Re: tumbling loaded rounds
There is information out there that says tumble cleaning loaded rounds is a bad thing. the basis being that the vibro-tumbling may change the burning properties of the powder, either through grain fracture or by partially removing the deterrent coating powder on the grains that controls burn rate.
no first hand experience, but it does make sense.
taken directly from Sierra reloading manual V
quote:
Q: I have some loaded ammo that is pretty badly tarnished. Can I just put it in my tumbler and clean it up?
A: No. Aside from the possibility of a sharply pointed bullet striking a primer and causing a detonation, the deterrent coating may be altered which speeds up the burning rate. Most tumblers would require the ammo to be tumbled for quite some time before it was thoroughly cleaned, possibly long enough cause some breakdown of the powder or its deterrent coating. the simple answer here is. "No, don't do it".
End quote