver ONLY test your revolver first!!
I've been reloading for 30 years and tumble everything as a matter of practice, I then inspect all cases for damage, some of my brass has been shot many times. For the 38 (I have a model 10-5) I bought a couple thousand Winchester 125 grain JSP many years ago and use 3.5 grain of American Select for plinking. For field work I use the Hornady 125 grain XTP with 5 grain of American Select. I love my 38.
