case cleaning organic media vs. stainless steel (Read 2649 times)

kekoa

case cleaning organic media vs. stainless steel
« on: September 12, 2013, 05:08:08 AM »
Which is better and/or easier to clean cases for reloading, wet tumbler with stainless steel pins or your standard vibrating tumbler with a cleaning media?

Thanks

Hi state

Re: case cleaning organic media vs. stainless steel
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2013, 07:20:45 AM »
Heres some reading for u was at the bottom of the page
http://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=8653.0

justin1098

Re: case cleaning organic media vs. stainless steel
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2013, 09:37:41 AM »
This is another opinion thing.
wet stainless media
pros:
cleans inside and out
the tumble time is faster
doesn't create messy and possibly harmful dust
stainless pins don't wear out
cons:
expensive to start out
brass has to be dried
dings up the edge of the neck

dry media vibratory:
pros:
cheap
easy
cons:
messy
doesn't clean inside of case or primer pocket

the bottom line for me is, dry media does what needs to be done and I can throw my brass in again after sizing to remove lube and don't have to dry. The thing about cleaning the inside of the brass and primer pockets is not really important. Bench rest guys that shoot groups in the .1 inch range don't clean the inside of their brass, they just wipe off and reload. I stopped cleaning primer pockets too as it makes no difference. the inside gets dirty and doesn't get any dirtier. also the carbon on the inside of the neck is a good thing and can help with consistency. Wet tumbling seems like a lot of extra work for no improvement. I did a lot of testing with my 6mm bench rest rifle and this is what I have found.

K30l4

Re: case cleaning organic media vs. stainless steel
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2013, 10:00:26 AM »
@justin1098, thanks for your input. I was always wondering which is better. I think you put in the leg work for many who may be wondering which is better.

 I myself use a tumbler with walnut media. I also use some type of polish for the shine. The brass comes out cleaner than when in it went in. That's good enough for me.

Aloha, K