Tumbling Media

[the_buckshot_kid]

Lizard litter from Petsmart.......Cheaper than ANY of the commercial stuff.....Add a cap full of NU_SHINE car finish and GTG.

That's what I've been using for 20+ years. 4-5hours in the tumbler...even the primer pockets are clean.

 

[824tsv]

I started using steel pins a few years ago. Works very well, no mess, no fuss.

 

[Luke Duke]

media

Harbor Freight sells walnut media cheap and it works pretty good.

 

[joeintexas]

I've had good luck too with the walnut from Harbor Freight, cleans good and is cheap.

 

[SMSgt]

I have used corncobs for years with a bit of Turtle Wax.

Somewhere out there is an un-waxed turtle.

 

[glowe]

Most every option is covered here, but I guess I am old-fashioned, since I only use what is labeled for use in tumbling brass cases. I just assume that these media manufacturers have done some testing and found what works best, so I don't have to.

Only caveat is that if you shoot much black powder or BP substitutes, corn cob media is not abrasive enough to cut through the discoloration. I use treated Walnut media and add Brasso to aid in polishing. Only found traces of red for a short time after adding new media or if I use it too long and gets dusty. Maybe the Brasso helps keep the case free of the red coating?? Lastly, I always polish brass with the primer in the case so as not to have problems with walnut media sticking in the primer pocket. No problems in the last few decades.

I know that there are cheaper options, but to me reloading is not a bargain basement exercise. Use the products designed for the purpose and you cannot go wrong. I am paying up to $2 a case for some of my reloading brass and want to treat it well.