Here's the deal...I picked up a nice lot of .303 from a fellow CGN'er. There's some old surplus ball ammo, and lot of Dominion & Imperial round nose hunting ammo. I have to yank some bullets to find out how many grain they are for the different types so I can keep them in their appropriate lots, but some have oxidized lead noses and cases. They would benefit from a gentle trumble, if for no other reason than to clean them up. Some have mild corrosion as well. I know that "theoretically" tumbling live ammo is a no-no, so the next alternative is to yank all the bullets, dump the powder, and just tumble the primed cases. If anyone has done this before, let me know how it turned out for you. I have heard of tumbling media getting into the touch hole and inhibiting the primer. Is that a realistic concern. Thanks in advance for your input.
tumbling loaded ammo!
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
option #3
get a LEE case trimmer lock stud and shell plate, chuck into cordless drill and polish lightly with a scotch brite or steel wool.
get a LEE case trimmer lock stud and shell plate, chuck into cordless drill and polish lightly with a scotch brite or steel wool.
Two concerns I would have,
1. Powder may fracture or otherwise break down and change the burn rate causing faster ignition and higher pressures.
2. Tumbling primed brass would contaminate the primer inside and / or plug the flash hole in case.
1. Powder may fracture or otherwise break down and change the burn rate causing faster ignition and higher pressures.
2. Tumbling primed brass would contaminate the primer inside and / or plug the flash hole in case.
few years ago,i had a few live rounds (about 6 pieces)...they were gunged up and greeny and looked like crap...
i put them in my front pocket with the intention of tossing them in the swamp when i passed it....
the first day i forgot about them,walked by the swamp and keep on going
next day i get to the swamp,reach in pocket to get bullets to toss,and i,ll be dammed ...
they buffed them selves up just by being in my pocket rubbing againts each other
i put them in my front pocket with the intention of tossing them in the swamp when i passed it....
the first day i forgot about them,walked by the swamp and keep on going
next day i get to the swamp,reach in pocket to get bullets to toss,and i,ll be dammed ...
they buffed them selves up just by being in my pocket rubbing againts each other
I was just going to suggest this exact thing.
I'd use sandpaper if it was REALLY nasty up near the shoulder/ogive, but other than that scotch-brite or steel wool all the way.
-M
Tumbling live ammo is no problem at all. The powder does not break down.
If you're not comfortable with it then don't do it but its fine.
If one ever did go off, which it won't, but if it did, the primer would just blow out without igniting the powder. This happens sometimes with inertial bullet pullers. If the powder did ignite, which it wouldn't, but if it did, being as the cartridge is not contained in a rifle's chamber, it would be pretty much a non event.
Why not just fire them and then clean the brass?
Fine steel wool as mentioned above works really well too if you don't have hundreds to do.
If you're not comfortable with it then don't do it but its fine.
If one ever did go off, which it won't, but if it did, the primer would just blow out without igniting the powder. This happens sometimes with inertial bullet pullers. If the powder did ignite, which it wouldn't, but if it did, being as the cartridge is not contained in a rifle's chamber, it would be pretty much a non event.
Why not just fire them and then clean the brass?
Fine steel wool as mentioned above works really well too if you don't have hundreds to do.
If there dimensionally OK and not too nasty looking in a sound case, rack them up and plink away. Of course I hear the storys where some sergeants made their boys clean there bullets along side with their rifles at regular intervals, whether it was required or not.
Driller
If the round goes off in the open, not contained in a chamber/barrel, the powder will ignite! Why would it not?
Yes, the primer will be ejected, but it and the case become instant schrapnel, hardly a non-issue.
I say this because it happened to me. I had a .38 super round go off when the primer struck the ejector while unloading and showing clear after an IPSC match. It was my practise to cup my hand over the ejection port to catch the round rather than let it hit the ground and I did so that day. When the cartridge case ruptured it split and spread out with sharp edges that lacerated two of my fingers enough to need stitches. There was a lot of blood. The explosion sounded like the a pistol shot, the range officers' initial thought was there had been an A D. I still have the ruptured casing to remind myself not to have my hand over the ejection port when ejecting a round.
The only damage was to my fingers, the Colt was unharmed, the other rounds in the magazine were unharmed and did not detonate.
Something to remember when transferring bulk quantities of ammunition from one container to another, impact to a sensitive primer or static electricity could set off a cartridge resulting in the possible loss of eyesight if eye protection is not worn.
Answer: send them to Fogducker so he can put them in his pocket for a few days. Problem solved.
few years ago,i had a few live rounds (about 6 pieces)...they were gunged up and greeny and looked like crap...
i put them in my front pocket with the intention of tossing them in the swamp when i passed it....
the first day i forgot about them,walked by the swamp and keep on going
next day i get to the swamp,reach in pocket to get bullets to toss,and i,ll be dammed ...
they buffed them selves up just by being in my pocket rubbing againts each other
I was given around 150 rds. of 9mm a while back (years) that had been in a tin can that had gotten wet, so to say they were covered in rust from the can. I was going to pull them then thought I would tumble them for a while to see how they would look. They spent over 50 hours straight in there and all fired as expected with the exception of a dozen that had water contamination as a result of corroded primers. I have since tumbled many hundred from then in rifle and pistol calibers with no ill effects, take from this what you wish but I wouldn't sweat it.
See replies above.
I should mention that for an experiment I tumbled a few 30-06's with 40grains of IMR4831 to see if it breaks down. After about 24 hours the powder had no more fine particles than what you would find in the bottom of a can of 4831.
IIRC, IMR style rifle powders are coated with a fine graphite to prevent the pellets from binding against one another so this might be some of the "dust". (maybe "ganderite" can comfirm this) As anyone who has used Bullseye or Unique etc can attest, the dust storm you get from the bottom of a can is brutal if the light is right.
IIRC, IMR style rifle powders are coated with a fine graphite to prevent the pellets from binding against one another so this might be some of the "dust". (maybe "ganderite" can comfirm this) As anyone who has used Bullseye or Unique etc can attest, the dust storm you get from the bottom of a can is brutal if the light is right.
- Location
- Central Alberta
I accidentally tumbled a live 303 round with some brass. It was very shiny afterward and scored an X on the 200m standing deliberate stage of a highpower shoot.
I wouldn't chose to do it, even though no harm is "likely". However, it's the unexpected that could cause injury so I'd just stick with the scotchbrite or steel wool.
Stew
I wouldn't chose to do it, even though no harm is "likely". However, it's the unexpected that could cause injury so I'd just stick with the scotchbrite or steel wool.
Stew
