Tumbling Live Ammo

Over the last month I've heard of two people who tumble their ammunition once they load it. One reason I have been given is that it removes the lubricant used in the sizing step from the brass. Will it remove the excess wax that accumulates around the case mouth when loading lead bullets? Is it safe? Is it worth the time? Thanks!

You will get a lot of differing opinions regarding this issue. Many will say it is a "dangerous" process -- others will say it will breakdown the powder making the powder faster burning; thus increasing the pressure spike when fired. Some will say they do it all the time without any issues.

I am in the last group. I have done it on occassion on old milsurp ammo without any ill effects. Have put some through a chrono that were tumbled and others that were not --- no difference. Also, I have read that most all the ammo manufactures tumble the rounds prior to boxing them - do not know if it is true - but have read it several times.

A believe a short tumbling cycle will not hurt anything. Do not think I would leave them in a tumbler "overnight!!"

Ofter wondered if tumbling was so dangerous - they would transport by other means that in the back of an 18-wheeler -- taking about getting knocked around - that would do it ...

If you are getting excess bullet lube on the case mouth, your flare, seat, and crimp dies are adjusted wrong, or the bullets are lubed wrong.......

Something else to try for small batches (100 handgun rounds) of reloads. Take an old bath towel and lay it out flat. Squirt some lighter fluid in the center of the towel and quickly pour on the ammo. Grab the short ends of the towel with one end in each hand and pick up and shake side to side for about 30 seconds. See what you get......

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I tumble mine for about 20min or so in dry corn cob media after loading just to remove case lube and fingerprints. Then remove and box with gloves on. They don't get touched with my fingers till they go in my gun. Mainly for the reason that the brass doesn't turn colors, and even after a year or so I still pull them out looking brand new. For some reason I just like mine to be purty till they get shot. It also makes them quicker to clean the next time.

I actually tried running a few very old store bought JHP rounds in the tumbler because the copper and lead looked funky where they met. What I noticed was that when I took them they had same very dull grey color on the lead part as is found on new store bought lead nose Remys.

I lke my ammo to look dirty. Most brass stealers leave my brass alone. When I started reloading htere was no such thing as a brass tumbler.

Doug

Doug Bowser wrote:.................. When I started reloading htere was no such thing as a brass tumbler.

Doug

Yeah.......... you put them in a sock and threw them into the washing machine with your UNDERWEAR...........

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I think Captain nailed it. It is my understanding that the ammo companies tumble just before boxing. I do tthis on occasion with no ill effects. Usually on mil-surp ammo that is tarnished and dirty. I don't tumble long, and don't overload the tumbler. As usual, do what you feel comfortable with. I am not advising to do this, nor saying it is not correct. D-451

I've ran a few unfired rounds with my brass of about an hour or 2. Nothing went wrong with them. It didn't remove the lox that was left on the boolits.

I had a live 30-06 round slip in with my fired brass that I poured into my rcbs sidewinder tumber then tumbled them WET for about two hours. I fired it on the 200 yard gong at Magnolia and it performed normally.

I'm not endorsing tumbling live ammo wet, just saying it didn't hurt that round in particular and there was no sealant on the bullet or primer.

SubGunFan wrote:

Doug Bowser wrote:.................. When I started reloading htere was no such thing as a brass tumbler.

Doug

Yeah.......... you put them in a sock and threw them into the washing machine with your UNDERWEAR...........

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In Ivory Snow soap.

Doug