Hornady sonic cleaner

[MTA]

Anyone use one of these? I only reload rifle cartridges and only in smaller quantities(50-100 at a time). It looks like it may work for my purposes but would love to hear anyones personal experience with it

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....-n-load-sonic-cleaner-2-liter-heated-110-volt

 

[xdmikey]

I have one and it works fine but for my needs(500 rds nasty brass at a time)it was too slow. I can sell you mine for $75 shipped. If you might be moving onto larger quantities then this would be a mistake.

 

[MTA]

I have one and it works fine but for my needs(500 rds nasty brass at a time)it was too slow. I can sell you mine for $75 shipped. If you might be moving onto larger quantities then this would be a mistake.

What do you use now for case cleaning? Ty

 

[xdmikey]

Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler, large size 'cause it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

 

[robertc1024]

I had a Lyman variant of that cleaner. It was just too small if I was doing batches of pistol ammo. I ended up getting this (or close to it) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee
It works great except the wire basket is too coarse and brass falls through it except for big rounds.

 

[avvidclif]

I have the large economy sized one. It (ultrasonic cleaners) has drawbacks. It will clean the brass, not shiny and pretty but clean. The brass must be deprimed first for it to clean the pockets. Then it must be lubed to resize (even with carbide dies) and then cleaned again (your choice how). I have the matching dryer which adds abt an hour to dry them. It seldom gets used.

 

[MTA]

I think I may just get a tumbler to start out with and see how that goes

 

[pbratton]

I use the rotary tumbler with stainless steel pins. I have an ultrasonic unit, use it for cleaning slides and other small parts.

 

[MTA]

I use the rotary tumbler with stainless steel pins. I have an ultrasonic unit, use it for cleaning slides and other small parts.

Im assuming stainless steel pins beats dry media like corn or walnut?

 

[rotor]

Im assuming stainless steel pins beats dry media like corn or walnut?

Yes. But does it have to be that clean to work good? SS makes the brass look better than new but dry media good enough and easier.

Funny story, first time I turned on Ultrasonic unit my dog ran across the house and under my bed and wouldn't come out. My wife made me turn the unit off and put it outside. Never used again. Dogs come first.

 

[MTA]

Yes. But does it have to be that clean to work good? SS makes the brass look better than new but dry media good enough and easier.

Funny story, first time I turned on Ultrasonic unit my dog ran across the house and under my bed and wouldn't come out. My wife made me turn the unit off and put it outside. Never used again. Dogs come first.

Im just looking for intersection of cheapest and easiest route at this point. How is dry media easier? Im new to this if you couldnt tell so thats a genuine question and not sarcasm

 

[toddnjoyce]

Im just looking for intersection of cheapest and easiest route at this point. How is dry media easier? Im new to this if you couldnt tell so thats a genuine question and not sarcasm

SS will have a wet component, so you’re taking time to dry before reloading. Most likely will never get SS stuck in a primer pocket or flash hole so you can deprime then tumble. IMO, you should visually check each round anyways, though. No dust.

Walnut/Corn cob needs no drying time, but it can be dusty, so the garage or outdoors is a good place to tumble/separate. You will eventually get some residual media in the primer pocket/flash hole unless you deprime after tumble.

 

[rotor]

Im just looking for intersection of cheapest and easiest route at this point. How is dry media easier? Im new to this if you couldnt tell so thats a genuine question and not sarcasm

SS tumbler makes brass look great but you still need to fish stainless steel things out of your primer pockets, you have to dry the brass and it tends to be very dry without any lubricant. I also couldn't do as large a load as with a corn cob media cleaner. I bought Cabelas vibratory and their corn cob media case polish kit, load the thing outdoors, add a dryer sheet to keep static down and run for a few hours. Brass comes out great, slightly lubed, loads great and works great. Nothing looks as good as SS media but who cares. Vibratory is just so easy. Still need to make sure no media in primer pocket but I examine every piece of brass anyhow before using. My SS kit is almost never used.

 

[MTA]

SS tumbler makes brass look great but you still need to fish stainless steel things out of your primer pockets, you have to dry the brass and it tends to be very dry without any lubricant. I also couldn't do as large a load as with a corn cob media cleaner. I bought Cabelas vibratory and their corn cob media case polish kit, load the thing outdoors, add a dryer sheet to keep static down and run for a few hours. Brass comes out great, slightly lubed, loads great and works great. Nothing looks as good as SS media but who cares. Vibratory is just so easy. Still need to make sure no media in primer pocket but I examine every piece of brass anyhow before using. My SS kit is almost never used.

I actually have that cabelas tumbler kit in my cart. Im just going to go with that and in the future if I want to go the stainless pin route ill do that

 

[Axxe55]

Dry tumblers are the cheapest route for cleaning brass. And the simplest in many respects.

If you go the dry tumbler, the media is pretty cheap. I use a mix of walnut and corn cob media with some car polish mixed in. I also usually tumble small batches of shells. about 25 rifle, or about 50 to 75 pistol cases at a time. Change out your media often and it works better. The meda is cheap, and goes a long ways if you tumble in small batches like I do.

I have used an ultra-sonic cleaner that my brother has at his shop. They do work to get the brass clean without a doubt. But as mentioned, they do need to be deprimed first if you want the primer pockets clean. Then they need to be dried.

I had thought about getting a wet tumbler, but honestly, I don't really think I reload enough to justify the expense at this point. Also probably why I still reload on a single stage press!

 

[SQLGeek]

I just got one of these kits and don't see doing anything else. I have run several batches of pistol brass and dust isn't an issue. A bit of the polish, some mineral spirits and then mix in brass and let it run. I also add in several cut up pieces of used dryer sheet which is supposed to trap excess dust.

The media separator is key IMO. Fully enclosed, you can separate without generating dust.

https://www.natchezss.com/berry-400-vibratory-tumbler-kit-2.html

 

[SQLGeek]

Also, I considered a wet tumbler too and decided I wasn't going to be processing enough brass to justify the extra expense and effort.

 

[toddnjoyce]

TBH, the only reason I considered an ultrasonic cleaner was to dump a broken down pistol and AR BCG parts in it for cleaning.

Been thinking about it for a couple years now. Might be a few more before I act on it.

 

[Axxe55]

TBH, the only reason I considered an ultrasonic cleaner was to dump a broken down pistol and AR BCG parts in it for cleaning.

Been thinking about it for a couple years now. Might be a few more before I act on it.

If a person was wanting to use the ultra-sonic cleaner for cleaning guns as well as brass, it might be a viable option. I have used one for that purpose in the past.

 

[cvgunman]

I just got one of these kits and don't see doing anything else. I have run several batches of pistol brass and dust isn't an issue. A bit of the polish, some mineral spirits and then mix in brass and let it run. I also add in several cut up pieces of used dryer sheet which is supposed to trap excess dust.

The media separator is key IMO. Fully enclosed, you can separate without generating dust.

https://www.natchezss.com/berry-400-vibratory-tumbler-kit-2.html

I have read that about he dryer sheets....but USED like you say.