Tumbling media comparison

[DeepMauka]

What do you guys use for dry tumbling media?

Walnut shell?

Rice?

Quinoa?

New to reloading, but wondering what best/cheapest media is. My current process is I throw fired casings in for a bit, deprime, resize and throw back in for about an hour or so to clean off case lube from resizing.

I have used rice and the Hornady stuff. Rice is cheap and readily available where I live. The Hornady walnut shell (or any other brand) is expensive because of shipping. We don’t have a harbor freight for the cheap bulk walnut shell. Just wasn’t sure how well rice really gets off case lube. Also open to other suggestions for dry tumbling media.

 

[HuntHarder]

I've always preferred corn cob media, but honestly don't think there is much difference between any if them.

 

[Castle Rock]

Rice is a bastard because it gets stuck in the flash holes.

 

[Finaddictions]

Farm stores often have bulk walnut shell for pet bedding. Lifetime supply per bag and it’s inexpensive. Just add some polish to the media and it’s good to go.

 

[cowboy]

Rice is a bastard because it gets stuck in the flash holes.

I’ve been using hard rice for quite a while. Recently I’ve been getting some sort of black gunky stuff on the inside wall of vibrator and in some batches it gets on the brass - even after changing to fresh rice. I’ve tried various products trying to clean it up and it’s a pain.
Anyone else run into this and have used a product to clean this residue up. Obviously I’m done with rice.

 

[Hydra6]

Rice is a bastard because it gets stuck in the flash holes.

Some rice is better about that but I used rice for a year+ and at end of life it gets super dusty

 

[Hydra6]

I use crushed walnut shell marketed on amazon as lizard bedding. As stated above, I add some car polish to it occasionally and when it gets duty I throw out and start over with new media. I am tumbling 100+ rifle cases per week for PRS

 

[Backcast88]

I've used walnut and corn cob.

Walnut cleans dirty brass really good and corn cob gives a nicer shine. So it all depends on what your end goal is. If you have a bunch of old or range brass then walnut would be they way I would go. But if your brass isn't very dirty, corn cob will work fine.

My brass is usually not super dirty or tarnished so I prefer corn cob with Flitz. Gives a nice shine to the brass. Does shiny brass shoot better? No. But it looks better and that what I prefer.

They both get stuck in the flash hole on occasion so check before loading.

And if dust is an issue, cut a dryer sheet into strips and toss it into the media. It will cut down on the dust pretty good.

 

[waspocrew]

Crushed walnut blasting media from harbor freight is what I use. Got tired of other media clogging flash holes.

 

[BCsteve]

Wet tumbling with SS pins or corn cob media in the vibratory tumbler for quick small batches.

 

[MrMojoDiver]

Wet tumbling with SS pins or corn cob media in the vibratory tumbler for quick small batches.

After I transitioned over to SS pins I stopped using the dry media. Small batches of brass go in a jar in the ultrasonic cleaner if I don’t want to deal with the wet tumbler. Repurposed the wife’s food dehydrator and the brass dries up nice and quick.