how many "tumble" round ball after cast?

[adkmountainken]

just wondering how many people cast and tumble round ball? after reading an older article in Muzzleloader Mag comparing accuracy of tumbled, sprue left on and sprue trimmed I would like to try to tumble some.  what do you use to tumble? looks to be a rock tumbler can be had at a decent price but I would bet folks on here have some better ideas?

[bob in the woods]

Unless you are a bench rest shooter, I wouldn't bother.

[snapper]

Hornady uses a plastic barreled cement mixer with a dish towel thrown in.

Fleener

[T*O*F]

what do you use to tumble? looks to be a rock tumbler

I tried it years ago.  The weight of the balls was too much for my unit and it smoked the belt.
I wouldn't bother, but if you do a vibratory model might be the way to go.

[hanshi]

I usually do tumble cast ball.  It seems to make them more uniform to where they look like swaged ball.  Does it make them more accurate?  I seriously doubt it but I still do it.

[EC121]

The only reason to tumble the balls would be for the convenience of loading without trying to properly position the sprue.  The ball starter will probably dent the ball some so tumbling is mostly for looks.

[Daryl]

I still see well enough to orient the sprue - Taylor says he doesn't bother with sprue orientation. I need every help I can, so I do it- usually. With tanner moulds, it is not necessary, as the sprue is removed by my wire stripper pliers with a twisting motion.

[Standing Bear]

I know no one who tumbles unless u count having read many of Hanshi's posts as mowing him
TC

[Hungry Horse]

I did years ago, I should have used the time on the range with the as cast balls. It was a total waste of time.

  Hungry Horse

[longcruise]

I've done it several times with a vibrating case cleaner.  Remove the cleaning media and spread the balls on the bottom in a single layer and not tight.  If you stack em you will get flat spots.

The only castings I've done it with were from a lee mold.  Don't remember how long they were vibrated either but when the came out they were perfectly round and the little flat sprue mark could not be found.

There was no difference in accuracy that was detectable.  I'm a bit anal about getting the sprue mark dead center on the top so they eliminated the need to do that.

All in all, probably won't bother to do it again.

[adkmountainken]

Fred Stutzenberger article in Muzzleloader May/June 2011 was a great piece on this subject and his findings after extensive range work with all 3 types of balls, tumbled, sprue left on and sprue trimmed.  4 page article that is worth the read.

[Eddie Southgate]

  Got a rock polishing kit for Christmas when I was 12 . Actually ended up getting two . My pap thought rolling a few balls around in one might be a good idea so we tried it . It worked and the sprue  was gone when we took them out . Never could tell any difference in how they shot so we quit doing it . I have since tried Hornady balls and they are no better to me than my own cast balls . I know those who disagree but that's my mileage .

  Eddie

[hanshi]

Tumbling ball is not any problem, at least for me.  I just take the cast ball, drop them into the tumbler (also have a vibrating one) and check back later.

[Maineshops]

About 50 yrs ago a fellow ml had a couple of plates that went in the drill press. The bottom was stationary and the top plate was driven. As i recall the top plate was beveled inward to the center of the disk.(convex). He threw a handful of balls in and spun them for a few seconds and it removed the screw. Any one have any details on that system?

[adkmountainken]

just picked up a 3 pound tumbler at Harbor Frieght with a 2 year warranty for $49 so I guess i'll be able todo my own range reports shortly.

[Hungry Horse]

I lied I do tumble the round balls I shoot in my trade gun. Not to smooth them, but to create small dents. I use a friends old paint shaker, and an empty paint can, or my saws all with an empty paint can. I just run it long enough to ding them up good.

  Hungry Horse

[Marcruger]

I read a detailed article that somewhat proved that tumbled roundballs (like golfballs) flew a bit better and were a fraction more accurate than plain balls. 

I also read that rolling balls between two plates of glass (several at a time) produced balls without sprue defects or mold lines. 

Just FYI.  Best wishes,   Marc

[adkmountainken]

Fred Stutzenberger article in Muzzleloader May/June 2011 was an excellent study.

[Hungry Horse]

IMO tumbling and rolling round balls to get them smooth and spite free is a waste of time. An old timer took my rejects and shot me into the dirt. I never rolled another ball. But, the undersized,dented, balls in a smoothbore is a whole different deal. It works.

  Hungry Horse

[Mauser06]

When you tumble them in a vibratory tumbler, no media or anything??   Just balls?   

How long? 


Sounds like it's worth doing in smooth bores. Will be working on dialing in a smooth rifle soon and looking to gain all the edge I can.

[Daryl]

The tumbler have would really put a million (or less) flats on them without "some" layer of media.  Sounds like an idea, though - interesting.  Once it stops being winter here, I might try that. The machine makes too much noise for inside.

[Hungry Horse]

I do small batches ( like about twenty at a time) I run the shaker for about ten or fifteen minutes, and the sawsall for a little more. The sawsall doesn't run as fast as the paint shaker. I think a jigsaw would work as well.
 In my 20 gauge tradegun I load it with at least eighty grains of 2F, drop a bare dimpled .595 ball on top of the powder, and then run a wad cut from an old wool blanket down on top of the ball. I just barely dipped one side of the wad in hot bear grease, to soften the foulings.
 These shoot pretty straight until they start losing velocity. Once the velocity drops way off they start to wonder.

  Hungry Horse

[Dphariss]

It will pound the sprues down on .662 balls if they are pure lead (not if W-W alloy though too hard). But makes a horrid racket doing it and takes awhile. Not worth the trouble IMO.

Dan

[Dphariss]

When you tumble them in a vibratory tumbler, no media or anything??   Just balls?   

How long? 


Sounds like it's worth doing in smooth bores. Will be working on dialing in a smooth rifle soon and looking to gain all the edge I can.

Just the balls, don't want abrasives and other stuff pounded into them. The time? Until the sprues are gone. I use a large case tumbler or did.
Dan

[Daryl]

I'll have to try that- this spring or summer.  Still to cold to cast right now.