Tumbling media?

[Slow Hand]

What kind of media are you guys using; specifically for .223? I have used various types with nothing giving me 100% satisfaction. I biught some Lyman crushed walnut shell, green stuff, and it cleans ok but no great shine. Same with white rice, much cheaper though. I have also used pet bedding; crushed corn cobs and it give a wonderful shine but the kernels are big enough to get stuck inside the case!! As of now, I'm tumbling fired cases in the Lyman, then tumbling loaded rounds in the corn cob for a good final shine and to remove case lube. I've heard about the stainless pins but they are not cheap and I'm using a vibratory cleaner; not a tumbler.

So, let me hear what you guys are doing!

 

[Que]

I use walnut, but tumble some car wax in it for a while before dropping the brass in. It works great for me.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Lyman treated corn cob media. It works well on .223 brass for me. Are you looking for the ultimate shine? As it does nothing but looks pretty.

 

[MikeDVB]

Never going to get as good of results from a vibratory tumbler with soft media as you will with a rotary tumbler with stainless steel pin media.

 

[red_zr24x4]

We use the natural cat litter in a bag from Walmart (corncob) with some nu wax added

 

[climber1218]

I have been using untreated corncob media, adding Iosso Case Polish with very good results. I have tried a number of other additives to corncob media over the years (including car waxes) and this is by far my favorite.

 

[Slow Hand]

So are the corn cob medias you guys use small enough to not get stuck in the cases? The stuff I was using was lizard or iguana bedding and while it works fine in straight walled cases or really anything .30 cal or bigger, the media would get stuck in the .223 cases. I have a hundred plus I couldn't get it picked out of. Just bagged them up for later cutting down to .300 blackout brass!

I'm doing better with my current two stage polishing just wondering if there is something I'm missing. I know ultimate shine doesn't matter, it's just nice to have decent looking ammo. I shot unclean brass for years before I finally got a vibratory cleaner.

 

[Leo]

You can either purchase the small containers of crushed corn cob that are already treated with abrasives for polishing brass or bulk buy (40 to 50 lbs) crushed corncob from a media blasting supply. The course animal bedding stuff is too course for the little bottlenecked .223 case. It is probably fine for .38 and bigger pistol cases, so do not disgard it.

You can order the crushed cob in a few different sizes. Since that stuff is not treated, you need to mix in some case polish, rubbing compound, or another fine abrasive of your choice.

Walnut hull is faster for cleaning but does not polish as shiney as corncob with case polish.

My firearms cannot really tell the difference.

Good Luck

 

[bberg]

If you want to use corn cob from a pet store go to the bird section. they should have very fine ground corn cob usually in a plastic container that will run around 10-12$ for the money it is still about half what lyman etc... sell for since you get roughly twice as much. of course if you then out additives in you are approaching the cost of what they sell already worked up.

 

[JetGirl]

but tumble some car wax in it for a while before dropping the brass in.

That ^.

This is the result of a half & half mix of walnut & cob, with a splash of Scratch X in it...
Tumble for about 5-10 minutes to mix the polish in first, then add brass after:

Before:

After:

 

[IndianasFinest]

I use exactly what your using with a cap full of nu finish, works good enough for me. Gets them nice, and clean. If I have any media in a case I just run a case brush through it a few times, and she's good to go.

 

[kwatters]

I use Walnut to clean first, then use Corn Cob with Nu-Finish to shine. Looking at stainless to reduce the steps.

 

[Synonymous]

I use bird litter (crushed walnut) from Tractor Supply and a little Nu-Finish car wax.

 

[zoglog]

I like walnut. Lizard bedding at the pet store.

 

[bberg]

interesting that most have figured out pet store alternatives over the high priced reloading industry mixes!

 

[gregkl]

A couple questions:

1. Quite a few Nu-finish users. Could you use other car polishes? I use professional grade polishes by Wolfgang and Menzerna.

2. Would it be a good idea to remove primers and then polish?

 

[bberg]

I've used several compounds over the years one of the best i found was a dab of flitz metal polish an amazingly small amount will really go a long ways. as for de-priming fist my standard op is to run walnut and get clean then de-prime and resize, since that means lube...then I switch to cob media and a little polish and get rid of the lube and make them pretty in that last tumble.

 

[aclark]

Quick question. How many runs do you guy get after you add the polish? Or just toss it after 1 use. I don't me like 1 load, but after 1 day of cleaning...?

 

[red_zr24x4]

So are the corn cob medias you guys use small enough to not get stuck in the cases? The stuff I was using was lizard or iguana bedding and while it works fine in straight walled cases or really anything .30 cal or bigger, the media would get stuck in the .223 cases. I have a hundred plus I couldn't get it picked out of. Just bagged them up for later cutting down to .300 blackout brass!

I'm doing better with my current two stage polishing just wondering if there is something I'm missing. I know ultimate shine doesn't matter, it's just nice to have decent looking ammo. I shot unclean brass for years before I finally got a vibratory cleaner.

The natural cat litter from wally world does not get stuck in the cases like your saying, if it does stick in the case hold them against the side of the tumbler with it running.

A couple questions:

1. Quite a few Nu-finish users. Could you use other car polishes? I use professional grade polishes by Wolfgang and Menzerna.

2. Would it be a good idea to remove primers and then polish?

1. you can use any polish you want but I would avoid anything to abrasive and anything containing ammonia its suppose to weaken brass but we've used brasso with no ill effects

2. either or your choice but remember, your running dirty brass through your die to de-prime first.

 

[alexanjl12]

You can either purchase the small containers of crushed corn cob that are already treated with abrasives for polishing brass or bulk buy (40 to 50 lbs) crushed corncob from a media blasting supply.

+1 for blasting media. I have been using this stuff for about a year now and havent had any issues: Econoline 526040G-40 Blast Media, 40 Lbs, Corn Cob, 20/40 Grit