Discolored bullets

azredhawk44 · April 5, 2010, 07:11 PM

I bought a bunch of reloading gear from a former reloader, and buried in the bottom of it I found a bag with about ~400 55gr .223 bullets. They are very dusty/discolored now.

Can I tumble just bullets, or are they too dense to suspend in the corn cob and get cleaned?

Otherwise I'll tumble them once they are assembled into complete cartridges.

There's also a bunch of Sierra 165gr .308 Gamekings and some 110gr .30 carbine pills with the same problem.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot · April 5, 2010, 07:31 PM

Clean as needed NOW!

DO NOT TUMBLE THE COMPLETED/LOADED AMMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has it been done, probably, but it is not recommended!

If it is just dist, blow them off with compressed air of give them a bath after which you completely dry before attempting to reload.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

10 Spot Terminator · April 5, 2010, 10:30 PM

I use Birchwood liquid case cleaner or Tarn-X to clean tarnished bullets and then rinse them in hot water with a tad of dish soap followed by hot water rinse and they are good to go. The vibratory tumbler doent do so well as the bullets are heavy enough the dont cycle around like brass does. A rotory tumbler does a nice job though, they were designed to be rock polishers .

Jim243 · April 5, 2010, 10:31 PM

You can tumble the bullets themselves or use an ultra-sonic cleaner. If they are soft points you may not want to tumble them, just put them in a 10 % solution of vinegar for awhile and then rinse them well and let dry.

Jim

Sport45 · April 5, 2010, 11:04 PM

Tumbling after loading won't hurt anything. But you won't be cleaning the part of the bullet that will be scraping down your bore at 3000fps or so. Clean them now.

Scorch · April 6, 2010, 01:42 AM

Those bullets are dangerous. It could crush you if your buddies see you with dingey bullets, emotionally scarring you, or at least hurt your feelings. Save yourself the moral agony and send them to me immediately for proper disposal. I will provide proof of disposal. Oh, also send two pounds of W748 to assist in the disposal work. And 1000 primers. OK?? Hurry! Don't wait! Your ego will thank you later.

Or, just put them in the vibratory case cleaner. Put I prefer the first method.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot · April 6, 2010, 12:30 PM

Scorch, You are first in line right behind me.

I also figured get the dirt off them and Shoot, SHOOT, S H O O T em.

AS per tumbling after loading-----------------????????????????

Well I think not! At least I don't want my loaded rounds vibrating for hours in some tumbler.

The possibilities of changing the shape and size and therefore possibly changing the burning rate of the powder are something I don't want to play with. Just too many questions there!

I have read the writtings of those with more experience then I, as well as their many contacts with professionals in the field who say, DON'T.

That is good enough for me. I figure I may as well load up 50 grains of bullseye in an 30/06 case right to start with and save the time in the tumbler.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

azredhawk44 · April 6, 2010, 12:33 PM

CDOC:

Tumbling loaded ammo isn't a big deal.

Just think of all that ammo on army transport planes, or on semis driving cross country, or in the back of Bubba's pickup when out deer hunting.

But, for this situation I will give them a vinegar/water soak and see if that pulls the muck off 'em.

Scorch · April 6, 2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

AS per tumbling after loading-----------------????????????????

Who said anything about tumbling after loading?

azredhawk44 · April 6, 2010, 12:34 PM

Scorch, I suggested it with the original post.

Dustin0 · April 6, 2010, 12:37 PM

You can try and tumble them I dont know if it will work. But I dont see how it could damage them.

Locoweed · April 6, 2010, 02:52 PM

With really grungy bullets I wash them in hot water with a little dishwashing soap. Dry them out and run them through a vibrating tumbler for a couple hours. They won't be beautiful but they'll be clean.
The issue of tumbling loaded ammo has been haggled time and time again on shooting forums and the general consensus is that it's okay. I've done it myself with no ill effects.

Xfire68 · April 6, 2010, 03:17 PM

I bought some bulk Remington 155gr JHP that were discolored and I put them in the tumbler for about an hour and they turned out great.

I remember watching a video about reloading with competitive shooter Brian Enos back in the late 90's and he recommended tumbling loaded ammo to remove any lube or dirt.

howlnmad · April 6, 2010, 03:45 PM

If they're just discolored and dusty... blow them off and load em and shoot. The shinny ones don't really shoot any better than the aged ones.

April 5, 2010, 07:11 PM	#1
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	Discolored bullets I bought a bunch of reloading gear from a former reloader, and buried in the bottom of it I found a bag with about ~400 55gr .223 bullets. They are very dusty/discolored now. Can I tumble just bullets, or are they too dense to suspend in the corn cob and get cleaned? Otherwise I'll tumble them once they are assembled into complete cartridges. There's also a bunch of Sierra 165gr .308 Gamekings and some 110gr .30 carbine pills with the same problem.

April 5, 2010, 11:04 PM	#5
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Tumbling after loading won't hurt anything. But you won't be cleaning the part of the bullet that will be scraping down your bore at 3000fps or so. Clean them now. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

April 6, 2010, 01:42 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,249	Those bullets are dangerous. It could crush you if your buddies see you with dingey bullets, emotionally scarring you, or at least hurt your feelings. Save yourself the moral agony and send them to me immediately for proper disposal. I will provide proof of disposal. Oh, also send two pounds of W748 to assist in the disposal work. And 1000 primers. OK?? Hurry! Don't wait! Your ego will thank you later. Or, just put them in the vibratory case cleaner. Put I prefer the first method. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 5, 2010, 07:31 PM	#2
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Location: Deary, Ideeeeeeho Posts: 531	Clean as needed NOW! DO NOT TUMBLE THE COMPLETED/LOADED AMMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Has it been done, probably, but it is not recommended! If it is just dist, blow them off with compressed air of give them a bath after which you completely dry before attempting to reload. Keep em coming! Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

April 5, 2010, 10:30 PM	#3
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	I use Birchwood liquid case cleaner or Tarn-X to clean tarnished bullets and then rinse them in hot water with a tad of dish soap followed by hot water rinse and they are good to go. The vibratory tumbler doent do so well as the bullets are heavy enough the dont cycle around like brass does. A rotory tumbler does a nice job though, they were designed to be rock polishers .

April 5, 2010, 10:31 PM	#4
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	You can tumble the bullets themselves or use an ultra-sonic cleaner. If they are soft points you may not want to tumble them, just put them in a 10 % solution of vinegar for awhile and then rinse them well and let dry. Jim

April 6, 2010, 12:30 PM	#7
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Location: Deary, Ideeeeeeho Posts: 531	Scorch, You are first in line right behind me. I also figured get the dirt off them and Shoot, SHOOT, S H O O T em. AS per tumbling after loading-----------------???????????????? Well I think not! At least I don't want my loaded rounds vibrating for hours in some tumbler. The possibilities of changing the shape and size and therefore possibly changing the burning rate of the powder are something I don't want to play with. Just too many questions there! I have read the writtings of those with more experience then I, as well as their many contacts with professionals in the field who say, DON'T. That is good enough for me. I figure I may as well load up 50 grains of bullseye in an 30/06 case right to start with and save the time in the tumbler. Keep em coming! Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

April 6, 2010, 12:33 PM	#8
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	CDOC: Tumbling loaded ammo isn't a big deal. Just think of all that ammo on army transport planes, or on semis driving cross country, or in the back of Bubba's pickup when out deer hunting. But, for this situation I will give them a vinegar/water soak and see if that pulls the muck off 'em.

April 6, 2010, 12:34 PM	#10
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	Scorch, I suggested it with the original post.

April 6, 2010, 12:37 PM	#11
Dustin0 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 701	You can try and tumble them I dont know if it will work. But I dont see how it could damage them.

April 6, 2010, 02:52 PM	#12
Locoweed Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 661	With really grungy bullets I wash them in hot water with a little dishwashing soap. Dry them out and run them through a vibrating tumbler for a couple hours. They won't be beautiful but they'll be clean. The issue of tumbling loaded ammo has been haggled time and time again on shooting forums and the general consensus is that it's okay. I've done it myself with no ill effects.

April 6, 2010, 03:17 PM	#13
Xfire68 Senior Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Communist State of IL. Posts: 1,562	I bought some bulk Remington 155gr JHP that were discolored and I put them in the tumbler for about an hour and they turned out great. I remember watching a video about reloading with competitive shooter Brian Enos back in the late 90's and he recommended tumbling loaded ammo to remove any lube or dirt.

April 6, 2010, 03:45 PM	#14
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	If they're just discolored and dusty... blow them off and load em and shoot. The shinny ones don't really shoot any better than the aged ones.