Tumbling 32-20 Brass

[High Desert Hunter]

I use a rotary tumbler wet with SS pins, I love how clean it gets the primer pockets. My fear is that the pins will peen the thin case necks and mouths. Anyone else tumble 32-20 brass?
Dave

[Griff]

No, but I tumble .44-40 brass with SS pins. I also decap first, & yes, the primer pockets appear new.

[marlinman93]

I shoot and clean lots of .32-20 as it's a favorite for me. But I use a wet tumbler with ceramic media and never had any issues with deformed brass.

[marlinman93]

I shoot and clean lots of .32-20 as it's a favorite for me. But I use a wet tumbler with ceramic media and never had any issues with deformed brass.

[High Desert Hunter]

Thanks, I may need to invest in ceramic media.

[Shasta]

I shoot my .32-20 in NRA Lever Action Pistol Cartridge Silhouette matches so generate plenty of brass. For years I have wet tumbled it using stainless steel pins with no issues. Only ones I lose are occasional case neck splits after many loadings.

Shasta

[High Desert Hunter]

I've had surprisingly good luck thus far, only splits I've had are with some nickle plated RP brass. I have about 1200 cases between Starline and RP, which is why I haven't had to clean any, well that and likely some laziness. I sure wish my Marlin had the full length mag tube, I'd like to do some competitive shooting with it.

Dave

[GunnyMack]

I could see violently shaking a coffee can full of pins and brass might dent or ding a few cases but in the rotary I can't imaging it happening. Any that might just gets another trip through the size die.

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

I have used pins and a rotary for quite a few years now. A couple years back, I cleaned some 338 Lapua for my son. He complained that he didn't like the way it peened the lips on the neck. So, the next time I cleaned some 338 for him I did it without pins and just dish soap, which works quite well but doesn't clean the primer pockets out nearly as well as with pins. Same result, he said the lips on the necks were peened, maybe even worse that when I used pins. So, it's my theory that the pins do little to no peening, they have very little mass and may even work to soften the tumbling of the cases. I believe it has more to do with the mass of the particular cartridge, how much water is in the tumbler and how many cartridges are being tumbled. Large cases, more mass and heavier hits when they collide, less water, less softening of the collision and fewer cases allow for more room to fall.
On the cartridges I reload, I've seen very little damage----even on 22 Hornet cases and cases cut for my tight necked rifles, which have very thin necks.

[High Desert Hunter]

45-70 brass are the only cases I have ever had peening issues with. My fears were unfounded, and next time I will run them for the full time as this batch wasn't as clean as I am used to.

20260105_113552.jpg

I will powder coat these, sized them and lube them so I can load a mess of 32-20, coyote breeding season is fast approaching.

[Ysabel Kid]

Interesting post!

So, what's the best source for SS pins?

[High Desert Hunter]

Mine came with the Frankford Arsenal Tumbler when I bought it 4 years ago, or maybe it was 6.

Dave

[Ysabel Kid]

Mine came with the Frankford Arsenal Tumbler when I bought it 4 years ago, or maybe it was 6.

Dave

Thanks Dave!

[marlinman93]

45-70 brass are the only cases I have ever had peening issues with. My fears were unfounded, and next time I will run them for the full time as this batch wasn't as clean as I am used to. 20260105_113552.jpg

I will powder coat these, sized them and lube them so I can load a mess of 32-20, coyote breeding season is fast approaching.

Never heard of anyone tumbling bullets before? I'd never tumble cast bullets as it rounds off the sharp corners on the bases and lube grooves.

[Griff]

45-70 brass are the only cases I have ever had peening issues with. My fears were unfounded, and next time I will run them for the full time as this batch wasn't as clean as I am used to. 20260105_113552.jpg
I will powder coat these, sized them and lube them so I can load a mess of 32-20, coyote breeding season is fast approaching.

Never heard of anyone tumbling bullets before? I'd never tumble cast bullets as it rounds off the sharp corners on the bases and lube grooves.

Ain't communication fun? I interpreted his post as he was going to tumble his .32-20 brass and powder coat his bullets.

[GunnyMack]

I figured he posted the wrong pic...