Lead corrosion?

INGunGuy · December 28, 2008, 02:12 PM

Hello,

I have been going thru some older ammunition that I have around here. I have found some bullets for my .243 that have some sort of corrosion on the lead tips. I was looking thru my oldest .22 hornet and .243 Winchester ammo, and some looks to have this same kind of corrosion. Is this still safe to fire thru my guns? I am going to attach a couple of pictures to let you see what this stuff looks like.

INGunGuy

INGunGuy · December 28, 2008, 02:13 PM

More pictures.

INGunGuy

Sport45 · December 28, 2008, 03:11 PM

The exposed lead has oxidized a little. The bullet tips don't come near the barrel and the jackets look fine. I wouldn't think twice about loading and shooting those. If the oxidation bothers you it can be taken off with some fine steel wool.

jrinne0430 · December 28, 2008, 03:17 PM

+1 on oxidation. Will make no difference in performance of the ammunition.

INGunGuy · December 28, 2008, 10:45 PM

I didnt think it would affect the performance, I just wanted someone else to see the corrosion. BTW, what the hell causes lead to corrode? I mean I didnt think lead corroded?

INGunGuy

glicerin · December 28, 2008, 11:16 PM

Steel rusts to iron oxide, just like lead does to lead oxide, usually white, but sometimes brown, yellow or blue. All it takes is time, heat and humidity. A lead alloy with tin or antimony in it will stay shiny for a much longer time.

noyes · December 28, 2008, 11:25 PM

desiccant + air tight ammo can + Latex Rubber gloves ( i see finger prints on those ) = very, very, very long term storage

INGunGuy · December 30, 2008, 12:46 AM

Yea, this is some really really old ammo that I inherited from my father.

INGunGuy

noyes · December 30, 2008, 01:15 AM

I would keep some forever than.

INGunGuy · December 30, 2008, 11:13 PM

Oh believe me, I was going to. I have his final loads from .22 hornet, which I took the picture of. I also got a full ammo can, probably 2000+ rounds of .357mag and loads and loads of other ammunition. Heck I even found a couple of hundred rounds of .32, and as far as I can tell he never even owned a .32 Oh well... hats off to dad and his foresight.

INGunGUy

**Unclenick** · December 30, 2008, 11:20 PM

They're fine. If you have to store exposed lead for a long time, rub a little Johnson's Paste Wax on it to prevent that.

The oxide layer is harder than plain lead. I would not shoot lead bullets, airgun pellets, or un-patched round ball or miniball with that coating. It is abrasive to the bore if it makes contact with it. It also doesn't shoot as accurately as normal. Don't ask how I know.

INGunGuy · December 30, 2008, 11:28 PM

Yea, luckily the .22 hornet and .243 lead tips dont touch the barrel at all so I will probably shoot them at the range. But I will keep some of dad's old loads. Dad was also fond of pushing the .44mag and .22 hornet in the T/C to it's limits. The first time I fired one of his handloaded .44mag the gun just about flew out of my grip...

INGunGUy

December 28, 2008, 03:11 PM	#3
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	The exposed lead has oxidized a little. The bullet tips don't come near the barrel and the jackets look fine. I wouldn't think twice about loading and shooting those. If the oxidation bothers you it can be taken off with some fine steel wool. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

December 28, 2008, 10:45 PM	#5
INGunGuy Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2008 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 142	I didnt think it would affect the performance, I just wanted someone else to see the corrosion. BTW, what the hell causes lead to corrode? I mean I didnt think lead corroded? INGunGuy __________________ Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.

December 30, 2008, 12:46 AM	#8
INGunGuy Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2008 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 142	Yea, this is some really really old ammo that I inherited from my father. INGunGuy __________________ Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.

December 30, 2008, 11:13 PM	#10
INGunGuy Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2008 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 142	Oh believe me, I was going to. I have his final loads from .22 hornet, which I took the picture of. I also got a full ammo can, probably 2000+ rounds of .357mag and loads and loads of other ammunition. Heck I even found a couple of hundred rounds of .32, and as far as I can tell he never even owned a .32 Oh well... hats off to dad and his foresight. INGunGUy __________________ Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.

December 30, 2008, 11:20 PM	#11
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	They're fine. If you have to store exposed lead for a long time, rub a little Johnson's Paste Wax on it to prevent that. The oxide layer is harder than plain lead. I would not shoot lead bullets, airgun pellets, or un-patched round ball or miniball with that coating. It is abrasive to the bore if it makes contact with it. It also doesn't shoot as accurately as normal. Don't ask how I know. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 28, 2008, 03:17 PM	#4
jrinne0430 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 298	+1 on oxidation. Will make no difference in performance of the ammunition.

December 28, 2008, 11:16 PM	#6
glicerin Member Join Date: October 9, 2006 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 36	Steel rusts to iron oxide, just like lead does to lead oxide, usually white, but sometimes brown, yellow or blue. All it takes is time, heat and humidity. A lead alloy with tin or antimony in it will stay shiny for a much longer time.

December 28, 2008, 11:25 PM	#7
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,032	desiccant + air tight ammo can + Latex Rubber gloves ( i see finger prints on those ) = very, very, very long term storage

December 30, 2008, 01:15 AM	#9
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,032	I would keep some forever than.

December 30, 2008, 11:28 PM	#12
INGunGuy Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2008 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 142	Yea, luckily the .22 hornet and .243 lead tips dont touch the barrel at all so I will probably shoot them at the range. But I will keep some of dad's old loads. Dad was also fond of pushing the .44mag and .22 hornet in the T/C to it's limits. The first time I fired one of his handloaded .44mag the gun just about flew out of my grip... INGunGUy __________________ Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government.