Need some suggestions on how to clean live ammo!

blackacres

blackacres

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Mods., I hope this is the correct place to post this question, if not please remove.

I've never encountered this, so I thought I'd see if I can obtain some information for fellow CGN's.

I was at the range about a month ago with a couple of rifles, .308 and .338LM. I packed up early, cleaned up my guns and put them away, but I forgot to take my match ammo (Blackhills .308, Lapua .338LM) from my range bag and put it back on the shelves. I left the bag on the basement cement floor and I now recall about three weeks ago my washer in the next room overflowed the sink.

Anyway, I picked up my range bag and it appears the bottom of my range bag got wet and has sat since. There were about 90 rounds of ammo in total, it has tarnished a lot all over the brass and bullets, it even feels rough to the touch.

I think I could hand cleaning the tarnish residue up using something like a fine Scotchbrite pad, but that's going to take me hours, plus it won't be smooth.

I then thought, perhaps I could use my tumbler! The next thought was "is that going to be safe?"! "What's going to happen to the powder?" came to mind.

What do you guys think? Do you think I could clean up the rounds in a tumbler safely?

Any input would be appreciated.
 
Fill the tumbler with corn cob media and some NuFinish car polish and let it run for a few hours. Should be sparkling shiny when done. Might even be cleaner than it was when you bought it.
 
cheier said:
Fill the tumbler with corn cob media and some NuFinish car polish and let it run for a few hours. Should be sparkling shiny when done. Might even be cleaner than it was when you bought it.
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x3!

although i don't bother with nufinish, just corn cob.

also this assumes your using the vibratory style cleaner and not stainless steel/ultrasonic :)
 
X4 (Spawn-Inc beat me:) - but i would add a cap full of mineral spirits also. Completely safe. Be sure to add the NuFinish and mineral spirits, if you choose to, first and let it mix into the media.
 
Last edited:
Wow! Quick responses, thanks fellow CGN'ers.

I have Lyman corn cob green media, not S.S. I thought the tumbler may work, but as I've only ever tumbled just brass, I thought it would be a good idea to ask before tumbling live rounds.

Thanks again, I'm off to begin tumbling!
 
Just did this today with some 9mm that had made its way in the brass bucket which was full of mud from weeks ago. Came out great, and nufinish works great just as well as the tiny bottle the gun shops sell for the same price.
 
Also some polishing cloths out there - Flitz & Krazy Kloth if you're looking for hand options.

FWIW I've accidentally included live rounds in the tumbler with corn cob media and they came out okay.
 
Why not trip the trigger on 'em next time you are at the range? Pretty don't make accurate! If they will chamber, and extract after firing, all is good.
 
blackacres said:
Mods., I hope this is the correct place to post this question, if not please remove.

I've never encountered this, so I thought I'd see if I can obtain some information for fellow CGN's.

I was at the range about a month ago with a couple of rifles, .308 and .338LM. I packed up early, cleaned up my guns and put them away, but I forgot to take my match ammo (Blackhills .308, Lapua .338LM) from my range bag and put it back on the shelves. I left the bag on the basement cement floor and I now recall about three weeks ago my washer in the next room overflowed the sink.

Anyway, I picked up my range bag and it appears the bottom of my range bag got wet and has sat since. There were about 90 rounds of ammo in total, it has tarnished a lot all over the brass and bullets, it even feels rough to the touch.

I think I could hand cleaning the tarnish residue up using something like a fine Scotchbrite pad, but that's going to take me hours, plus it won't be smooth.

I then thought, perhaps I could use my tumbler! The next thought was "is that going to be safe?"! "What's going to happen to the powder?" came to mind.

What do you guys think? Do you think I could clean up the rounds in a tumbler safely?

Any input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I kept your ammo in nice temp controlled conditions! Treated them with love and respect this is what you do!

NO MORE AMMO FOR YOU!!!!! ;)
 
Not one warning not to tumble live ammo.
Finally, the myths and old wives tales, on the death and destruction, which follows from doing so, are dead.:)
 
UR2X3M4ME said:
Good question and excellent answers. Gogbreath, why mineral spirit? Same quantity as NuFinish?
Click to expand...

My Uncle , who has been loading for decades, showed me the mineral spirits and NuFinish trick. He said that adding the mineral spirits not only helps take off stains better but also doesnt leave as much of a residue. I also use walnut shells, they don't absorb as much of the NuFinish/ Mineral spirits as corn cob. I use a 2 to 1 mixture of NuFinish and Mineral spirits and also put in a cut up used fabric softener sheet in to collect the dirt.

Ive had some really dirty, stained and flash burned cartridges come out sparkly clean. The reality though is as long as they have been cleaned they will shoot just fine despite stains. I like having all my reloads very shiny, Ive also noticed once they have been cleaned this way they dont tarnish at all over time.
 
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