question about cleaning live ammo

[sparky241]

I have some 223 that was given to me by a friend, It has alot of tarnish and sand on it and some or corrosion on them. Is there any way to clean that off without having to relaod all of it? Do you think it would be a horrible idea to throw them in the tumbler for a hour?

[DvsGlocker]

if these are reloads I would pass on using them period,
I only shoot my reloads in my guns.

That said.

There is a lot of stuff about tumbling live ammo on the internet,
some do, some dont, some say it can change burn rates,
some say it dont do diddly squat.

You could run an extention lead out to the back forty,
and set the tumbler out there, then switch it on from the house...

[MullahElRon]

I have some 223 that was given to me by a friend, It has alot of tarnish and sand on it and some or corrosion on them. Is there any way to clean that off without having to relaod all of it? Do you think it would be a horrible idea to throw them in the tumbler for a hour?
Do you know the particulars on the corrosion's source? A lot of warning signs there...

[sparky241]

Do you know the particulars on the corrosion's source? A lot of warning signs there...
this was bought in a 1000rd lot, about 750rds were fired and the rest was left in the can in his shed for like 5 years when he opened it back up there was sand stuck to it and the alot of it had corroded. Its img head stamps and isnt reloads its military from i think Isreal?didnt find any water damage to it and the can still seales well so im not really sure its water damaged

[craig110]

Do you know the particulars on the corrosion's source? A lot of warning signs there...

I agree on the corrosion being a warning sign. How about posting a picture showing it to us? I presume the appearance of corrosion doesn't change if you wipe a round with a paper towel? In general, unless the source of the corrosion is identified and known to not be from the brass itself (for example, something spilled on the cases that didn't react with the brass, but rather dried and left a coloration behind), I'd be very hesitant to do anything but pull the bullets. Case corrosion means that its chemical composition has been changed in some fashion. Given the pressures that the brass has to contain, anything that messes with the brass is a "no go" in my book.

[MullahElRon]

Dang Zionists and their ammo abusin' ways... I'd do some forensic studyin' then to check the powder. Clean it up and have a friend shoot a few. Kidding... There is some loose corroded (and some sealed case for that matter) TZ80 7.62x51 that has a well deserved reputation for mischief, but I have not heard the same about 5.56.

[gjk5]

I have a bunch of that IMG, I think it's Guatemalan? Anyway, the stuff I have had some discoloration on the outside of it but no corrosion, I've fired damn near 1000 of it and had no issues. I bought it new in the case BTW.

[sparky241]

these are the worst of the worse ones the rest look better than these

[cohutt]

CHE_mouse, nice avatar

The guat surplus stuff had a lot of discoloration from what i read- maybe 2-3 years ago AIM had it, wideners too maybe. Most was usable that I saw. Flash holes tended to be off center IIRC, created some issues for some of the reloaders 2nd time around.

Tumble those beeeyachs to clean them up and then drop them in a case gauge, inspect. you'll be shooting them, except for maybe the ones in the first pic.

[sparky241]

ok so how long do you recomend tumbling them for?

[cohutt]

ok so how long do you recomend tumbling them for?

Leave them in for 30 minutes or an hour and see how they look.

[sparky241]

Leave them in for 30 minutes or an hour and see how they look.
ok thanks again cohutt and everyone, hey hows your foot doing?

[BigSlick]

I've seen that kind of corrosion from the ammo getting wet and then being stored. I've popped a lot of it in BMG that looks as bad or worse then your first pic over the years, but, the corrosion wasn't into the brass, just on it. L to R in your first pic #4, 5 and 7 are recycle only. The others may clean up.

Take a scotchbrite yellow to it. If the corrosion is into the brass, pull the bullets and recycle the brass. Chances are, most of it will split anyway, if it's like some I've used in the past.

No use taking a chance with unknown ammo. Your weapon and body parts are worth more than a few rounds of ammo

[gjk5]

Thanks cohutt, I hate that bastige so my avatar for about 5 years on every board has been some variation of pissin on che's legacy. CHEa pet, liberaCHE, miCHE, niChE and so on.


sparky; those in the first pic are way worse than mine, I agree with BS but I'd be more persnickity, I say all of them 1st ones are recycle. As BS said; the other IMG I've seen was just heavily discolored, no corrosion buildup like that. Haven't tried to reload any yet, thanks for the heads up on the flashhole cohutt.


FWIW I've accidentally tumbled plenty of loaded ammo, never had one go boom (but I've never shot any of 'em as they would be range pickups, they get pulled)

[ISUSteve]

Is it just me or besides the corrosion, something about those rounds don't look right. Maybe its the camera.

[BigSlick]

I agree with BS but I'd be more persnickity, I say all of them 1st ones are recycle. As BS said; the other IMG I've seen was just heavily discolored, no corrosion buildup like that.

I'll usually shoot em as long as the brass looks good, as in zero pitting, not bent up, still has good bullet tension. The first couple in the pic look kinda like what we call hard water spots. If they are fuzzy, or scaled trash em.

But, you're 100% right, it's probably best to trash all the ones in the first pic. Pull the bullets and sell the brass to the junk man or swap it for some lead.

Better safe than sorry.

[Tailgunner]

You can tumble it (the factory tumbles live ammo before boxing) but they will tend to migrate to the bottom of your tumbler and just sit there.
Faster/easier is to make up a batch of 1 part white vineagar to 4 parts water. Soak for 3-5 minutes than rinse (and no, it won't kill the primer/powder).

[sparky241]

ok i tumbled them for about an hour and they cleaned up pretty well.About half of them (50rds) will be recycled because of corrosion thats in the brass or heavy dents in the brass.its interesting because some have what looks like very light primer strikes.all of those will be recycled

[MullahElRon]

its interesting because some have what looks like very light primer strikes.all of those will be recycled
Chambered ammo will have a light dimple primer mark from the pin in an AR or M16. I'd try a few following safe CRB ammunition testing practices.