Tumbler Search

[Bisley]

I am in the market for a dry media case tumbler. This would be for 1-200 .38/357 cases at a time, or similar capacity. Use it maybe a few times a month, and then store it for long periods of time as I travel. Amazon sells Frankford Arsenal, and Lyman tumblers in my price range ($75-90). I can clean cases with laundry detergent and hot tap water (too hot to handle), but they feel like the soap leaves a film, which I fear could kill primers and powder. The consumer reviews all seem to be either "great product," (overwhelming majority with 4 1/2 starts on Amazon); obvious manufacturer defect repaired under warranty (Frankford Arsenal); failure due to abuse (Read between the lines); and manufacturer defect with lousy customer service (Orange -- it's not just for bullet molds).

Should I prepare to spend more to get a quality product? Any experience with these items, or recommendations? Are there other brands I should consider?

Thanks,

Bisley

 

[Winelover]

Cry once and buy a Model B, Thumler's Thumbler. I had mine for over 40 years, with only a few (O-ring) belt replacements. Works for both wet or dry.

 

[popper]

I was using US for pistol and rifle, got the STM pin tumbler. Very good quality (belt is only plastic part) and does excellent job. 1-200 308 cases cleaned in 1/2 hr. Inside of 40sw are squeaky clean. Thumbler is more 'retail' quality.

 

[Rick H]

For your use the Lyman will be fine. I have one still going strong that I purchased in the mid to late 80s. The tub is getting a bit thin but I suspect I use it more often than than you are planning too.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. I use it often for small batches of cases, rarely more than a couple of hundred at a time.

 

[dannyd]

Almost any on the market today do a good job. I have a Dillon 500 used it about 30 years, but started using water and pins couple years ago. If I was going to buy new I would get it from Brownells. Brownells has lifetime return policy.

 

[waco]

Either the Lyman or the Frankford would serve you well.

 

[Winelover]

SS pins

Brass is much softer than stainless steel.

Only SS my brass is toughing is the chamber of my stainless steel barrels.

 

[waco]

Never seen wear on brass Fromm SS pins...?
Benefits from wet tumbling with SS pins.
Much cleaner brass. Inside and out.
Faster.
No breathing lead filled media dust.
Cheaper. Buy the SS pins once and you’re done.
Down sides.
Brass needs to dry.
Just my two cents.

 

[Rick]

I've only had two, used the Lyman for a couple of years but that thing was so noisy people down the street complained about it. Bought the Dillon and almost had to touch it to see of it was running it was so quiet. Bought a second one. I'm not a big Dillon fan, only things of theirs I have are the tumbler and an electronic scale But both the tumblers have been flawless (and quiet) since the 80's.

I didn't know anyone that I disliked enough to give the Lyman tumbler to so it went in the trash. Thankfully the trash collector did take it.

 

[Glaciers]

I like my noisy Lyman tumbler, works good. Maybe if I had my hearing aids in I might have a different opinion. Have a Hornady dry tumbler as well, happy with both.

 

[Winelover]

IME, dirty military brass will clean up nice and bright in my Model B. De-cap them and run for 1/2 hour in solution of water, Lemishine and a dash of Dawn. Put them out in the sun on concrete, while the next batch is in the tumbler.

SS pins are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

 

[waco]

I will agree that Dawn and Lemishine alone will do a pretty nice job. Just not as nice as adding the pins. This is referring to the inside of the case and the primer pocket.
I really don’t use the pins anymore either unless it’s a really grungy batch of .225/5.56

 

[Rick]

Have never used the pins, the bug to do so has never bit I reckon. I use corn cob in the Dillon with this.



Don't expect or need the tumbler to clean the primer pockets. I tumble before decapping. Once tumbled I decap and the Sinclair primer pocket uniforming tool besides uniforming the pocket is also an outstanding primer pocket cleaner.

 

[462]

I replaced a noisy, 20-plus-year-old Midway with the quieter Frankford Arsenal model, about two years ago, and am very satisfied with its performance.

Gave the old one to the local gun store owner to give to anyone who wanted it -- it was gone the next day.

 

[Winelover]

Been using Iosso case polish, for many years, to rejuvenate the dry media. Usually, use walnut shells or the finer Lizard bedding........... same stuff but for the coarseness.

 

[Rick]

Been using Iosso case polish for many years,

Well there ya go . . . Proof positive great minds do think alike.

 

[Winelover]

Only brass that is intended for a wet tumbler is decapped. The reason for this is to aid drainage and make sure the spent primer doesn't trap moisture. Dry tumblers, hardly ever get decapped brass. Only exception, would be if I have brass with the same headstamps, that had different number of firings on them............strictly for ease of identification.

Rifle brass gets the whole primer pocket uni-formation process. Pistol brass gets the primer pocket cleaned with a non cutting bit, spun in a cordless drill.

 

[dannyd]

SS pins

Brass is much softer than stainless steel.

Only SS my brass is toughing is the chamber of my stainless steel barrels.

Have you tried the cleaning process yet?

 

[dannyd]

I've only had two, used the Lyman for a couple of years but that thing was so noisy people down the street complained about it. Bought the Dillon and almost had to touch it to see of it was running it was so quiet. Bought a second one. I'm not a big Dillon fan, only things of theirs I have are the tumbler and an electronic scale But both the tumblers have been flawless (and quiet) since the 80's.

I didn't know anyone that I disliked enough to give the Lyman tumbler to so it went in the trash. Thankfully the trash collector did take it.

Your Dillon must be special got mine in the late 80's and it is anything but quite.

 

[Rick]

You got the early model. Not sure anymore just when but Dillon said they were getting too many back for the motors. They changed to a new bearing motor, quite nice and quiet. My first one went back for the new motor and the second unit i bought already had the new motor.