Cleaning 1918 .45 ACP ??

[pmanton]

I found 20 rounds of 1918 .45 ACP to go toward completing my S&W M-1917 outfit.
What's the best way of cleaning the tarnish from them?

I don't want to remove the tin plating from the projectiles no the copper from the primer.

But I'd like to make them a bit more presentable for display.

Thanks.

 

[Freischütz]

Put a couple of rounds in you pocket, and walk around with them for a week. See if that produces the desired result.

 

[surfj40]

my wife has this specially treated cloth that she uses to shine up her silver/gold jewelry... Ive found that it works great on tarnished ammo. You should be able to get it at a grocery store/walmart/target or the likes. I wouldn't use it on the gun, just old brass/nickle rounds.

 

[DWalt]

Use Brasso or a similar copper cleaner. If you want to use them only for display, pull the bullets first to preserve the plating, then re-seat them after case polishing. Chances are that most of the original primers will be duds. I have attempted to fire quite a few WWI .45 rounds, maybe 20% will go off. Wax the rounds after polishing and reassembly. Note that the primers used in GI .45 ammo of that period may be a little smaller diameter than today's LP primers, so if you do plan to make them fireable with new primers, you may need to ream the primer pockets first.

 

[Enigma]

Never-Dull

 

[weatherby]

Kind of funny timing.

I hope what you try works.
I picked these up a week ago figuring they were perfect for what your trying to do.

I'm thinking they've been in those clips ready to go for over 100 years.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Use Brasso or a similar copper cleaner. If you want to use them only for display, pull the bullets first to preserve the plating, then re-seat them after case polishing. Chances are that most of the original primers will be duds. I have attempted to fire quite a few WWI .45 rounds, maybe 20% will go off. Wax the rounds after polishing and reassembly. Note that the primers used in GI .45 ammo of that period may be a little smaller diameter than today's LP primers, so if you do plan to make them fireable with new primers, you may need to ream the primer pockets first.

You will need to remove all the Brasso form the case, for best results, due to the cemicals used.
I use a dab of Hoppe's, to stop the chemical action , wipe and add a drop of oil and wipe down, for the case to look nice.

 

[SMSgt]

Never-Dull

There you go. The thread can be closed now.