I found some old ammo in a box. It is .308 round nose corlock and is old and cruddy. Is it safe to put in into a tumbler to clean? There are 10 rounds.
Cleaning
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I don't think tumblers are made for live rounds. I'd try some Scotchbright. (sp)
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People like to argue about this but I sure wouldn't put ammo in a tumbler. No cleaning needed IF the ammo will chamber without difficulty. If it won't chamber, don't shoot it; it's beyond cleaning and may have damaged and/or weakened brass.
USSR
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I wouldn't do it. The tumbling could break down the powder grains, changing the burn rate. Remember, when shooting, you have an explosion happening in front of your face.
OP
Nuff said. I agree, not worth the risk. I thought about the powder breakdown and it might affect the performance of the shot. I used to like that particular bullet and bet this ammo is from the seventies. I might try some Scotch Brite or other cleaner. Thank you for the information.
USSR
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Just make sure whatever you use doesn't contain ammonia.
bigggbbruce
Member
I aquired 450 rounds of LC 7.62x51. Real grungy..
Ran all in my vibratory cleaner. Came out much cleaner.
I've run 300 through my gun so far, no issues.
I've cleaned many different calibers this way. Never caused any issues.
Ran all in my vibratory cleaner. Came out much cleaner.
I've run 300 through my gun so far, no issues.
I've cleaned many different calibers this way. Never caused any issues.
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Lance Boyle
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There have been tests made online. It won't harm the powder inside even if tumbled overnight according to online video testing reports.
I haven't repeated that lengthy test but I have tumbled live surplus rounds for a half hour. I'm still here.
I am chalking this caution up to everyone repeating what they have heard.
If you are apprehensive about it don't do it.
Edit, ten rounds? Much easier to use a ball of steel wool, bronze wool, or a scotch brite pad.
I haven't repeated that lengthy test but I have tumbled live surplus rounds for a half hour. I'm still here.
I am chalking this caution up to everyone repeating what they have heard.
If you are apprehensive about it don't do it.
Edit, ten rounds? Much easier to use a ball of steel wool, bronze wool, or a scotch brite pad.
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Online "testing" offers no proof that the procedure is safe and doesn't alter powder characteristics. Many today have no need for validity, accepting online results as factual. Often a mistake.
Lance Boyle
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I get that and it can be just as you say…..but when the tester runs the ammo for a week in a vibratory cleaner and chronographs it and compares it to control ammo what conclusion does one draw when they chronograph the same. Dissected ammo with the powder dumped on a clean white paper for examination shows no dust or deterioration.
Are the half a dozen field reports of shooters testing this all invalid because they're not a lab? Maybe
Like I said, follow your own heart on this. I'm not that worried about it but in cases where I have lube on loaded ammo I am much more apt to use a cloth or paper towels and rubbing alcohol to remove sizing lube.
I have also tumbled off Hornady One Shot from .223 ammo made on a progressive. Hornady says you don't have to remove One Shot but I'd be more concerned about increased bolt thrust from lube than fifteen minutes in a tumbler.
An Official Journal Of The NRA | Is Tumbling Loaded Ammo Dangerous?
The Statement Tumbling loaded ammo will cause the powder to physically degrade and result in dangerous pressure increases.
Dave Emary of Hornady, Chief Ballistician, says it's a non issue within the bounds of reason.
About Dave Emary
Dave Emary is a respected researcher with over 30 years in the ballistics field designing powde...
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Extensive laboratory testing by a large powder company would provide credible results. This is no area for online amateurs to shine.
Ten rounds? Not worth the risk. Pull them and save the components for another day.
Bozz10mm
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I have found that 0000 steel wool cleans up live ammo pretty well. No to the tumbler.
Wow! I must be the ONLY handloader on this forum that has ever dropped a live round into the tumbler with my empties for cleaning! Sometimes even more than one round!! I have even done this with old CMP 30-06 ammunition! Funny thing was.....
NOTHING! The rounds didn't explode in my vibratory tumbler and they still went off properly in my firearms. Now I admit the cases weren't all tarnished and moldy looking as they had been properly stored, but the ammunition was old and yet still worked as it should after being tumbled. I even noticed no difference in speed thru a chronograph. The first time this happened many years ago I was concerned, but I didn't think the sky was falling, I just had to make a decision to take the rounds apart or shoot them. I shot them to no ill effect.
If you doubt your ammunition don't shoot it! I sometimes think we get all crazy about stuff we shouldn't worry about. Is tumbling a loaded round the end of the earth? Not in my experience, but it was only a couple of loaded rounds not a case of them. Maybe one day I will take a box of old surplus CMP ammo and dump it in the tumbler and see what happens. If my tumbler doesn't go BOOM after a few hours I will report it here. Who knows, if I survive the tumbling session I may even shoot the ammo and chronograph it just for posterity and research, if I am still here and able to type. Heck I may even go outside and take a drink of water from my garden hose!!
Rick H.
NOTHING! The rounds didn't explode in my vibratory tumbler and they still went off properly in my firearms. Now I admit the cases weren't all tarnished and moldy looking as they had been properly stored, but the ammunition was old and yet still worked as it should after being tumbled. I even noticed no difference in speed thru a chronograph. The first time this happened many years ago I was concerned, but I didn't think the sky was falling, I just had to make a decision to take the rounds apart or shoot them. I shot them to no ill effect.
If you doubt your ammunition don't shoot it! I sometimes think we get all crazy about stuff we shouldn't worry about. Is tumbling a loaded round the end of the earth? Not in my experience, but it was only a couple of loaded rounds not a case of them. Maybe one day I will take a box of old surplus CMP ammo and dump it in the tumbler and see what happens. If my tumbler doesn't go BOOM after a few hours I will report it here. Who knows, if I survive the tumbling session I may even shoot the ammo and chronograph it just for posterity and research, if I am still here and able to type. Heck I may even go outside and take a drink of water from my garden hose!!
Rick H.
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Old and cruddy are subjective terms.
I would clean it up with a copper brush or Scotchbrite and shoot it.
Ammo made in the seventies is really not that old.
I've done it with no negative results. Your results may vary.
Lance Boyle
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Sorry my edit with Dave Emary's bonifides came while you were posting. That was not intentional in the timing.
Yes, I agree that personal tests by average guys like you and I are to be viewed for what they are,…anecdotal.
When a guy that was a top explosives and powder scientist for the USAF, the Navy, the Mining Explosives Industry, Hodgdon and Hornady Chief Ballistician says the coatings are impregnated into the powder and not going to rub off under tunbling I am likely to believe him.
That said, I am not tumbling my ammo for a week unless someone is paying me and I am using their lab universal receiver.
FWIW: An acquaintance of mine - a very knowledgeable and conscientious handloader - tumbled some loaded ammo for A MONTH! After pulling down a few rounds and examining the powder under a stereomicroscope there was no visible deterioration, and remaining rounds showed no perceptible difference upon firing.
I've also been told that ammo manufacturers routinely tumble loaded ammo before packaging.
kev74
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I've tumbled assembled cartridges a few times. Only for 10-15 minutes to remove inadvertent contamination like case lube or oil. I never noticed any difference, and nothing blew up. While I don't keep my face next to the tumbler, I'm not really worried about the damage if one went off. I doubt it would penetrate the bowl.
