Stainless media tumbler test

[FOTIS]

Before

after 2.5 hours

Very happy!

 

[Too Tall]

Tell us your process, with equipment, OK?

 

[FOTIS]

Basically If you watch this video you will know exactly what I did.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... -6SOiWE8Hc

 

[russ808]

I think I have seen some of those shell before. They sure look WAY nicer now. Primer pockets are clean too.
Russ

 

[FOTIS]

Everything is spotless on them.

 

[JD338]

Wow, the is nice.
Brass is spotless inside and out.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

You should see the primer pockets Jim!

 

[BK]

I'll be sending you all my brass... I think I still have your address... (just kidding)

I am going to pick a kit up when I get to working again...

 

[FOTIS]

I will have Anna do it

 

[russ808]

Fotis,
I see some long shells in the bunch. What are those?
Russ

 

[FOTIS]

444 marlin I threw in at the last minute. These were really old . They came from a 1960's "rem KLEEN-Bore" box. Really nasty looking before.

 

[russ808]

Fotis,
Well I must say that the TT did good for them.
Russ

 

[RiverRider]

I've heard it said that reloading perfectly clean brass promotes cold-welding of the bullet to the neck of the case and that it can cause inconsistent ignition, and I have asked the individual who made this claim how the big factories view this. My thought is that the assertion is BS. The same individual thinks that weighing out charges to within 0.02 grains improves his long range accuracy (which I would only believe is true if your cases are all perfectly matched for internal volume).

Anyone have any insight on the cold-welding issue?

 

[DrMike]

I've heard it said that reloading perfectly clean brass promotes cold-welding of the bullet to the neck of the case and that it can cause inconsistent ignition, and I have asked the individual who made this claim how the big factories view this. My thought is that the assertion is BS. The same individual thinks that weighing out charges to within 0.02 grains improves his long range accuracy (which I would only believe is true if your cases are all perfectly matched for internal volume).

Anyone have any insight on the cold-welding issue?

I've never heard such a contention. It sounds rather fantastic to me. If this were true, we would be ill advised to load virgin brass; it would be necessary to somehow "dirty" the neck, at the least.

 

[RiverRider]

I've heard of cold-welding from reputable sources. Some guys will seat bullets only part of the way if the ammo won't be shot right away, and then finish seating completely shortly before the ammo is to be shot. I have no idea just how detrimental cold-welding can be. I'd like to know how the major ammo producers view the subject.

 

[Guest]

I can't imagine the "cold weld" thing is any sort of real issue. I recently shot up some older load workups I built back in 1997-8 timeframe using virgin brass I bought for $6.99 per 50rds. These were for my 30-30, when I decided to try out 170gr bullets. I loaded up several different powders and two different 170gr bullets. Then I boxed them up, and never got around to shooting them. When I finally did (some 15yrs later) they shot exactly as expected, with velocities in line with what I expected when I loaded them up, and with consistency across the groups of charge weights. None were as accurate as I'd have hoped, but my rifle likes 150gr bullets so it's a non-issue. But from a reloading standpoint, these were just as if I'd charged them and seated the bullets last week, instead of last century. These rounds had been loaded, boxed up, gone through two whole-house moves, and sat in an ammo box for all that time.

I've also never experienced this with rounds I've loaded for the range, and stored for up to several years, using virgin brass, for a variety of rifles.

I might be inclined to see some "welding" in humid environments, but it would be more corrosion than anything else. But cold-welding bullets to brass? I don't think that happens. At least not in my experience.

 

[RiverRider]

It is supposed to be a galvanic reaction between the jacket metal and the brass neck...it simply results in the bullet "sticking" to the inside of the neck to some degree, and it makes sense that this would affect neck tension somewhat. I have no idea whether it could be detrimental...it may be beneficial for all I know!

There seems to be a certain amount of discussion of the subject around the net. I am sure there's plenty of misinformation and misconceptions being circulated. After all, everything that's true is on the net---and so is everything that ISN'T true!