Tumbling tarnished ammo

[UNCIVILIZED]

Hope this hasn't been asked & answered. But are there any real negatives to tumbling tarnished/oxidized ammo? Either just some hunting ammo which has been on the shelf for a while, or bulk surplus fodder of various makes. I'm not referring to rounds which have serious corrosion issues, they get tossed obviously.
I figure it's likely a safer & quicker way to get off the oxidation than scrubbing with a 3m greenie pad, or metal polish/cleaner. But figured I'd check with the brain trust here on the Hide for thoughts/feedback.

I mention the waryness about metal cleaners, particularly ones like Brasso or Never Dull as I don't know if it might get into the primers & do bad thigs. Not to mention hand polishing any quantity of ammo would take a LONG time. Odds are Flitz or even toothpaste would be safer, but one never knows, & getting ALL of a polishing/cleaning agent off of a loaded cartridge would be tough. I wouldn't dare solvent wash it, hose it down, etc.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

For loaded rounds I use a couple of twists on a small pad of 4/0 steel wool.

 

[McCrazy]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

Don't do it. Seen it stated a couple times here that tumbling live rounds can produce unsafe bullets.

Gun powder has coatings on it that effect burn rates, and the kernels are also specific sizes which effect burn rates as well. If you tumble the powder the granules start to break down and the coatings wear off resulting in faster burn rates and therefor higher pressures which can be unsafe.

 

[bohem]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McCrazy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't do it. Seen it stated a couple times here that tumbling live rounds can produce unsafe bullets.

Gun powder has coatings on it that effect burn rates, and the kernels are also specific sizes which effect burn rates as well. If you tumble the powder the granules start to break down and the coatings wear off resulting in faster burn rates and therefor higher pressures which can be unsafe. </div></div>

This has been discussed several times with no consensus either way. Some state your reasons, yet when you buy factory ammo keep in mind that they tumble it all before it leaves the factory. Myself and others have found media stuck in the cavity of HP's in several different calibers by several different MFG's.

I tumble all of my reloads for a few minutes to clean up any exterior oils on the cases. I also tumble my cast lead loads so that any little bits of bullet lube on the ogive come off and I don't get slimed during loading at the range.

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

This argument has been around for years. Decades ago reloading manuals stated not to tumble for the very reason Mc mentioned. I don't recall the last time I saw that statement in print.

Several years ago I contacted every powder manufacturer I could. Three responded and said it would be practically impossible to affect burn rates by tumbling loaded rounds. One stated they tumbled powders beyond anything the hobbist could ever dream of. All three recommended against it, of course.

FWIW, I've read of a couple of unscientific tests of tumbled rounds. One guy tumbled a batch for 24 hours and compared before and after chrono results. Velocities remained the same; no visual signs of pressure.

IMO any danger would be static. Static can ignite a primer, but the odds are miniscule. If it's seated upside down, the odds increase.

I would like to see the results of a round cooking off in a tumbler. I'd bet the bowl would contain the fragments.

My take is you'll never get in trouble NOT tumbling and probably never will if you do.

 

[CowboyBart]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

I have vibratory tumbled some 7x57 surplus ammo. I tumbled it for about 4-5 hours. Upon firing, I had to beat open the bolt handle with a 2x4. I eventually pulled down the ammo and reloaded it with good powder. The ammo was 1975 Chilian mfg using a ball powder.
If you use a rotating tumbler for 3-8 minutes you might be OK. I DO NOT recommend a vibratory tumbler.
I would get a Lee shell holder that they use for their trimmer system. Put it in a drill press and hit it with a dry scotch brite pad for 3 seconds.
Of course my hindsight is only 20-20!

 

[bohem]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CowboyBart</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have vibratory tumbled some 7x57 surplus ammo. I tumbled it for about 4-5 hours. Upon firing, I had to beat open the bolt handle with a 2x4. I eventually pulled down the ammo and reloaded it with good powder. The ammo was 1975 Chilian mfg using a ball powder.
If you use a rotating tumbler for 3-8 minutes you might be OK. I DO NOT recommend a vibratory tumbler.
I would get a Lee shell holder that they use for their trimmer system. Put it in a drill press and hit it with a dry scotch brite pad for 3 seconds.
Of course my hindsight is only 20-20! </div></div>

I don't see anything in your description that speaks to me about problem with tumbling, I have some of that ammo and it's crap. Mine isn't corroded and I fired a few rounds that I decided to pull it down because of the same thing. I think the ammo is bad, not the tumbling.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

I'd consider it imprudent, at the very best.

I figure anything that won't come off by doing some manual polishing using the OOOO steel wool mentioned above deserves to stay. I doubt it will negatively affect the ammunition's intended purpose.

Once it's fired, tumble the brass to your heart's content.

...or not...

 

[montyb]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

i tumble ALL of my loaded ammo to get the sizing lube off. 30 minutes in corncob is the norm. never had a problem.

i read about a test on another board where a guy tumbled loaded ammo for a week and compared to the baseline ammo. no difference in velocity.

 

[Joe-n-TX]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

I've tumbled several hundred rnds of turned in 9mm duty ammo using dry lizard litter with no ill effects.

Not sure I'd tumble rifle rnds though.

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure I'd tumble rifle rnds though.</div></div>

When you say tumble, do you truly mena tumble, or do you mean (like most folks) vibratory cleaner?

 

[Joe-n-TX]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

Like most folks. Vibrate.

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

Why are you more cautious about rifle ammo? I'm guessing pointed projectiles and primers. ??? I could see that as a potential problem in a (true) tumbler, but not so much in a vibratory. Care to expound?

 

[Joe-n-TX]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

Im not sure on this but ive heard that the kernals
could break down and change the characteristcs
of the charge. Im referring to powder other than
ball.

 

[asbestosglove]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

Tumbling media in the tips of HP's is from tumbling the projectiles themselves as the final step in the mfg. process prior to packaging (for the reloader) or loading as finished ammo. I don't think the ammo companies tumble loaded rounds.

AG

 

[Kaisersose]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

I have read in several manuals and magazines over the years not to tumble live rounds.

That being said I have done it by "accident" with some 30-06 lake city and 308 military.

Fired it and did not notice any problems.

I did tumble some 308 IMI in walnut for several hours to get the corrosion off. Ammo shot fine.

 

[PistonPete]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

i contacted three ammo mfgrs several years ago and asked, "i reload most all the ammo i shoot, so how in the world do you folks get your ammo so shiny and pretty" ? the reply from all three was they use a vibratory cleaner.., also on the Military channel or one of the other educational channels i saw the ammo making process from punching out a brass "slug" to the Ta...Da ! <span style="font-weight: bold">polishing</span> phase and containerizing the rounds.

 

[Trapshooter12]

Re: Tumbling tarnished ammo

If it's just tarnished do to age and sitting on the shelf just go out and shoot it. It won't hurt anything. If it's tarnished do to sitting out in the dirt for abit then it needs to be cleaned.