Know what I mean? the light gray slightly crusty feel when lead dries out through oxidation? Would a finger damp with oil restore the original texture and color...?

Oil and ammo do not play well together. I'd just use the oxidized bullets as is.

The grey ones leave the barrel just fine, actually a good sign the ammo stored dry place.

OK, bullets and oil = bad. Check.

Two of two responents would shoot it as is. Check.

Is there a way to recondition the oxidized lead on an old bullet...? Truly curious, so I'll wait for an answer.

You'll harm nothing if you take a very small amount of oil on a rag and rub the lead clean -- you're not wetting down the load with oil, just wiping off the oxidation. The lead will look nearly as-new, and won't re-oxidize for a long, long time.

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Pisgah

Short answer: No. Lead that has oxidized has converted to lead oxide or, more likely, lead carbonate. There is no "in place" method to reduce it back to native metal.

If you had a quantity of just lead that had that condition, you could melt it, cover the unmelted oxide with a combustible compound that will "pull" the oxygen from the oxide leaving native metal while itself being converted to an oxide. For example, sawdust or other carbon-based material.

Chemically, there are other ways but unlikely to be what you are seeking.

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Old paratrooper in NC

Would just twisting the bullet in very fine steel wool remove most of the oxidation? Is there a downside to doing this?

If your intent is to shoot the ammuition, how is grinding off part of the bullet going to improve anything?
Potentially you could change the weight and symmetry.

It is not clear what problem the solution is trying to solve. Just appearannce?

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Science plus Art

The downside is that you're wasting time because they will all turn grey over time.

FWIW, the lead oxide is not soluble in the usual solvents. This is the reason that lead getting into ground water at your range is impossible unless the ground is acidic. The greenies have this one totally wrong.

Now that's better. : ) Real, solid answers.

I just got a box of vintage Speer .44 mag in the yellow box. I was just wondering if the 25 rounds in that box could be brought back to viewing 'life' somehow. I'm not going to shoot it -- it's more or less collectible.

I'll try the light oil first, and if that doesn't do it, steel wool. I'm aware that all lead will eventually look like this -- even knew the word for it. Was just asking for a way to deal with it, and after today, I'll be ready for the next guy who asks this question.

Thanks!

Rub it with a paper towel and see what happens.