Stainless Steel Media

[jaybet]

Does anyone have any experience with stainless steel tumbling media?  I was thinking of trying it, but I dry tumble and I have the impression that you must wet tumble with stainless. Also, it must be really tough on the brass.
Any advice?

[ellis4538]

Jay, FWIW the only thing I have ever heard about SSM is from another non gun related forum.  They use it successfully to clean brass and it doesn't seem to be a problem.  You might join Brian Enos Forum or check it out.  They have a reloading thread.  Just search SSM or start a topic and ask.

Richard

[jaybet]

Thanks

[tombogan03884]

There was a thread about it a few years ago.
Billt tried it.


http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=14092.0

[PegLeg45]

Jay, check out Southern Shine Tumblers on facebook......Ryan is a guy within 60 or so miles of me who builds tumblers (kind of expensive) and sells some of the best media (doesn't get stuck in primer pockets or case necks). I bought five pounds from him to use once I finish construction of my own tumbler design.

There are several other fb groups related to case tumbling.

https://www.facebook.com/southernshinetumblers



Most guys on a budget buy rock tumblers off ebay or Harbor Freight for under a hundred bucks. They just won't do large batches.

Jerry Miculeck uses a cement mixer to wet tumble his brass, and I's talked on fb to several other high volume shooters who do as well.


Most of the guys I've talked with get outstanding results using a formula of ArmorAll car wash, Lemishine, and regular Dawn detergent.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Thanks Peg. It sounds like a lot of work to me. I shine them, load them, and get them dirty again. I think wet tumbling is a little out of my league for my setup.

[Bidah]

I have looked at it several times, and I boil it down to how much do I care what my brass looks like.  In the end, I don't really care all that much.  I tumble it to where it is decent looking, and reload. There is extra time involved with drying the brass, rinsing, etc..   Heck, Jerry has a dedicated oven to dry his with.

[alfsauve]

Jerry has a dedicated dishwasher to rinse and dry his in.   The man probably goes through 10,000 rds a month of various calibers.

I don't have a tumbler and the medium is expensive and all that washing and rinsing and drying.  If I were into bench rest or F-class, maybe, but I don't think it affects my 9mm or .38 enough to warrant the trouble or expense.

[TAB]

I use corn cob or walnut shells with a dab of nufinish.   its old school, but works.


the only reason I could see using a SS or other non-consumable media is if you are going to we tumble.

[jaybet]

Yep...this is about what I figured, and thanks for the responses. I was using walnut, but the rouge color was aggravating too, so I'm back to the greenish colored kitty litter stuff. It works well enough, cleans the major gook off, and that's all I need. I don't need to add a wing to the garage for brass production.