tarnished 223 cases ?

[rebs]

I just found about 400 223 cases that I had processed and primed ready to load, but they are tarnished and dark colored. I am guessing maybe it is not a good idea to put them in the tumbler with dry media since they are primed , right or w wrong ?
The cases I had stored in zip lock bags still look good but the ones I stored in Tupperware tarnished because I didn't have the snap on lid in place.
Has anyone ever tumbled primed cases in dry media ?

I forgot to ask if anyone tumbles 223 rounds that are already loaded ?

[TATER]

Yes, that is what I would do, Go ahead and load then do a quick tumble..
I do a quick tumble on all the stuff that comes of the 650. Some longer than others.

[Unclenick]

I only polish to make cases easier to find in the grass. But if you are using a bolt gun or a brass catcher and aren't having to do that kind of policing, just load and shoot and polish on the next load cycle (if you want to).

[Vance]

I would just load them and use them.

[T. O'Heir]

Dark brass coloured or black? The former is ok. The latter not so much. Tumbling won't hurt either way.

[rebs]

They are dark brass color not black. I did have a couple that were real dark almost black and I discarded them to the scrap brass bin.

What I would like to know is if tumbling them with the primer in would be a good idea or not ?

[Vance]

If you absolutely have to tumble them, then load them then tumble. Don't really want foriegn dust getting into the primer. Might decrease their effectiveness.

[mikld]

What I would like to know is if tumbling them with the primer in would be a good idea or not ?

I'd suggest you go ahead and finish reloading them then tumble. Media or stuff may get stuck in the flash hole or in the primer.

Nuttin' wrong with shooting brown ammo! I remember way back when, you could tell who was a reloader at the range. The guys that shot a lot, policed their brass, and shot "brown" ammo were the reloaders. The new shooters, and police shot new, virgin looking brass...

[pathdoc]

Scotch-brite pad and the Lee case trimming setup chucked in a drill work well, at least on the outside of the case. I've heard of a technique by which someone was shoving a bore brush or similar into the case mouth to do the inside too, but I couldn't remember the details or find the right size brush to get it to work on .223 cases. Must try with some .303 rejects sometime.

[rebs]

Bob we do not recommend putting loaded rounds into a tumbler for fear of setting off a loaded round. You will also bread down the powder inside the case which will change the powder volume in the case. Thanks



From: Hornady Manufacturing, Inc [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 10:12 AM
To: tech
Subject: "Technical Inquiries" Contact from Bob



This is a response sent by Bob using the feedback form on the website. The details of the message follow below:

Subject:


Technical Inquiries


Comments:
Is it safe to tumle loaded ammo ? I have some that has become quite tarnished. Does Hornady tumble clean any loaded ammo to remove case lube or dirt ?

Thank you
Bob

[jokker1978]

I tumble almost all of my loaded ammo.

[chris in va]

I've loaded countless 'brown' brass cases with zero ill effects. I actually take pride in finding these buried in the mud, almost like resurrecting the dead.

[mikld]

I was about to accept the Hornady email until I read "You will also break down the powder inside the case which will change the powder volume". I ain't no rocket scientist, but how can volume change??? I realize the powder may change granular size, but volume?

[Vance]

They are just saying not to do it due to liability issues. 10 minutes worth of tumbling to get lube off the finished round is not going to break the powder down. And the tarnish is not going to effect the performance of the round either.

[Jimro]

be lazy, load them up, polish them next reloading cycle.

If you must tumble, go ahead and tumble them. Even if a bullet did go off it wouldn't do much but make a loud noise and maybe a mess. Bullets don't go flying from unchambered cartridges, they either burst at the shoulder or the bullet only goes out far enough for the gas to escape.

Jimro

[frogo207]

I am not good at posting links but on The High Road a couple of users tumbled loaded rounds for days and inspected at intervals with NO powder problems at all while shooting a sample each time and watching the velocities. You would have to drop the rounds several feet onto a hard object just so to set of a primer. A tumbler we use would never impart enough energy to set off a primer. Hornaday's reply is lawyer proofing IMHO. Do what you feel is safe----Me I tumble loaded ammo with NuFinish to prevent tarnish and have for years with no ill effects, just sparkly brass.

Oh shooting it as tarnished would be something I would do also, as long as there is no green crap/corrosion on them.

[Snyper]

If it's not corroded, but merely "discolored", I see no reason to do anything other than use it as is.