500 rounds of tarnished ammo =(
- Thread starter ascorb
- Start date
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campns
Ultimate Member
+1 on photos, whatever you use don't use any cleaner that has anything ammonia based in it (Brasso, Simichrome, Flitz), and if anything cleaning it with a paper towel is better as it's a mild abrasive.
Side note I know plenty of re-loaders that will do a whirl in a brass tumbler once they are done re-loading it just may wear out your tumbler from the added weight.
Side note I know plenty of re-loaders that will do a whirl in a brass tumbler once they are done re-loading it just may wear out your tumbler from the added weight.
c4snipar
Ultimate Member
Should be go to go. Some of the ammo I got from cabelas, SG and Freedom to including my training ammo were tarnished. They looked ugly but shoots ok. However, at your own risk and pictures would be nice to show everyone maybe I missed something.
yellowsled
Retired C&R Addict
Why do people want to clean tarnished ammo? It's just a haze on the finish
SKIP
Ultimate Member
Patina
travistheone
Usual Suspect
I'll buy it for half price
- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
Dark stains - no problem
Green stuff - minor corrosion, clean and inspect. As long as it does not look like metal is missing, shoot it.
Pink corrosive - BAD stuff. DO NOT SHOOT. You can harvest the bullets, and that is about it.
For dark stains and green corrosion, a vibratory tumbler will work well to removing it. I use corn cob media with Dillon Polish.
Green stuff - minor corrosion, clean and inspect. As long as it does not look like metal is missing, shoot it.
Pink corrosive - BAD stuff. DO NOT SHOOT. You can harvest the bullets, and that is about it.
For dark stains and green corrosion, a vibratory tumbler will work well to removing it. I use corn cob media with Dillon Polish.
For ammo I stockpile, I run the finished rounds through walnut media with some NuFinish. Keeps them shiny.
I'll take pics, of a couple samples
j_h_smith
Ultimate Member
- Jul 28, 2007
- 28,516
Where are you located. If in Hazzard County, I can let you use my tumbler and you can run them through walnut media and Nufinish. Or you can buy a Harbor Freight tumbler and then go to a pet store and buy crushed walnut bedding for birds. You can buy a really large bag for the cost of a really small bag sold for gun cleaning.
I had a reloader friend look at them, he said they were tarnished but still shootable but I should mark them "shoot first". I'm curious though with nu finish do I have to apply it per bullet or is there a way to do it in bulk, incase I get another huge batch of tarnished (I know it's till good) but I like my ammo clean and shiny just a pet peave. Will this also work on nickel plated cases and would it harm copper jackets or clean it as well?
j_h_smith
Ultimate Member
- Jul 28, 2007
- 28,516
Nufinish is just a polish. It will shine almost all metals. I add about a capful of Nufinish to my tumbler media and it works well. I do a lot of range "pick em ups" and many times the casings aren't in the best of shape. Nufinish and about 24 hours will make them look brand new. Polishing the ammo that you shoot, usually takes about 4-8 hours, depending on how anal you are.
I have an ultra-sonic cleaner, but I don't see any reason to fowl up the cleaner when this method does such a good job. Who would have thought pet store media and a cheap car polish would work so well?
Good Luck!
I have an ultra-sonic cleaner, but I don't see any reason to fowl up the cleaner when this method does such a good job. Who would have thought pet store media and a cheap car polish would work so well?
Good Luck!
- Feb 4, 2013
- 28,175
I prefer corn cob media. For loaded rounds, pet bedding from Pet Smart works very well. It is a big big for empty cases, and it gets stuck inside.
I use Dillon polish. Just add a couple of capfuls to a new batch of media, and then add another when it doesn't clean as quickly
I use Dillon polish. Just add a couple of capfuls to a new batch of media, and then add another when it doesn't clean as quickly
buellsfurn
Ultimate Member
its said you should learn something new everyday I never would have thought you could tumble loaded ammo
Could tumbling loaded ammo cause the powder in the cases to become slightly more pulverized from tumbling and working against each other? If that turns larger powder grains into finer or smaller grains that combust more quickly, could that cause an overpressure?
303_enfield
Ultimate Member
Yes! An with the wrong type of powder (stick) you can go BOOM. Surplus dealers (some) have been doing it for years. The BOOM does happen but not often. With modern ammo, some manufactures tumble it.
Thanks for the feedback. It seemed logical to me when I posted.
To me, tarnish itself is of no concern. It won't affect chambering or extraction, and is just a cosmetic issue that offends the eye. How ammo got tarnished may be a concern, due to possibly questionable storage conditions. Corrosive atmospheres first come to mind for tarnishing brass, but I don't know if it will affect the powder or primer. How long was it exposed? Are the bullet and primer sealed? If you know it was stored properly, just shoot it. If not, test it. Never use ammo you don't absolutely trust for SD or carry!
I trust only gold dot and hornady for those
