Tumbler Question

[ourway77]

What the take on tumbling loaded ammo. I have heard that it breaks down the powder? I have tumbled some loaded ammo and shot it. It seems it did not affected it. But that was with some pistol ammo I got from someone so I really couldn't make a comparison, as to whether it would hurt accuracy or whether it would shoot different after tumbling.

[bubba]

sierra bullets told me 5 minutes or less is okay to get the lube off the cases.

-bubba

[wilmsmeyer]

My tumbler came with explicit instructions to not tumble loaded ammo. Don't know whether this is a "cover your a$$" statement or if there could be danger. I would think that a detonation would be unlikely, however there are probably variables involved such as an overloaded tumbler. Don't know for sure.

[RAF]

I don't see the need to tumble loaded ammunition. My brass has been cleaned and tumbled prior to loading and no lube gets on cases when seating bullets. I suppose old ammunition might get tarnished and you might wanted to brighten it up. Personally I wouldn't want to risk tumbling live ammo.

[bubba]

wilmsmeyer said:

My tumbler came with explicit instructions to not tumble loaded ammo. Don't know whether this is a "cover your a$$" statement or if there could be danger. I would think that a detonation would be unlikely, however there are probably variables involved such as an overloaded tumbler. Don't know for sure.

I believe that the concern is over tumbling, and the consequent breakdown/alteration of the powders burn properties........

i.e. 40.0 grains of xyz powder might burn like 50.0 grains of xyz powder after tumbling 24 hours and 5 minutes rather than 5 minutes!

We do not wish to alter the chemical properties of the powder.

The fella's at Sierra Bullets told me 5 minutes/less to get lube off the loaded cases is fine with them.........

just my 2 cents worth adjusted for inflation.

-bubba