How necessary is it to clean brass? Is a vibrating cleaner or tumbler something I have to buy as part of my set up or something I can add later? Does this help the powder burn better or what.

If none of your guns are semi-auto loaders, a tumbler is something that can be added later. Some guys don't ever tumble. IF you shoot any semi-auto loaders such as AR-15, then it becomes a little more necassary because the gas guns tend to dirty the brass quicker and more so.

Won't effect powder burn, either way.

there's l liquid out that cleans up the brass pretty good and you can reuse it again. i think that it's very important to clean your brass so you can inspect each case for dents dings cracks bulges etc. etc. if in dought throw it out.

The short answer is no, a tumbler or other cleaning method if not strictly necessary to successfully handload. However, if you do not clean your brass with a tumbler, you MUST at least make sure that they are free of dust, dirt, sand or gross powder fowling by wiping them off with a clean rag. If you don't you're just begging for a stuck case in your sizing die, scratched dies, crumpled cases, etc... Not to mention the added benefit of being able to easily inspect your brass for flaws. It's much easier to identify problems with clean brass than dirty brass. Then there is just the pride of having clean, shiny handloads. It's like asking if it's necessary to wash your car, and the answer is no, but if you want your paint to last and see any small scratches that need to be touched up before they rust, you will.

Vibratory case tumblers are not that expensive, and you can get the tumbler media (fine ground corn cobs and/or walnut hulls) at the pet store for a fraction of what it costs to buy at the gun store, then you just treat it yourself. I use a 50/50 blend of fine corn cob and fine ground walnut hulls in my tumbler, treated with the recommended amount of Iosso Case Polish. The walnut hulls quickly clean off even the worst fowling and staining, and the softer corn cobs polish the brass to a near mirror shine. Look for the corn cob/walnut hulls in the reptile and bird section of your local pet store. It's sold as bedding or litter.

Mike

I have had a tumbler for 3 years and I don't use it much. They are more of a luxury item than a necessity. You can clean brass by hand.

Couple days ago mine quit working so I'll have to send it in.

I tumble my brass and use that time to carefully inspect my cases for defects.

I clean my brass with a fine copper scrubbie, then wipe with a rag, one at a time.I want a tumbler cuz cleaning brass one at a time is a long process. I clean for all the above mentioned reasons.

I normally clean the outside of the case with Hoppes #9 to remove any powder residue. I then resize and clean in hot water with dish detergent to remove any oils. It may not be the fastest way, but I am not normally dealing with more than 40-50 cases and it allows me to handle each case individually for inspection.

Look up "Krazy Kloth". They a big in benchrest circles, and work very, very well on dirty brass. 0000 steel wool works well also if you dont have a tumbler.

ETA: http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/8859/1056

Well I wouldn't use real dirty brass and I've always cleaned the brass after use. Part of the reloading process for me. If you wanted it easy, you'd just buy factory loaded cartridges and avoid all the reloading.

Before I got a tumbler, I put the brass in a bucket with some water, some white vinegar, a little salt, and a little hand dishwater soap. Move the brass around a few times, and let it sit for about fifteen minutes. After that I'd take the cartridges out and dry them on some newspaper. It might not be the brand new look after a few uses, but it would be clean for some good reloading.