RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator Multi-Caliber

Elevating Your Reloading Efficiency: The RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator – An Essential Guide

Are you a dedicated reloader who understands the critical importance of clean, meticulously prepared brass? Do you find yourself spending precious time and effort painstakingly separating tumbling media from your freshly polished cases? For anyone involved in the art and science of reloading ammunition, the process of cleaning spent brass is a fundamental yet often time-consuming step. Whether you’re a competitive shooter preparing hundreds of rounds for an upcoming match, a casual plinker optimizing costs, or a precision reloader striving for sub-MOA accuracy, ensuring your brass is free of media, dirt, and debris is paramount. This isn't just about aesthetics; it directly impacts the consistency of your loads, the longevity of your dies, and the overall safety and performance of your ammunition.

Enter the RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator. This isn't just another accessory; it's a game-changing tool designed to revolutionize your case preparation workflow, saving you significant time and effort while delivering impeccably clean brass. Gone are the days of shaking a colander over a bucket or picking out individual cases by hand. The RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator addresses the core pain point of media removal, transforming it from a tedious chore into a swift, efficient process. It's the answer for reloaders seeking to optimize their workflow and achieve superior results with minimal fuss.

The Challenge of Case Preparation: Why Media Separation Matters

Before any spent brass case can be resized, decapped, primed, or loaded, it typically undergoes a cleaning process. This usually involves tumbling in a vibratory or rotary tumbler with various types of media – most commonly corn cob, walnut shells, or more recently, stainless steel pins. This tumbling action, often aided by polishing compounds, removes carbon buildup, primer residue, and general grime, leaving your brass shiny and ready for the next stages of reloading.

However, the media itself becomes intertwined with the cases during this process. Leaving media inside cases, especially in the flash hole or primer pocket, can lead to inconsistent powder charges, unreliable primer seating, and even dangerous pressure spikes. Likewise, media stuck to the outside of cases can scratch dies or interfere with the smooth feeding of ammunition. Manual separation is slow, dusty, and tedious, often leaving residual media. The problem statement for countless reloaders is clear: "How can I quickly and thoroughly separate my cleaning media from my brass without making a mess or missing a single case?" The RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator provides that precise solution.

Unveiling the RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator: Features and Benefits

The RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator is engineered for both effectiveness and ease of use, reflecting RCBS's long-standing commitment to quality reloading equipment. This unit is meticulously designed to handle a wide array of calibers, making it a versatile addition to any reloading bench.

Key Features that Drive Efficiency:

• Rotary Action Sifting Drum: At its core, the separator features a robust, perforated drum that rotates freely. This rotary motion is key to its effectiveness. As the drum turns, the smaller media particles fall through the perforations, leaving the larger brass cases inside. This dynamic action ensures thorough separation, preventing media from clinging to cases or getting lodged in crevices.
• Generous Capacity: The drum is sized to accommodate a substantial volume of brass and media from your tumbler, allowing you to process large batches of cases in a single operation. This is especially beneficial for high-volume shooters or those who prefer to clean brass in bulk.
• Durable Construction: Built with sturdy, high-quality materials, the separator is designed to withstand the rigors of consistent use in a reloading environment. The robust handle and frame ensure stability and a long service life, even with heavy loads of brass.
• Integrated Collection Pan/Lid: Many versions of this separator (or compatible accessories) include a large pan or bucket cover that neatly collects the separated media. This design keeps your workspace clean, prevents media from scattering, and makes it easy to return the media to your tumbler for reuse, minimizing waste.
• Multi-Caliber Compatibility: As indicated by "Multi-Caliber" in its description, the design of the sifting drum and its perforations is optimized to separate media from a broad spectrum of common handgun and rifle calibers. From small pistol cases to larger rifle brass, this single unit handles them all with ease.

Transformative Benefits for Every Reloading Session:

• Significant Time Savings: This is arguably the most impactful benefit. What once took minutes or even hours of manual sifting can now be accomplished in a matter of seconds to a few minutes. Imagine the cumulative time savings over hundreds or thousands of cases!
• Effortless Media Removal: The rotary action does all the heavy lifting, eliminating the need for tedious manual handling. This reduces fatigue and allows you to focus your energy on more precise reloading tasks like precise powder charges or bullet seating.
• Cleaner Cases, Better Reloads: By ensuring virtually all media is removed, the separator contributes directly to higher quality reloads. Clean cases prevent media contamination in your dies, leading to smoother sizing and extending the life of your expensive reloading equipment. It also ensures consistent flash hole clearance and primer seating for reliable ignition.
• Reduced Mess: The contained design, especially when used with a compatible media collection system, prevents dust and media from escaping into your reloading area. This creates a cleaner, healthier, and more organized workspace.
• Maximizes Media Longevity: By efficiently collecting the separated media, the RCBS separator allows for easy reuse of your corn cob, walnut, or stainless steel pins. This reduces consumption and saves on material costs over time.
• Enhanced Safety: A thoroughly cleaned case, free of obstructions, contributes to safer reloading practices by reducing the risk of inconsistent powder charges or primer issues.

How Does the RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator Work?

Operating the RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator is remarkably straightforward, integrating seamlessly into your case preparation routine:

1. Tumbler Completion: After your brass has been tumbled in your vibratory or rotary tumbler and is clean and polished.
2. Pour into Separator: Carefully pour the entire contents of your tumbler – brass cases and media – into the sifting drum of the RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator.
3. Position Over Collection: Place the separator assembly over a suitable container, such as a dedicated media collection bucket or a large, sturdy pan. Some reloaders even use a large trash can.
4. Rotate the Drum: Grasp the sturdy handle and begin to rotate the drum. As you turn it, the smaller media particles will fall through the perforated drum and into your collection container below. The larger brass cases will remain inside the drum.
5. Continue Until Clear: Continue rotating the drum for a minute or two, ensuring all media has been separated from the brass. A slight shake or tilt can help dislodge any stubborn pieces.
6. Retrieve Clean Brass: Once the media is separated, simply pour the clean, polished brass cases from the drum into your desired container, ready for the next stage of reloading.

This simple, intuitive process highlights why the RCBS Rotary Case/Media Separator is such a highly recommended tool for efficiency-minded reloaders.

Who Benefits Most from This Essential Reloading Tool?

The RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator is not just for industrial-scale operations; it offers significant advantages for a wide range of reloaders:

• High-Volume Shooters: Competitive shooters, law enforcement personnel, or anyone who goes through large quantities of ammunition will find this separator indispensable. It drastically cuts down on post-tumbling processing time, allowing more time for actual shooting or other reloading tasks.
• Precision Reloaders: While often associated with meticulous attention to detail in powder charges and bullet seating, precision reloading also demands pristine brass. Ensuring every spec of media is removed guarantees consistent internal case volume and prevents inconsistencies that could affect accuracy.
• Hobbyist Reloaders: Even if you only reload a few hundred rounds a month, the convenience and reduction in mess offered by this separator make the reloading experience more enjoyable and less of a chore.
• Beginner Reloaders: Starting off with the right tools ensures a positive and efficient experience. The RCBS separator helps establish good habits for case preparation from the outset.
• Anyone Using Stainless Steel Pin Media: Stainless steel pins offer superior cleaning but are notoriously difficult to separate manually. The rotary action of this separator makes quick work of separating these tiny pins, making the use of stainless steel media far more practical.

Why Choose RCBS? A Legacy of Reloading Excellence

RCBS has been a cornerstone of the reloading industry for decades, earning a reputation for producing durable, precise, and user-friendly equipment. The RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator embodies this legacy. When you invest in RCBS, you're not just buying a tool; you're acquiring a piece of equipment backed by years of innovation and trusted by generations of reloaders. Their products are designed by reloaders, for reloaders, understanding the nuances and demands of the craft. This commitment to quality ensures that tools like the Rotary Case/Media Separator deliver consistent performance and stand the test of time, proving to be a wise and reliable investment for your reloading endeavors.

For reloaders seeking this essential tool and a comprehensive array of top-tier reloading supplies, the RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator is readily available at DEGuns. DEGuns offers a curated selection of the finest reloading equipment, ensuring you have access to everything needed to craft precision ammunition. Visit deguns.com to explore their extensive inventory and equip your reloading bench with the best tools the industry has to offer.

Optimizing Your Reloading Workflow: Beyond Just Separation

The RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator fits perfectly into a larger optimized reloading workflow. Consider it as a vital link in the chain of case preparation:

1. Depriming & Initial Sizing: Often done before tumbling, especially for "wet tumbling" with stainless steel pins.
2. Case Cleaning (Tumbler): Utilizing your vibratory or rotary tumbler with your preferred media.
3. Media Separation (RCBS 87076): The crucial step handled by this product.
4. Case Inspection: Checking for cracks, dents, or other damage.
5. Primer Pocket Cleaning & Uniforming: Ensuring a clean and consistent primer pocket for reliable ignition.
6. Flash Hole Deburring: Removing burrs from the inside of the flash hole for consistent ignition.
7. Case Trimming & Chamfer/Deburr: Bringing cases to proper length and preparing case mouths.
8. Final Inspection: A last check before moving to priming and loading.

By streamlining the media separation step, the RCBS 87076 allows you to move through these stages more quickly and efficiently, dedicating more time to the precision aspects of powder charging and bullet seating. This comprehensive approach to case preparation, with the RCBS separator as a key component, elevates the overall quality and consistency of your reloaded ammunition. It's an investment in your productivity, the longevity of your equipment, and ultimately, the performance of your firearms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Case Media Separators

Here are some common questions reloaders ask about media separators and how the RCBS 87076 addresses them:

Q: What is the best way to clean brass for reloading?
A: The most common and effective methods involve using a vibratory or rotary tumbler with cleaning media (corn cob, walnut, or stainless steel pins). After tumbling, a reliable media separator like the RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator is essential for quickly and thoroughly separating the clean brass from the media.

Q: Can this separator handle different calibers?
A: Yes, the RCBS 87076 is specifically designed as a "Multi-Caliber" separator. Its sifting drum perforations are optimized to allow various common handgun and rifle calibers to remain in the drum while the smaller tumbling media falls through.

Q: How do I choose a media separator?
A: Look for a separator that offers efficient rotary action, durable construction, sufficient capacity for your needs, and a design that minimizes mess. The RCBS 87076 excels in all these areas, making it a top choice for reloaders.

Q: Is a media separator really necessary, or can I just pick out the brass by hand?
A: While you can pick brass by hand, it is incredibly time-consuming, tedious, and often results in residual media left in cases. A dedicated media separator like the RCBS 87076 drastically speeds up the process, ensures more complete media removal, and makes your reloading experience far more enjoyable and efficient. It's a highly recommended tool for any serious reloader.

Q: What types of media can this separator handle?
A: The RCBS 87076 Rotary Case/Media Separator is effective with all common tumbling media, including corn cob media, walnut shell media, and even the increasingly popular stainless steel pins. The rotary action makes quick work of separating even tiny pins.

Product Specifications