I've been using corn-cob pet litter in my tumbler, but read somewhere that the walnut pet litter cleans faster. I don't polish my brass to a shine I just run it till its clean. I checked out some walnut litter at a pet store, it is a lot finer grain than the corn-cob does it leave the brass dusty? I have a bunch of corn-cob on hand, but thought if it would speed up the process I'd mix a little walnut in with it.
Tumbler Media?
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I've never used it, but the corn media from RCBS left my brass a little dusty. No big deal. The problem with the smaller media is it gets stuck in the primer hole.
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Deadeye
I have bought that pet walnut stuff at Wally World before, and I have used white rice as well, but by far the compound that is avail in your reloading dept at your sporting good store works much better as it has the cleaning compound in it. I use the red, some use green.....
But its your call on what you use.
I have bought that pet walnut stuff at Wally World before, and I have used white rice as well, but by far the compound that is avail in your reloading dept at your sporting good store works much better as it has the cleaning compound in it. I use the red, some use green.....
But its your call on what you use.
I've used the red Lyman media before (1st. thing I ever used) but it left the red dust all over the brass & I had to wipe it off (that's why I started using Wally-World Corn-cob stuff) & it got stuck in the primer holes also (plays hell with the deprimer pin & the red dust builds up in my dies). I've never been able to find the Walnut flavor at Wally-World. How coarse is it? Have you had any problems with it sticking in primer holes?
Thanks for the replies guys!
Thanks for the replies guys!
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When I first bought my tumbler I bought walnut and it worked well. There was enough in the 15#'s for two fills of the tumbler so I used 1/2 for the first year and the second half the second. I usually mix a cleaning compount in the media and the walnut did a good job but there was some dust on the cases that I wiped off when I took them out of the separator. Little pieces got stuck in the primer pockets so that is a pain. I bought corn cobb bedding from a local feed store and it doesn't seem to work quite as well so I have an order of dry media polish coming from Midway. I think the walnut works a little quicker so I suspect I just have to run the tumbler longer with corn cob to get the same results.
I prefer the walnut and buy it in the big bag every couple years when a gun show comes through town. It lasts awhile. I put Maas brand polish in the media each load. The polish cuts down on the dust so it just takes a quick shake and a rub down on a terry towel to clean it off. It comes in a tube and can be found in most grocery stores including WalMart. I still haven't tried any bulk pet store media as I haven't run out of the last batch yet.
I clean the brass before removing the primer in most cases, then run a primer pocket brush in the pocket before priming if needed. The walnut being of smaller granules will get stuck in a primer pocker easier than cob and will have to be picked out or punched through with the deprime die. Especially in lg primered cases like 44 & 45.
Both types leave a dust film and the cases should be wiped down to remove any residue before running the cases through your dies, even if they are carbide. It will help prolong the life of the dies and keep them from getting unnecessarily grungy. Also reduce scratches on the cases.
I clean the brass before removing the primer in most cases, then run a primer pocket brush in the pocket before priming if needed. The walnut being of smaller granules will get stuck in a primer pocker easier than cob and will have to be picked out or punched through with the deprime die. Especially in lg primered cases like 44 & 45.
Both types leave a dust film and the cases should be wiped down to remove any residue before running the cases through your dies, even if they are carbide. It will help prolong the life of the dies and keep them from getting unnecessarily grungy. Also reduce scratches on the cases.
The tiny pieces getting stuck in the primer holes keep causing the deprimer pin to pop up on my Lee dies & then I have to reset them and that's a pain in the ass. I guess I'll just stick with my Wally-World corn-cob stuff. Like I said earlier I don't run them to a high shine, just until the are clean enough to not crud up my dies. I was just looking for something to speed the operation up a little without the dust/primerhole issues. I'm thinking some type of walnut media that's in bigger pieces so it won't get stuck in the primer holes. I could even run it over a screen to get the dust/tiny pieces out first. Just little ideas the voices have been toss'n around.jimbo1096 said:
Does anybody know where I could get Walnut media like I descibed without any of the red or green crap on it?
Harbor Freight has 25 lbs of Walnut blasting media for $25 in fine or coarse. Walmart here has never heard of it and Petsmart wants $19 for 10 qts.
I drove all over southern Ohio yesterday (looking for a job) and stopped in Bass Pro and about the only decent gun store. The gun store has it. $24 for 4 1/2 lbs. It's probably treated but Damn!
I drove all over southern Ohio yesterday (looking for a job) and stopped in Bass Pro and about the only decent gun store. The gun store has it. $24 for 4 1/2 lbs. It's probably treated but Damn!
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I bought the RCBS Walnut media last time and it's expensive! Buying the media at Walmart or a pet shop is the way to go.
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Drummer this is the stuff I bought. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than what petsmart wants.Drummer said:
http://www.petco.com/product/102881...lls-Reptile-Bedding.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch
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Oh that's a good deal. :mrgreen:
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Well, there ya go.
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I like the course better too. Cleans quicker.
Johngoboom said:
Thats what I ended up buying but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. How's it work?
P.S. I solved the dust issue by running my brass a second time (after the walnut) in corn cob with used dryer sheets in it. They collect the dust & the corn cob + a little squirt of Brasso makes the brass shine like new.
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I use dryer sheets right in the Walnut.
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It works well. It makes the brass really shiny.Deadeye said:
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