Speer bullets

[agent007]

I have been using Speer bullets without any problems. However, today I opened a 100 bullet box of 50 gr, 0.224 dia, TNT. I was shocked to discover the foam pad the is on the bottom of the container had disintegrated and corroded all the projectiles that were in contact with the foam which was about 50 projectiles. I then opened 2 more boxes and found the same problem. My wife, who is a chemist advised that it is a known fact that foam contacting copper will cause an undesired effect. All my projectiles were stored in a dry environment at my loading bench. All boxes were factory sealed until today. Has anyone else encountered this problem? PLEASE REMOVE

 

[Al-Sway]

Never. All of my Speer bullets have been in pristine shape when I opened the boxes.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Have you contacted Speer with this?
I would assume they would know of these any any other chemical reactions with bullets.
got pic for informational purposes.
Rob

 

[agent007]

Speer Bullets

Have you contacted Speer with this?
I would assume they would know of these any any other chemical reactions with bullets.
got pic for informational purposes.
Rob

Yes I have contacted Speer, they replied yesterday requesting batch numbers from the boxes. I have forwarded the batch numbers to Speer yesterday. I also took the time to open the 7 remaining (factory sealed) boxes and found the same issue with those boxes also. I am now waiting to hear from Speer.

 

[burnaby]

Did you record the event to prove that boxes were sealed with no tampering prior to opening.

Yes I have contacted Speer, they replied yesterday requesting batch numbers from the boxes. I have forwarded the batch numbers to Speer yesterday. I also took the time to open the 7 remaining (factory sealed) boxes and found the same issue with those boxes also. I am now waiting to hear from Speer.

 

[agent007]

Speer advised today the problem must be from age of foam. The bullet lot numbers were manufactured in 1999 and they stated Speer expects that bullets would be used within a reasonable amount of time after packaging. Seems like a lame answer to me. Lots of dealers have stock much older than that. I guess I expected a more professional response from a major manufacturer like Speer. Guess I'll keep that in mind when I purchase replacement bullets for the corroded ones!

 

[Bigbubba]

If they are not too badly corroded you could try tumbling them to clean them up.

It's just oxidation and if it is still surface oxidation they should be ok. I have seen "green bullets" before....

 

[Longwalker]

You can salvage the corroded bullets by tumbling them with some good tough media like walnut. Just make sure to take an extra step to clean off any abrasives before loading. They won't look pretty, but should clean up enough to be shootable. It would take a huge amount of corrosion to make a bullet unshootable. Still, not a good response from Speer.

 

[ThorInc]

I am also quite disappointed in Speer's response to this situation. Makes me think twice.

 

[Bigbubba]

Yes, me too. Hornady bullets are in a cardboard box. Speer used to be in a yellow plastic box - I dont remember any foam in the bottom. The Speer GS bullets were in plastic as well and again I dont remember any foam.

Something to watch for now for sure - just open the box and pull the foam.

 

[agent007]

Yes, me too. Hornady bullets are in a cardboard box. Speer used to be in a yellow plastic box - I dont remember any foam in the bottom. The Speer GS bullets were in plastic as well and again I dont remember any foam.

Something to watch for now for sure - just open the box and pull the foam.

Thanks for suggestion, I will try tumbling in walnut media over the weekend and will post how I make out.

 

[agent007]

Thanks for suggestion, I will try tumbling in walnut media over the weekend and will post how I make out.

Tried tumbling in wallet media, 2 sessions of 6 hours each. All that happened is the area on bullets that were not corroded just got brighter, but the corrosion remains. The pitting is just too deep. So following the old adage that says: "once you realize you are in a hole.......STOP DIGGING", that being said and reflecting on Speers non technical response to the problem, I am moving on with lots of reloading to do...with projectiles from Speer's competition. ADIOS SPEER!!!