disposal of bad ammo???

[Chris_D]

Hi guys,


During reloading you make mistakes and end up with bullets you don't trust (possible double charge or no charge), primed cases that are bad, and otherwise. I am curious as to how you guys get rid of bad ammo?

I have a kinetic puller but am looking for a way to get rid of the ones I don't care to salvage.

Thanks

Chris

[ronnie gore]

WELL I PUT MINE IN A BOX UNTIL I CAN PULL THE BULLETS AND DUMP THE POWDER, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER WAY OF DISPOSING OF THEM THAT WOULD NOT BE DANGEROUS, EVEN SOAKING IN OIL MIGHT WORK BUT NO GUARANTEES I WOULD NOT WANT SOMEONE TO GET HURT BECAUSE I WAS NOT WILLING TO PULL THE BULLETS.

[Rule3]

Depends on where you live. Many localities have a Haz Mat drop off center where anything can be dropped off. Chemicals, pesticides, oil, paint and even ammo. Call your local trash people.

[enfield]

Have a large body of cool water nearby? or a shovel?

I haven't figured out how to pull wad cutters.

[robctwo]

I use the impact puller.

[Roadranger]

If you have rounds that are suspect about the powder, here's what I do. Start with a round(or several) that you know to be correct and weigh them on an electronic scale and record their weights and average. Then check the suspect rounds on the scale. If they're bad they'll either be too heavy or too light. Then you can disassemble those. Cast bullets vary some on weight as do cases, but if your suspect round varies by the weight of the charge,it bears disassembly. Been reloading since 1967. Bob!!

[Broadside]

Originally Posted by OCD1

Depends on where you live. Many localities have a Haz Mat drop off center where anything can be dropped off. Chemicals, pesticides, oil, paint and even ammo. Call your local trash people.

This is what I was thinking. Many municipalities have a hazardous waste disposal center.

EDIT: OK I just looked and found out my own municipality won't take ammo. They say call the County Police.

Plan "B" would be to take it to a local range and see if they have a dud box you can put it into.

[97thSignalman]

I also use an impact puller. If I have primed emptied brass that I don't want to shoot because of some issue I have two choices. I either put a in small amount or penetrating oil to cover the primer. After a couple of days of soaking I pour it out and wrap up the brass in duct tape and throw it away. Or, I load the empty primed case in a chamber and fire the primer. Then I throw it out.

On one occasion, I had 100's of rounds or Bulgarian brass 7.62x54R that would split alot of cases on firing. I also got a lot of hangfires and failures to fire. I pulled the bullets, and salvaged the powder and the bullets. I weighed the powder charges and recorded them. I reloaded the bullets and powder into new boxer primed brass using the same charge weights. The salvage-reloads worked like good surplus ammo.

I fired off the empty Bulgarian primed cases and scrapped them. I oil soaked the ones that wouldn't fire and scrapped those.

I have also given some bad and/or questionable ammo the Sheriff's Department. However, they seemed so baffled as to what to do with it that I had the feeling the ammo was not destined for safe disposal.

[Rule3]

Our Haz Mat will taken anything, they have it sectioned off by categories and everything is sealed in 55 gal drums.
It's about the only efficient thing I've seen our local Govt do.

Good idea, leave them at the range, someone will scarf them up.

We can just save them the trouble and dump it in the Gulf.

Every see those News reels after the Vietnam Conflict(War)?? Pushing tanks, planes, bombs off the ships???

[kshock]

My department accepts ammo. We give it to the EOD guys and they blow it up. Check with your local Police Departments.

[Ed45]

I drop them in the "DUDS" box at the range to which I belong.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

I have a kinetic puller but am looking for a way to get rid of the ones I don't care to salvage.

Chris,
To be honest just because you don't want to salvage the parts doesn't mean it's not your responsibility to disassemble the bad ammo. Take them apart and throw away what you don't want to salvage and save the rest. You can fire off the primers in the empty cases if you're worried about decapping live primers.

[lebomm]

+1 to archangel ! Rule #1 - SAFETY

Larry

[Chris_D]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As to the comment about being my responsibility and safety, well, that is why I am asking about it in the first place. Taking apart explosives isn't something to take lightly which is why those bomb squad guys wear those really big suits and have lots of training. I don't have a really big suit, nor do I have lots of training so rather than blow a finger off, I was looking for the safest way to deal with the problem.

Living in a small town, I doubt the police will be much help but I will certainly ask them. I have seen the "dud" boxes at some ranges, just not the one I shoot at regularily. I guess I could hang on to them and take them to the various ranges and drop them off when I see a dud box.

Chris

[lebomm]

So how come you don't want to use your inertia puller? Of all the hundreds (maybe thousands) of rounds I've disassembled that way, from .22 Hornet to .45-70, I've never had one go off, and the only one that ever failed to pull was an old, corroded military round that likely wouldn't have fired anyway.

Larry

[97thSignalman]

Originally Posted by lebomm

So how come you don't want to use your inertia puller? Of all the hundreds (maybe thousands) of rounds I've disassembled that way, from .22 Hornet to .45-70, I've never had one go off, and the only one that ever failed to pull was an old, corroded military round that likely wouldn't have fired anyway.

Larry

Same with me...lots of pulled bullets with no problems. About the only thing I have a problem with is the escape of fine-grained powder though the gaps between the segments of the collet. It can leave a mess that has to be cleaned up right away.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As to the comment about being my responsibility and safety, well, that is why I am asking about it in the first place. Taking apart explosives isn't something to take lightly which is why those bomb squad guys wear those really big suits and have lots of training. I don't have a really big suit, nor do I have lots of training so rather than blow a finger off, I was looking for the safest way to deal with the problem. Chris

Chris,
Don't worry because smokeless powder is not an explosive. It burns very fast but does not explode like Black Powder will.

Like said above, an inertia puller is very safe and will take care of a few dozen rounds in short order. It's quick and easy...

[Chris_D]

I will give the puller a try again. My last attempt to extract a bullet (38 wadcutter) didn't work. I was hammering against a wooden bench, about 25 whacks and no progress. Its not like I was swinging the hammer like a girl, had some serious dents in the bench top. I read somewhere to hit something more solid like concrete.

Chris

[Bomberman]

Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD

Chris,
Don't worry because smokeless powder is not an explosive. It burns very fast but does not explode like Black Powder will.

Not to be argumentative but that's not a true statement. Smokeless powders are classified as an explosive IAW 49 CFR (which covers the transportation and handling of hazardous materials) and usually falls under the Hazard/Class division of 1.3C or 1.4C although some smokeless powders fall under 1.1C. 1.3C and 1.4C powders can be expected to burn vigorously when ignited while 1.1C powders can be expected to detonate when exposed to fire. Very few powders fall under the 1.1C HC division.

Here's a link to the online version of 49CFR: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....3.8.2&idno=49
Scroll down to look up the Proper Shipping Name: POWDER, SMOKELESS .

Black Powder burns at a faster rate than Smokeless but when confined both will in fact detonate...it just the level of the confinement that's different.

Again, not trying to start an argument...just setting the facts straight.

[kenjen]

try putting a piece of wood on a cement floor and use your puller, it should only take 2-3 good wacks to work

[6thtexas]

I learned a trick to using an inertia puller that speeds things up. Instead of using that little 3 piece wire bound shellholder, throw it away and just use the shellholder that fits your press. The cap will screw down tight on it and it works fine.

One caveat that I'm sure everyone knows but might bear repeating here-Do Not try to dissemble rimfire cartridges with an inertia type puller.

[Andy Griffith]

I'm going to put my card in the local newspaper and gun club newsletter:

"Disposer of old and bad ammo. Call me anytime!"

[nawilson]

I was out of town and bought a box of what I thought was 45 Colt LRN. A week or two later, I am at home and open the box to find, surprise, JHP. So I wound up with someone's reloads.

My plan- pull the bullets, burn the powder (in an open area), shoot the primers, and see if I can at least reload the brass. I am not sure about trying to identify the bullets to reload but am leaning against it.

Your thoughts?

[97thSignalman]

Originally Posted by nawilson

I was out of town and bought a box of what I thought was 45 Colt LRN. A week or two later, I am at home and open the box to find, surprise, JHP. So I wound up with someone's reloads.

My plan- pull the bullets, burn the powder (in an open area), shoot the primers, and see if I can at least reload the brass. I am not sure about trying to identify the bullets to reload but am leaning against it.

Your thoughts?

That's probably what I would do. I might scatter the powder as fertilizer rather than burning it. What sort of '45 do you have? From 1873 to the present there is quite an array of guns that shoot .45LC and the pressure limits vary greatly with age. I would be a little less afraid of shooting it in a modern S&W or Ruger. If you have a 19th century Colt I would definitely not shoot those reloads in it. I am sure I am not telling you anything that you don't already know.

[nawilson]

It is a Ruger Blackhawk... I know it is plenty strong but who knows what the guy that loaded it did?

Good idea about the fertilizer. I am still improving the soil in the garden. Lol, maybe I can grow some gunpowder flavored veggies! Seriously, the nitrogen should be good for the soil.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by Bomberman

Not to be argumentative but that's not a true statement. Smokeless powders are classified as an explosive IAW 49 CFR (which covers the transportation and handling of hazardous materials) and usually falls under the Hazard/Class division of 1.3C or 1.4C although some smokeless powders fall under 1.1C. 1.3C and 1.4C powders can be expected to burn vigorously when ignited while 1.1C powders can be expected to detonate when exposed to fire. Very few powders fall under the 1.1C HC division.

You can quote all the BS government rules you want but those rules won't change the fact that smokeless powder DOES NOT explode. The government wants to charge you a hazmat fee so they will make the rules necessary to do that but even they can't change the chemistry. Smokeless powder does not explode, it burns VERY fast but does not detonate.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by 97thSignalman

That's probably what I would do. I might scatter the powder as fertilizer rather than burning it. What sort of '45 do you have? From 1873 to the present there is quite an array of guns that shoot .45LC and the pressure limits vary greatly with age. I would be a little less afraid of shooting it in a modern S&W or Ruger. If you have a 19th century Colt I would definitely not shoot those reloads in it. I am sure I am not telling you anything that you don't already know.

Every time I tried to shoot the primers from broken down revolver loads, they backed out and bound up the cylinder. I think it's easier and faster to just de- prime them.

After my last "gift" of some old 357 loads. I am done. Not worth the hassle unless they are some real nice bullets like XTP's or Gold Dots.

[Chris_D]

Turns out the kinetic puller works great when you whack it against the concrete floor. Two whacks and the bullet pops right out. I beat the hell out of my bench top trying it the last time, must have a bit too much bounce to it.

Thanks guys

Chris

[Troystat]

Glad the puller worked, I don't know about smokeless powder not being explosive, as a dumb **s kid I put a 22 LR on a small fire and it exploded nicely and cost me 8 stitches in my arm. Did not do that again.

[97thSignalman]

Originally Posted by Troystat

Glad the puller worked, I don't know about smokeless powder not being explosive, as a dumb **s kid I put a 22 LR on a small fire and it exploded nicely and cost me 8 stitches in my arm. Did not do that again.

It burns with the force of an explosion when it is confined as in a chambered cartridge or steel container. It will explode in a loose cartridge but with considerably less force as the cartridge bursts releasing the energy before the pressure builds to its full potential. Out in the open it flash burns.

If you light off black powder it explodes even in the open.

[97thSignalman]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

Turns out the kinetic puller works great when you whack it against the concrete floor. Two whacks and the bullet pops right out. I beat the hell out of my bench top trying it the last time, must have a bit too much bounce to it.

Thanks guys

Chris

I just smack mine against the cast iron table of my old Delta table saw. Just make sure you pay attention. Recently, after pulling hundreds of bullets with no issues, I absent mindedly struck the table with the nut end of the hammer head...bad move.

RCBS gave me free replacement nut when I tried to order a new one...even though I told them it was my fault. All hail RCBS.

[SMSgt]

The canal behind my house has a few mistakes in it.