11e40
Member
came across some .38 spl. 148 w/c ammo. factory loads. only problem is the cases are corrided. cartons were ant / termite food. is it safe to tumble them & shoot them ? i have a lyman polisher. thanks.
tumble loaded ammo ?
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No it is not safe. Many people have done it without incident but then again many have sucsessfully passed on double yellow lines. Its those times it doesnt work that makes taking a chance not worth the risk. The ammo in the tumbler is not the issue, tummbling loaded ammo alters the burning caractistics of the powder. It wear off the "deterent" that the manufacter applied to control the burning rate.
papajohn428
Member
I have not only tumbled loaded ammo for days at a time, I have also tested it afterwards, and there was NO change in the velocity obtained. We kept the same backup ammo in the trunks of our police cars for years, and it always shot to the same POI as the rest. This topic comes up time and time again, and the same old wives' tales come up with it.
The only downside I've ever seen from tumbling loaded ammo is that the HP's fill up with media, and the nickle plating wears thin and looks crummy. That's it. Rifle ammo might be affected, but in YEARS of testing, I can't find a single valid reason not to tumble it if it's grungy.
Even if a round were to go off inside a tumbler, the effect would be negligible. Like popping a balloon in a garage.
The only downside I've ever seen from tumbling loaded ammo is that the HP's fill up with media, and the nickle plating wears thin and looks crummy. That's it. Rifle ammo might be affected, but in YEARS of testing, I can't find a single valid reason not to tumble it if it's grungy.
Even if a round were to go off inside a tumbler, the effect would be negligible. Like popping a balloon in a garage.
papajohn428
Member
Me too. 
Nemo288
Member
I love watching people with actual data that confounds the
accepted "wisdom" argue with those that don't. Highly entertaining.
Carry on!
Dare I bring up stainless bore brushes?
Molybdenum? Global warming?
---
Nemo ducks and runs.... (to the liquor cabinet).
accepted "wisdom" argue with those that don't. Highly entertaining.
Carry on!
Dare I bring up stainless bore brushes?
Molybdenum? Global warming?
---
Nemo ducks and runs.... (to the liquor cabinet).
sheriffoconee
Member
I have tumbled loaded ammo quite unintentionally before, made my SWC's look sorta rounded and melted on the sharp edges, but I shot them just the same with zero consequences....no difference whatsoever in performance....
did make me feel sorta stupid though, I still am not quite sure how it happened, but they were mighty shiny....
did make me feel sorta stupid though, I still am not quite sure how it happened, but they were mighty shiny....
shottist
Absent Comrade
Not a good practice IMO. Tumbling does affect the coating and can also create dust from mechanically eroding the powder granules. Both of which can change the burn rate of the Powder. I've done it, (a long time ago), and suffered no consequences but I have nicer and more valuable firearms now and I don't want to risk any possible KABOOM.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Old wives' tale. Many ammo manufacturers tumble their ammo after loading it but before packaging it. I have seen a number of experiments on other forums where the poster chronographed some ammo, then tumbled the ammo for a while, took one round apart to look at the powder and chronographed another, then tumbled some more and took another one apart and chronographed another... for quite some time. The powder never looked any different, their wasn't any 'dust' and the velocities didn't change.
But, if it worries you, don't tumble your own ammo.
But, if it worries you, don't tumble your own ammo.
I have not only tumbled loaded ammo for days at a time, I have also tested it afterwards, and there was NO change in the velocity obtained. We kept the same backup ammo in the trunks of our police cars for years, and it always shot to the same POI as the rest. This topic comes up time and time again, and the same old wives' tales come up with it.
The only downside I've ever seen from tumbling loaded ammo is that the HP's fill up with media, and the nickle plating wears thin and looks crummy. That's it. Rifle ammo might be affected, but in YEARS of testing, I can't find a single valid reason not to tumble it if it's grungy.
Even if a round were to go off inside a tumbler, the effect would be negligible. Like popping a balloon in a garage.
I also have tumbled
and by the way hear in St Louis we need ammo that shoots.............
Rodinal220
Member
This is an old wives tale/error net myth that refuses to die.I believed it too for a long time till I did some research and experiments and used some common sense,logic and reasoning.I tumbled various types of ammo in my Dillon tumbler for 15 minutes-24 hours.Primers do not turn to dust,powder does not turn to dust or break apart.The tumbled ammo fired fine as did the control rounds.
How does all the ammo in world sent by rail,boat,air subject to all those vibrations for hours,days survive??All the ammo the military uses transported by rail,truck,C-130s LAPS dropping it, survives just fine.
Why do ammunition companies final polish/tumble their ammo,they want it nice and shiny for the customer.The tumbling does not hurt the ammo.
How does all the ammo in world sent by rail,boat,air subject to all those vibrations for hours,days survive??All the ammo the military uses transported by rail,truck,C-130s LAPS dropping it, survives just fine.
Why do ammunition companies final polish/tumble their ammo,they want it nice and shiny for the customer.The tumbling does not hurt the ammo.
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