I have gathered up like 200-500 pieces of brass for each gun I shoot. Some more. So I still tumble but usually only do it all at once. I keep track of whats been fired so many times and try to keep it together as one piece. In other words, I will fire thru my 270 brass, all like 800 pieces of it, and it takes me like over 2 years to do that. And then I tumble it all, spending a week. I then size it all, and trim it all if needed.

Only caliber I don't have much brass for is my 204. And its burning and sealing pretty good and I don't need to tumble but every 2-3 loads.

I have a friend that tried reloading, and hates it. He shoots a 30-06 like myself, so I benefit from all of his once fired brass.
I pick up scads of once fired .308 brass (for my Dad's rifle) at the range, but, I do have a problem finding cheap used 8mm Mauser brass and .45 LC brass. It's becoming more and more expensive. rarely any at the range.

I think I have about 250 .45LC left that aren't at the end of their life expectancy. Maybe 80 8x57 left.

I'm getting really picky about what I shoot for fun anymore.

. If you have 06 brass you have 8 x 57 in the making, run it threw your dies, trim to lenth and presto you have 8mm mauser ready to reload. Or it at least works for me.

I've done that a time or two. I reload the '06 for my self and a couple others in my family, so most of the time, that brass is already spoken for.[:@]