Learning

Cowcatcher · Aug 8, 2019

I use corn cob. I've never tried anything else. I can't imagine anything else working so much better it's worth changing. I've probably tumbled 4K brass in the original 5lbs of media I bought. I have mixed a little polish in a couple times during that span. I don't have a before picture but @kwaynem gave me these a couple weeks ago and they definitely needed tumbled.

Aries · Aug 8, 2019

swampratt said:
I think what was mentioned is not what is happening.
Read post 32 in this thread.

If you are a newbie that first sentence can get confusing.
He stated he lubes the cases then tosses them into walnut media then prime and load.

WHAT!!
Yep a step that he does was left out of his writing.

It can get confusing is you are not reading between the lines.. and it is good you are not reading between the lines being new at this ordeal.

When people speak of lubing cases then sizing more than likely they have cleaned them first.
Then after sizing the lube does in fact need removed as it will contaminate the powder and or give different bullet pull forces.

Or cases will get sticky and or collect dirt.
Dirty cases ran through a sizing die will scratch the dies and put very ugly and sometimes deep scratches into your cases.
Looks like a stress riser to me with a scratch on the case.

Well, yes you're correct, I left out the resizing step. In all fairness though, I was answering the question about the order of lubing and cleaning, or cleaning and lubing. I still should probably have been more clear, as that could definitely be confusing to a new reloader.

I do not personally clean before I resize. But I don't pick up really dirty brass, I'm pretty careful about picking up what I just shot. So my normal routine is...

Lube
Resize and decap
Clean
Prime
Charge
Seat Bullet

I've never noticed any particular wear or scratching on my dies, if I do I'll replace them.

Aries · Aug 8, 2019

cdschoonie said:
Another question, Corn cob or Walnut?

What I have read is that corn cob will get them shinier, but crushed walnut is easier because the grit is small enough to go through the primer holes without getting stuck. I'm not sure where my mind is today... I think I said above that I use crushed walnut, but I actually use corn cob. I have used walnut before, but it's been a while and I don't really remember if there's that much difference.

kwaynem · Aug 8, 2019

I use corncob also like cowcatcher said just add some polisher I have had the same batch of media a couple years

dennishoddy · Aug 8, 2019

Been reloading since the early 80’s, and I’m kind of anal about my process.
I bought 10 lb of corn cob media 15 or so years ago and still have half left. Two vibratory tumblers with any cheap car wax dropped into it while running and let it run for 30 mins to mix and dry the polish.
I don’t decap before polishing. Never saw the need to clean the primer pocket unless I was going to shoot 1000 yards for competition and not sure why then?
The decapping/sizing die will pop out any cob/carbon in the primer hole.
Size only bottle neck brass, then run through the progressive. No lube on pistol cases using carbide dies.
Always put an eyeball on the powder level of each case coming through the progressive. It’s pretty easy to spot one with an overcharge.
I also enjoy the ability of others to help on this forum without being crass and demeaning to those that are learning. The very reason I have one post on ARFCOM and other forums. Lots of smart folks, but a lot of knuckle draggers as well.
I’m always available for questions from new reloaders. Via private message or text.
If I don’t know the answer I’ll tell you so. This game is fun and rewarding when you take an animal or win a match with your hand loaded ammo.

Okie4570 · Aug 8, 2019

I think I've tried every process mentioned above and and combinations of the processes above. I use corncob media with a 3"x 3" cloth soaked with acetone, leaves a great polish. I think the only thing I do that hasn't been mentioned, and I only do this with my .280AI, is when using new brass or fire formed brass I'll size(or neck size depending), trim if needed and then weigh each piece of brass of the same brand for consistency. I toss quite a few pieces to the side actually before I'm done.

Reloading Rod · Aug 9, 2019

Reloading Rod said:
If your picking up brass with dirt and or gunk on them clean them first to keep from scratching your die. I use the steel pins and if I pick up nasty cases I'll usually tumble them for 30 minutes and get them cleaner then lube, resize and then tumble them the rest of the way clean. I use a homemade spray on lube and it gets inside the cases so I like to get it all cleaned out before I put powder in them.

I use 1 oz of lanolin with a 12oz red bottle of Heet. Put in spray bottle, shake it up before spraying and it coats the cases with a nice coating of lanolin. I used real lanolin in solid form but there are people who use liquid. I will spray 3 or 4 times into about 400 cases of 5.56 and shake them up and let them dry (takes very little time to dry). Then run them through the press.

cdschoonie · Aug 9, 2019

Reloading Rod said:
I use 1 oz of lanolin with a 12oz red bottle of Heet. Put in spray bottle, shake it up before spraying and it coats the cases with a nice coating of lanolin. I used real lanolin in solid form but there are people who use liquid. I will spray 3 or 4 times into about 400 cases of 5.56 and shake them up and let them dry (takes very little time to dry). Then run them through the press.

Awesome I’m going to try it. I’ve looked at a few other guys recipes, some use rubbing alcohol and lanolin

turkeyrun · Aug 11, 2019

I have used nothing but a hand crank RCBS trimmer, for 40+ years.
I put a bit in my drill driver and use the screw on the crank handle to spin the cutter.

Reforming. 270 to 7x57 leaves a loooooong neck and the drill makes trimming fast and easy.

As to order;

Universal recapping die - remove primers
Toss in vibratory cleaner with walnut, corn cob, and a squirt of car polish
Inspect and sort
Lube ( RCBS lube and pad, for bottleneck cases. Carbide dies, no lube, on straight wall )
Resize / Prime
Powder / flare neck
Seat bullet
Factory crimp die

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