Which tumbler is the best/worst?

31 March 2002, 09:53

I'm planning on buying a brass tumbler soon, and I'd like to get some opinions on which brand and model to buy. Mostly I would like to hear which tumbler NOT to buy. If you've had problems with a certain brand, I'd like to know.

Nashcat

31 March 2002, 12:34

<tula9130>

MidwayUSA has the M1292 tumbler and it has served me very well.

31 March 2002, 12:53

Eddie

I had a Lyman 1200 that lived in the garage for about 20 years before it cashed in. I have the Midway now. Bought it used about a year ago. Runs about six to eight hours each week, sometimes more; so far, so good.

Eddie

31 March 2002, 17:48

Kentucky Nimrod

I have the big Dillon and its the only way to go if you reload in any quantity. Its nothing to do 300-500 .308 cases at a time!

31 March 2002, 17:58

<.>

If you're serious about accuracy you don't want to be banging up your case necks in a vibrator full of walnut chips.

They're fine for pistol ammo and plinking stuff. But tumblers nick and work harden the necks.

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31 March 2002, 18:12

contendernut

I'd go with the Dillon or Vibra-Shine. IMO, they are two of the better tumblers on the market. Midway's no longer have the lifetime warranty and they kinda gave me a hard time getting a return number to return it even though it was recalled for fire hazard.

31 March 2002, 18:32

ricciardelli

I have two Lyman 2200's. They may not be either the best or worst, but they do a good job.

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31 March 2002, 19:02

Robert D. Lyons

I also like my big Dillon.

31 March 2002, 20:28

Holmes

quote:
Originally posted by ricciardelli:
I have two Lyman 2200's. They may not be either the best or worst, but they do a good job.

Agreed.

Economical and reliable.

~Holmes

01 April 2002, 00:37

<Jï¿½rgen>

I had a Lyman 2200 and gave it away for a Midway tumbler , the Lyman was good but removing the pot was a pain in the a....! I molycoat all my bullets and therefore I`ll have to switch the pots quite often , but the Midway has killed itself within a few hours , it vibrated the insulation through to the bare copper wire and made a perfect flash while it did so !Now I have a Berry`s and I`m pretty happy with it !

01 April 2002, 01:10

Lloyd Smale

same here I have two and they have given me good service

quote:
Originally posted by ricciardelli:
I have two Lyman 2200's. They may not be either the best or worst, but they do a good job.

01 April 2002, 01:21

cricker

I bought a used RCBS several years ago. It broke within a few days of the purchase. I sent it to RCBS and they reconditioned it for free. Since that time it has worked flawlessly. Great product and a great warranty.
Regards
Rick

01 April 2002, 01:45

rcasto

The Big Dillon is a beautiful thing!

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RC

02 April 2002, 00:11

Nashcat

Thanks for the help, guys. I think I'll go with the Dillon. My gun dealer has one in stock that I looked at. Seems to be built really heavy, plus it matches my press. If it doesn't work as well as it should, I'll post back with the info.

Nashcat

02 April 2002, 00:45

Eddie

quote:
Midway's no longer have the lifetime warranty and they kinda gave me a hard time getting a return number to return it even though it was recalled for fire hazard.

I was a little worried after reading this because I had put off returning mine, but finally called for an RMA yesterday. The lady asked if I was certain it was affected by the recall and did I want a check for $7.95 to cover my shipping cost or 15 Midway Bucks. I was afraid they wouldn't honor the recall since I bought it used, but she said no problem. She said it would turned around in 24 hours.

I've had worse experiences.

Eddie

02 April 2002, 03:47

Alex Szabo

From a consumer perspective, they are all the same. It boils down to capacity.

I use the Dillon cv2000, excellent construction & encased ballbearings. Cleans up nicely with mineral spirits & is good to go.

I also use the midway version (much smaller in capacity) - same thing.

Ensure that the electric motor driving is an encased bearing assembly. that way you never have to fool with lubrication.

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Best regards,
Alex

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! - Benjamin Franklin 1759

03 April 2002, 19:03

HenryC470

I like my Vibrashine really well, but I think you'll like that Dillon you're getting.

I never did buy one of those squirrel cage media separators. A big spaghetti collander fron the Dollar Store does the job just fine for me.

H. C.

04 April 2002, 04:27

<Cobalt>

I had to return my MidWay recently after only 4 months of lite use. Cost $8 to return a $50 machine. Probably best to buy a quality Dillon. Cobalt

04 April 2002, 05:27

Matt in Virginia

I use an RCBS Sidewinder, however, if I were buying another unit greater capacity would be nice. The big Dillon unit comes to mind. The Sidewinder is nice and I like the timer, noise level, etc. However, the limited capacity can be an issue when you're loading on a progressive press for pistol ammunition. I find I have to run four or five batches of .45 ACP through to get enough to feed my RCBS 2000 for few hours. I DO recommend you get a media seperator. Worth a ton when you're doing volume.
Regards, Matt.

05 April 2002, 03:20

savageshooter

quote:
Originally posted by Genghis:
If you're serious about accuracy you don't want to be banging up your case necks in a vibrator full of walnut chips.
They're fine for pistol ammo and plinking stuff. But tumblers nick and work harden the necks.

Does anyone have a comment on this? If using a tumbler isn't the way to go for extreme accuracy, what's the best way to clean cases?

05 April 2002, 13:53

Pumpkinheaver

I've had a Midway tumbler for years and have never had a problem with it.

05 April 2002, 14:51

D Humbarger

I have a Lyman 2200 & it works great.

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Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member

05 April 2002, 15:14

Pa.Frank

wow. All you guys are working with pretty new stuff.
I'm still using my Thumblers Tumbler that I bought in 1972. My guess is that it has run about 100+ hours a year ever since. Only thing I ever have to replace is the drive belt.

Capacity is only about 75 or so 30-06's at a clip. but it has served me well.

I stopped using dry media for cleaning & polishing.
I now use about a pint of steel BB's, a cup of water and ONE DROP of dish soap. An hour or so in the tumbler, and even grungy brass comes out nice and bright. A quick rinse in clean water, and I lay them in the sun to dry on a towel.

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Don't tread on me!
Pennsylvania Frank

05 April 2002, 15:20

rogerinneb

I never tumble my rifle brass. I give the outside of the neck a quick twist back and forth with a little steel wool (you can buy brass wool from Brownells if you're anal). Then, I have an old varialbe speed/locking drill mounted to a short section of 2x6 with plumbing strap. I chuck an old bore brush with some steel wool wrapped around it. Spin it med/slow and polish/clean the inside of the neck. I usually give the brass a little rap tap tap on a piece of wood to make sure any bits of steel wool are not loose inside the case. Then I give the neck a quick twist in some moly coated shot, and run throught the Redding bushing die with Ti Nitiride bushing. No tumbling, no messy lube. Works for me. I've heard you want clean brass becuase dirty brass is hard on dies--other than that, I want clean necks for even neck tension. I'm no benchrest guru, but this works for me.

05 April 2002, 20:15

Frank Martinez

I bought a rock tumbler (polisher) about 20 years ago. It cleans around a hundred 06 cases at a time, has a belt driven electric motor, a rubber bucket and shines brass very well.
Someone mentioned neck hardening with tumblers? What should I look for? I've always been something of a stiff-necked-fool but I wouldn't want my brass getting stiffed too.
I also tried a Vibra-tek but what a loud and irratating thing that was.

[This message has been edited by Frank Martinez (edited 04-06-2002).]

06 April 2002, 00:11

John Y Cannuck

My Lyman 2200 works just fine.
Never heard of the work hardenning issue, I think it would be very hard to prove, unless you run the case cleaner with very little media. If said hardening does take place, it would be infinitesimally small compared to the hardenning caused by firing, and resizing operations.

06 April 2002, 19:36

Dr. Duc

I have a big Dillon that I bought from a friend's estate. We reloaded together for years and I know this thing used to run for DAYS at a time. It was old in 1989 and still chugs along.

07 April 2002, 04:55

Major Caliber

quote:
Originally posted by Genghis:
If you're serious about accuracy you don't want to be banging up your case necks in a vibrator full of walnut chips.
They're fine for pistol ammo and plinking stuff. But tumblers nick and work harden the necks.

Yeah right! Maybe if you shoot benchrest but 1/2moa rifles don't care if you tumble or not!

07 April 2002, 08:47

Alex Szabo

quote:
Originally posted by savageshooter:
what's the best way to clean cases?

Ultrasonic cleaning - by far is the best (leveraging technology).

Chemical cleaning is 2nd best.

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Best regards,
Alex

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! - Benjamin Franklin 1759