Lead Bullet Oxidation

[Jimbo357mag]

I had a few boxes of lead bullets that were several years old and I noticed some of the bullets were starting to get oxidation on them. I have seen really old lead bullets that were crusted with oxidation and not suitable for loading anymore. I am sure plastic bags or plastic tubs could help.

Two questions:

1) What can you do for bullets that are starting to oxidize?

2) Is there any way you can prevent the oxidation.

...Jimbo

 

[GP100man]

For long term storage I seal em in a box un lubed with a small packet of desicant .

As for the ones alredy oxidized , if not lubed , tumble em in the tumbler , if lubed try some Lees liquid alox & see if it disapate the oxidation any.

I tried washing some in hot dawn water once , it did`nt work so hot , ya gotta dry em real good so the liquid alox does`nt trap h2o

45% liquid alox 45% johnsons paste floor wax 10% mineral sprits makes a good lube & dries faster & not near as goooey as pure alox . I use this on boolits I`m gonna size down .003"& it`s slick !! & does`nt stik to ya fingers or tools.

 

[J Miller]

Oxidized bullets? The cure .... I just shoot 'em.

Joe

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Oxidized bullets? The cure .... I just shoot 'em.

Joe

Well that was my problem, they were just sittin around not getting shot.

...Jimbo

 

[LAH]

Shoot'em fer they go bad.

 

[Olsherm]

coat them with Lee liquid alox after you cast them and the air cannot get to them I think??

 

[twobisquit]

That white powder from oxidation is bad stuff. Lead Oxide. You may want to wash up after handling it.

 

[44shootist]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage) un- loaded guess you would loose the lube.
Really don't hurt anything but appearance, olsherm says put lube on then to clean them up a bit.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage).

Nope not doing that. That is a very bad idea. If they were already loaded I would just wipe them down with a rag with some lube on it.

I will in the future not purchase such large quantities if I am not going to shoot them in a reasonable amount of time or I will probably coat them with a little Alox mixture (thank you GP100man) and seal them in plastic.

I bet using a little case polish would work for jacketed bullets put into storage and sealed as well. They also get some tarnish on them after a while. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[98Redline]

I bet using a little case polish would work for jacketed bullets put into storage and sealed as well. They also get some tarnish on them after a while. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

That is what I use on my CCW.
Polish the JHPs with a little Flitz case polish and they stay nice and shiny for months, even after riding around in my sweaty pockets.

I think once you hit the jacketed bullets with the polish, unless you were banging them together or rubbing the polish off, a sealed bag wouldn't even be required.

 

[LAH]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage).

Nope not doing that. That is a very bad idea.

...Jimbo

Could you expand on this?

 

[Tx gun runner]

Just load them like you normally do and shoot them . They will still punch a hole in paper or a beer can and make a steel target ring .

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage).

Nope not doing that. That is a very bad idea.

...Jimbo

Could you expand on this?

I have read that when you put loaded ammo into a vibratory tumbler besides the danger of setting off a round the agitation can change the structure of the powder inside. If you have extruded powder for instance the agitation could breakup the elongated grains and change the burn rate or burn characteristics of the powder. Even flake or ball powder can be turned into dust with enough agitation. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[LAH]

Thanks Jimbo, I've heard that also.

 

[Anonymous]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage) un- loaded guess you would loose the lube.
Really don't hurt anything but appearance, olsherm says put lube on then to clean them up a bit.

I do that also works well

 

[Tx gun runner]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage) un- loaded guess you would loose the lube.
Really don't hurt anything but appearance, olsherm says put lube on then to clean them up a bit.

I hope you didn't put loaded ammo in a tumbler .............. Don't shoot that stuff , you could have changed the powders burning rate and could be very very dangerous .....

 

[LAH]

Ones that are all ready loaded I just put in my tumbler a while (the whole cartrage) un- loaded guess you would loose the lube.
Really don't hurt anything but appearance, olsherm says put lube on then to clean them up a bit.

I hope you didn't put loaded ammo in a tumbler .............. Don't shoot that stuff , you could have changed the powders burning rate and could be very very dangerous .....

This can be taken for what it's worth, I've tumbled quite a bit of ammo. I do believe ammo plants do also. I'm not telling anyone to tumble live rounds but it is done. Just a thought.

 

[Tx gun runner]

This can be taken for what it's worth, I've tumbled quite a bit of ammo. I do believe ammo plants do also. I'm not telling anyone to tumble live rounds but it is done. Just a thought.

NO ammo plants don't tumble live ammo . Most gun powder has a coating on them to control burning rate and tumbing the powder it would rub off . If you look in you powder measurer you will find a gray coating that rubbed off in the short time it was in measurer .

 

[LAH]

NO ammo plants? You sound pretty sure.

I'll edit this 'cause after looking at this post I thought maybe I would come across as be a "wise someone" & I don't want anyone to think that.

 

[Tx gun runner]

This from Lyman

Important Safety Information
1. Under no circumstances should live ammo or primed cases be tumbled.
2. Your Turbo Tumbler, or any other electrical device, should not be operated in a wet
atmosphere or around water.
3. Be certain to always use a grounded three-prong outlet to prevent possible electric

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/pdf/LyC_TT.pdf

 

[FergusonTO35]

How old are these bullets that are causing you concern, Jimbo? I have some Speer Idaho Territory .38's in factory palstic boxes that have been in my garage for nearly 10 years and they look as good as new. Of course, these bullets are completely coated in a thin, varnish like lubricant. Great bullets BTW, I wish they were cheaper.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

How old are these bullets that are causing you concern, Jimbo? I have some Speer Idaho Territory .38's in factory palstic boxes that have been in my garage for nearly 10 years and they look as good as new. Of course, these bullets are completely coated in a thin, varnish like lubricant. Great bullets BTW, I wish they were cheaper.

Back when I started reloading, I guess about 8 years ago, I bought several boxes of lead bullets from a dealer that was getting out of the business. I shot some of the bullets but for the most part they sat on the shelf in my garage for that length of time. They were loose in plain cardboard boxes and they had the hard crayon type lube. I mostly shoot copper plated and jacketed bullets now.

When I noticed that some of the bullets were getting this oxidation on them I quickly culled the bad ones and cleaned and sorted the others and sold them off.

I was just wondering what others had experienced. I know some of the lead fishing sinkers that I have are more than 10 years old and they show some bad oxidation on them. Maybe it is the Florida environment as it is often humid with salt in the air, everything corrodes here. 8) 8)

...Jimbo