Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

One issue Im having with the Stainless Steel Media method is that it is cleaning the brass to well..

I called up Dillon and told them my issue with the "up stroke" that there is much more force needed now then when I first started to load. I noticed that the cases are getting "stuck" on the powder funnel, which is making it hard on the up stroke to remove the powder funnel from the case after it dropped the powder. The first thing he asked me was what method I used to clean my brass. I told him Im using the Stainless Steel pin method. He said that was my problem. The stainless method cleans the brass so damn well on the inside of the brass that it takes ALL the carbon off of it. He said that what the corn cob tumblers dont take off acts like a "lube" and prevents the cases from sticking. I guess this makes sense. He told me the alternative was to rub a little case lube on the outside of the powder funnel every 10 rounds or so. This is my only down fall to using the Stainless steel pin method.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

My 5lbs SS media just arrived in mail. Thanks for the help getting it, Terry.

Now I have Thumler's model B running with new belt, SS pins, Lemishine & Dawn. I have 5 hundred 1x Hornady Match .308 to clean. I've been looking forward to this, I'm getting on it now......
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

^ oh yeah? I'm getting 1x fired from guys who shoot a lot & all they shoot is Hornady factory ammo. They ship me 500 at a time until I say stop. I haven't told them to stop yet.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 3364</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i think i will have to try this </div></div>

You will not be disappointed!

Terry

Been slacking, New poll results as of 12/31/2012 @ 5:30pm EST.

12-31-12poll_zps674c8acf.jpg


Happy New Year Hide Members! Hope you all have a great 2013.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

Anyone figure out the cause (and hopefully a solution) to the pins getting stuck in the flash holes?

I get far more wedged across the primer pocket itself, but I still get a few every couple hundred cases that have the pins jammed in the flash holes.

Guess it could be either under-sized pins (supposed to be what, 0.041" dia) or over-sized flash holes (nominally 0.080" for large/regular, non-PPC/BR holes).
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

There's no real cause or solution as far as I'm concerned. The pins are supposed to fit through the flash holes, but apparently they are thin enough that 2 can get jammed in there occasionally.

Some times I will run a batch and have none, sometimes, I get 10+. I just keep a pair of needlenose pliers nearby and yank them out while I am drying.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I use traditional vibratory cleaner then do all brass prep, trimming and use the stainless media as the final touch as the brass looks new and gets all the lubricant and everything shiny new. Also it is great for cleaning baffles for silencer. Nothing else comes close to cleaning silencer baffles which are otherwise hard to clean.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I can say without a doubt ss media is the best stuff I've ever used, and over the years I've used just about everything. I purchased 5lbs of this stuff from Midway for $34.99(sale is still going on) which is 10.00 off their normal price, I thought for that price I'd give it a try. It works great, bought some lemishine a Walmart, cheap. I would use the lemishine as it seems to speed up the process, although I think even without the lemishine it would still work very well, but the stuff is so cheap a Walmart, why wouldn't you?
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I'll be honest, I tumble last. I size, trim and debur, then tumble in SS. Iv done couple thousand or more now and never seen any case mouths peened or hurt in any way. Where its all under the water, the water takes a lot of the pressure of the tumbling, kinda like its weightless, just rubbing together and not a pressure strike. Best stuff I have ever used.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Michael Aos</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've been decapping my rifle brass and tumbling it clean. Then drying (which is a pain), lubing, sizing.

Then tumbling it again, drying again (still a pain), trimming and finally loading.

I like to trim AFTER I've finished all the tumbling, to avoid any peened case mouths. </div></div>

Put your wet brass over the heat duct opening's on the floor.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

what drying techniques have you guys had the best luck with? I left a batch in the media separator overnight to dry, boy that was a mistake.....I had to tumble all over again although to be fair it wasn't long.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I got my media friday and my tumbler saturday. Got it up and running yesterday with spectacular results. Sold my 3 vibratory tumblers over the weekend, too. Hellofashow!
As far as drying goes, I give the whole lot a quick rub with a towel and put them on an old tin cookie sheet. Pop them in the oven @ about 180 degrees for 20 minutes or so. Warm toasty SHINY brass.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jmtgsx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I got my media friday and my tumbler saturday. Got it up and running yesterday with spectacular results. Sold my 3 vibratory tumblers over the weekend, too. Hellofashow!
As far as drying goes, I give the whole lot a quick rub with a towel and put them on an old tin cookie sheet. Pop them in the oven @ about 180 degrees for 20 minutes or so. Warm toasty SHINY brass. </div></div>

I did the 9x13 cake pan thing and a wad of paper towel pat down and left in a chair under the ceiling fan. I didn't think of the oven, I may have to try that.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I lay out a simple shower size towel (short side) on my kitchen counter as we have a large kitchen and one corner that's not often used (plus the wife lets me). After a quick rinse in the sink to remove any residue of dish soap or ss media, I simply lay the brass on the towel, fold it in half so I can give the exterior a quick dry, then let it sit out over night. By next mornng, it's perfectly dry. If I'm doing multiple loads, then I switch the towel to the long side and keep adding brass to the empty parts of the towel. The brass ends up looking brand new.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I'm in Colorado Springs. The humidity here is frequently in the single-digits outside, and probably even less inside.

I toss the brass in a media-separator and point a floor-drying fan from Sam's Club at it.

It's typically dry within an hour.

If I'm in a big hurry, I've used a 1500W hair-dryer pointed at each piece of rifle brass as I inspect it for stuck pieces of stainless tumbling media.
--
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dudley</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wasn't there a discount code on here somewhere once apone a time??? </div></div>

STM has these discount codes:

stm05 for $5 off the Reloading kit
stm10 for $10 off the Deluxe kit
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RydForLyf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've sent a PM to Terry, but in the meantime, can someone PM me Mark's contact info?

Thank you,

-RFL </div></div>

PM sent.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

Just a tip in case it hasn't been mentioned. I've seen a few pics of the dry boxes folks have made that are are certainly adequate for the job. In pondering what my method was going to be, it occurred to me that I had an American Harvest food dehydrator that wasn't being used (regularly anyway). It has a built in timer, fan and a thermostat good to 145 deg F. I was able to put 500 rounds of 5.56mm brass in it with some room to spare and it dried them in 2 hours, it may even do better than that but I haven't tried a shorter duration. It is the bees knees for the task, worth checking the the thrift stores & garage sales for a deal on a used one.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I agree, food dehydrators are excellent brass drying units. I have a old on that I gave to a buddy for that very purpose and he loves it. Temp control, air movement, and timer, what more could you want.

Terry

New Poll results as of 2-8-2013 @ 12:00pm EST

2-8-13poll_zps2421fbc8.jpg
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

the only issue i have is with 6.5mm brass the rods get stuck across the throat so have to be careful to inspect each one. cleans wonderfully otherwise and takes less time than anything else i have used. need to come up with a good dryer tho. i don't like waiting.
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

Hey Terry, could you PM me the info for Mark when you get a chance.

This thread has really been a great source of info for me and I appreciate everyone taking the time to post up results and pictures especially as I am a very visual learner. Almost everything I ordered to get up and running with reloading is on back-order, and all that is left is the stainless media.

Thanks,
Jason
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

So would yall recommend purchasing the Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die or can I just use the die that is included with the 3 or 4-die sets that I have ordered for each caliber? This will be used on the Lee Classic Turret Press.

BTW another great experience with Mark. Thanks Mark and Terry
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

I would get the Lee Decapping die! When you get back from the range your brass is dirty and you do not want to be running dirty brass into a new sizing die. Punch the primers out with the Lee, clean, and size.

Terry
 
Re: Stainless Steel Media Testimonials

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: suasponte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would get the Lee Decapping die! When you get back from the range your brass is dirty and you do not want to be running dirty brass into a new sizing die. Punch the primers out with the Lee, clean, and size.

Terry </div></div>

Great, thanks Terry. Ordered.
 
Mo_bio, I would send you a Pm however I keep getting errors in trying to do so.

I have went to settings and enabled private messaging and have also deleted all but 5-6 messages.
Keep getting error that there is no storage space.
Could a Admin take a look at this please.

Terry
 
Terry, could you PM Mark's info please. Im interested in the SS media. I have a new tumbler on the way and need to try this. Tired of sonic. Thanks

Mo_bio, I would send you a Pm however I keep getting errors in trying to do so.

I have went to settings and enabled private messaging and have also deleted all but 5-6 messages.
Keep getting error that there is no storage space.
Could a Admin take a look at this please.

Terry

PM sent for Terry
 
wasn't there a discount code on here somewhere once apone a time???

Check out these guys. Lowest price on the internet, fast shipping and they have the newest size in SS media, ULTRA 47 (.047x.255"). I found this link that gives you 10% off their prices which works out to $44.10/5 LBS shipped USPS Priority. This was posted on Calguns and they asked for the forum you found the discount on in the notes.

http://www.bullseye-reloading.com/Special.html
 
A different question to ponder - what size/shape of the steel media do you use? I´m still partially undecided to give it a try. One problem with traditional media (walnut) is that after tumbling, it stays stuck in some cases which I then have to take one by one and shake them empty. Is that eliminated with steel?
 
Is stainless media tumbling hard on your brass?

I'm ready to jump into the stainless media method of brass cleaning. My only concern is how bad does it beat up your brass? I've heard one criticism to stainless tumbling is that it tends to damage the case mouths. One guy said that he has seen it round the mouth or as he put it "peen" the edge of the mouth. Anything to this claim?
 
I'm ready to jump into the stainless media method of brass cleaning. My only concern is how bad does it beat up your brass? I've heard one criticism to stainless tumbling is that it tends to damage the case mouths. One guy said that he has seen it round the mouth or as he put it "peen" the edge of the mouth. Anything to this claim?

I love the SS tumbler, but it does nick the case mouths. I've gotten into the habit of doing my final trim and chamfer after the tumbling.