Corroded Hirtenberger 7.62x51mm NATO surplus

[Donny Fenn1]

Thanks for the advice boys and as mentioned I too will not get into a slug fest.
I'll just tell you you're wrong and go on my way, thanks for coming out.

 

[Ezesport]

I have several crates of this ammo and see the same issue as you have. It looks to me as if the cardboard box was reacting to the brass. There are a few spots that you can see very small pitting. They all seem to go bang so that's all that matters with surplus. Did you notice their is an odour from inside the package.

 

[FLHTCUI]

It's pointless here to get into another pointless "never tumble ammo" slugfest.

It's cosmetic. Shoot it and then clean off the stains if shiny is important to you.

Was it also not pointless to drag the name of the vendor into this mess before they had a chance to respond accordingly?

Interesting clip from U-tube btw.
Rob

 

[fiddler]

I have a couple 5 gallon pails full of dirty, sandy, cosmoline covered 8x57 brass that I've been cleaning up for use in the tumbler for several years with no problems. One time I went away for a 4 day weekend and forgot to turn the tumbler off. It was very clean and it all fired.


Yup real cool video. I bet that puppy costs a few bucks?

 

[johnone]

Not to be difficult this is surplus military ammunition & while I wouldn't expect this from sealed Hirtenberger battle packs, it was manufactured most likely in the mid to late 80's, how many times do you think this ammunition changed hands & how was it stored?? Food for thought....

gadget

From the time of manufacture until we bought it about three years ago it was in MOD warehouses.
John

 

[johnone]

Throw em in the tumbler for an hour or two, they'll be fine.
It doesn't look like corrosion, just staining from the cardboard.

Not recommended to tumble loaded ammo, you can fracture the powder granules and end en with faster burning (higher pressures)
You are 100% correct it is staining from the chemicals in the cardboard....
John

 

[bearhunter]

Norwegian 22, that corrosion is not all that unusual in those old sealed battle packs. It won't hurt a thing just the way it is.

If you think that's bad you should see the recent sealed battle packs made by IVI that I opened a few weeks ago. Your ammo looks pristine compared to the old IVI. Mine will have to be put through a scrub in Vinegar/Sunlight/Water rinse and likely in the SS pin tumbler before it will be useable.

There is a reason this ammo was surplussed. Even in the condition you show in your pics, it was a good price for accurate and reliable ammo. Hopefully your rifle likes it.

 

[Hitzy]

Late to this party but yeah, whole crate of boxer primed I got recently is fairly corroded. It seems to grow more off the brass then into the brass, so no real concern. If you have the Lee trim thing that chucks in a drill you can clean these up pretty quick, 000 Scotch pad is all it takes. I'll run a rag with metal polish over it after to remove any fine scratches.
I'll tumble a bunch too, works fine, it's SAFE, and minimum effort.
Crates smell moldy so they have seen some humidity.