syme71 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I'm new to reloading and have to purchase a tumbler. Anyone have any recomendations on which brand to get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I like my Dillon. It's big, works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 I like the small Dillon but the big one comes in handy for things like mag bodies so if the budget allows, get the bigger one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Buy the BIG Dillon. Do not buy the small, even if you don't need the extra capacity. You'll thank me later when your motor didn't wear out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdragon Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Ditto! Ivan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Big Dillon, no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Heiter Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 It may not be as heavy duty or as politically correct as the Dillon tumbler but I've had very good luck with my little Midway USA (Now Frankford Aresenal) kit. You can get a very nice little tumbler, media, polish, and a media separator for a good bit less than you will spend on the small Dillon alone. I would also highly recommend the "convenience kit" that comes with a clear lid and some quick release nuts. It's really nice to be able to glance at the top of the tumbler while it's still running to see if your brass is done. The big Dillon is nice because it holds lots of brass but I can get half a dozen Frankford Arsenal's for that kind of money. Set one up w/ corncob, one w/ walnut, maybe one w/ ceramic media...who knows. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syme71 Posted December 21, 2004 Author Share Posted December 21, 2004 Wow, didn't think that Dillon was going to be that popular due to it's price. Patches, Berry's also has a good price on tumblers similar to the Frankford Arsenal setup. They come with a 3 year warranty on the motor and are currently offering free shipping. http://www.berrysmfg.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Run n Gun Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 It may not be as heavy duty or as politically correct as the Dillon tumbler but I've had very good luck with my little Midway USA (Now Frankford Aresenal) kit. You can get a very nice little tumbler, media, polish, and a media separator for a good bit less than you will spend on the small Dillon alone. I would also highly recommend the "convenience kit" that comes with a clear lid and some quick release nuts. It's really nice to be able to glance at the top of the tumbler while it's still running to see if your brass is done. The big Dillon is nice because it holds lots of brass but I can get half a dozen Frankford Arsenal's for that kind of money. Set one up w/ corncob, one w/ walnut, maybe one w/ ceramic media...who knows. John John makes some valid points and I followed that line of reasoning (rationalizations?) for a long time. Then I bought a Large Dillon tumbler and the Large media separator… NOW life is good! Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 The Big Dillon with the Big media separator ----- but then I HATE reloading and anything to do with it. I managed to clean 10,000 Dillon cases the other day --- in one long afternoon/evening. Now that's efficiency...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sargenv Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 After about 12 years, I'm still using my original Orange Midway Tumbler. It's about the same size as the small Dillon tumbler and uses about 1/3 of the media the big one does. I actually prefer the smaller one due to the location that I have for my tumbler. Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Well....if you're handy, there's always the Brass Weasel 9000 Honestly, everything suggested is a good deal. Just promise me not to buy the small Dillon tumbler, OK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syme71 Posted December 21, 2004 Author Share Posted December 21, 2004 Honestly, everything suggested is a good deal. Just promise me not to buy the small Dillon tumbler, OK? I promise! I think I'll actually go with the Berry's kit and buy a couple of more reloading manuals with the $$ I save. I'll swing the larger Dillon tumbler once the Christmas bills get paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Hayden Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 It may not be as heavy duty or as politically correct as the Dillon tumbler but I've had very good luck with my little Midway USA (Now Frankford Aresenal) kit. I have this one too.. for $37 at Midway.. hard to beat... It does 2 1/2 - 3 double handfuls of 40 at a time. Been going strong (after the first lemon, replaced free), I don't shoot as much as some people, but this tumbler cleaned and polished 3,000 cases this weekend (1 pass for walnut, 1 pass for corncob)... it's big enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syme71 Posted December 21, 2004 Author Share Posted December 21, 2004 (1 pass for walnut, 1 pass for corncob)... it's big enough for me. What's the proper media to use, walnut or corn? Most of the reading I've seen so far mentions corn-cob media. Is walnut better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Hayden Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Nothing cut and dried... For me: Walnut cleans, corn-cob (with Dillon polish added) polishes. 1 hour for each But people do single corn cob runs (clean and polish too, with really long run times), and I'm sure some people polish with walnut. Walnut is the cheapest, I can get $12 for 50#, so I dump it often. I don't want the corn-cob getting all the dirt from the first pass. This is kind of Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKR Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 I have the Lyman Turbo Tumbler 2200 w/ auto flo. Used it almost one year 30,000 rounds and no problems. Just have to pull the plug to let it auto sift the media out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricW Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Am I the only one who used to mix corn cob and walnut? Kind of like the Dream Team of case cleaning. I just use rice now. It's just a heck of a lot less messy and is usually cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.40AET Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Am I the only one who used to mix corn cob and walnut? Kind of like the Dream Team of case cleaning. Never tried it. But I like the idea alot! Walnut media doesn't really put a bright shine on the brass. And I'm way too lazy to run brass in two separate batches. I just changed the walnuts and I'm going home to add the corn cob in. Thanks Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syme71 Posted December 21, 2004 Author Share Posted December 21, 2004 I just use rice now. It's just a heck of a lot less messy and is usually cheaper. rice huh? I'm of asian descent so I have always have a supply in the house. I know we purchase the premium stuff for $12 - 25lb bag. The lower grade rice is $8 - $25lb bag. What is rice comparable to? walnut or corn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Heiter Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Just some extra info...I talked to a friend who has seen one of the Berry's tumblers in action and he says it works as well as the Midway/Frankford ones and is notably quieter when running. He can have it running and still hold a conversation in the same room w/ no problem. I know there are threads on building soundproof tumbler enclosures but I just thought I'd throw that out there. Oh, and I mix in some walnut w/ my corncob too. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooter Grrl Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 I've had very good luck with my little Midway USA (Now Frankford Aresenal) kit. Nope - never again. After buying 3 of these, cause they kept breaking, I coulda, and shoulda and DID buy the Dillon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistral404 Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 Just got my big Dillon. I have run a thousand rounds through it. Buy Dillon. They are a great sponsor of our sport and shooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Larry Cazes Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 rice huh? I'm of asian descent so I have always have a supply in the house. I know we purchase the premium stuff for $12 - 25lb bag. The lower grade rice is $8 - $25lb bag. What is rice comparable to? walnut or corn? Just got a 25lb. bag of long grain white rice at Costco for $5.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJPoLo Posted December 22, 2004 Share Posted December 22, 2004 Just promise me not to buy the small Dillon tumbler, OK? I bought the small one. The motor burned out. Eric speaks the truth. -Chet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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