Washing machine accident

[target tech]

Not sure this belongs here, but it did involve my 2” 64. I’ve been carrying my 64 regularly all winter. About two weeks ago I accidentally washed a speed strip of .38s. I swapped them out with six fresh Buffalo Bore+P SWCHPs, my usual K frame carry ammo.
Last weekend while I was out at the club shooting a new toy, I ran the freshly washed 38s through the 64 and not a single hiccup. Six shots…..six plates down with authority. I’m pretty certain a guy on the other end wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between those 38s or the Federal 158 hydra shock 357s out of my snubby 66. Something nice to know if you ever go for a swim out in the boondocks.

 

[bedwards]

your brave

 

[murphydog]

When I saw the thread title, I wondered how you could lose all your guns through those tiny drain holes...never mind.

 

[Pisgah]

I've probably washed 500 rounds in my life, never a problem. Still, washed rounds get set aside for practice, not carry, just in case...

 

[pharmer]

Ya gotta run 'em through the dryer to be reliable Joe

 

[Alk8944]

Ammunition being washed is a quite common occurrence and has been discussed many times on the forum. The only result I can recall being reported in any of those prior posts is that the ammunition fired normally when taken to the range.

My Wife was successful in washing my clothes with ammunition in them several times. I have never had one of those cartridges fail to fire perfectly normally, although the numbers were nothing like Pisgah's.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The better practice is to empty your pockets prior to putting your clothing in the washer.

 

[Marshal tom]

I thought it was going to end like the lost all my guns in a boating accident story. This one certainly wouldn't wash out!

 

[DWalt]

Military ammunition must pass a waterproof inspection test for lot acceptance. It involves placing ammunition under water in a transparent partial vacuum chamber. Any visual evidence of air bubbles escaping from a cartridge is a fail. I do not remember the particular parameters of the test

 

[Shutthefrontdoor]

Might be a stupid question, but would the outcome be any different if the said ammo washed was .22?

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

The better practice is to empty your pockets prior to putting your clothing in the washer.

That's the wife's job.

 

[Truckman]

Ya gotta run 'em through the dryer to be reliable Joe

Drip dry on the clothes line is more eco-friendly and they go back in the cylinder smelling springtime fresh!......Ben

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Ya gotta run 'em through the dryer to be reliable Joe

But do you throw in the dryer sheets?

 

[steelslaver]

Might be a stupid question, but would the outcome be any different if the said ammo washed was .22?

I believe any problems would be caused by water getting past the bullet to case fit. As 22s have a decent crimp, I doubt they would have problems. Plus, the lighter the round the less likely for motion to dislodge it.

I have dug some pretty nasty looking 22s from under seats, corners of glove compartments. The ones in the console have had coffee spilled on them. No mater how green and or fuzzy they were, once wiped off they fire. I bet I have found loose 22 shells that are old enough for social security. I keep finding them and tossing them in a can and one day I will haul them all to the range and blaze away. I recently bought a box of reloading stuff at an estate sale. Yup lots of loose 22 shells in the box.

 

[Breakaway500]

The wife washed my P32 once. It was in my jacket pocket (I had come in for lunch and it was on the coat rack) and she needed "filler" for her load. I was not in the room when she took it. Miraculously it made it through the wash cycle and she discovered it loose in the washer. Unfired. She will no longer wash any of my clothes.

 

[handejector]

What detergent works best?
Should I bleach them?

 

[A10]

Sounds like a clean shoot

 

[ruger 22]

Slightly different ammo but years back a shop I used to frequent had a warehouse flood and several cases of Winchester AA shotshells were under water for at least one week. I spent a few days there helping them clean up and we bagged these shells and sold them for a great discount and disclaimer. To our knowledge none were ruined. They all fired well.

 

[yeti]

It is surprising how much abuse well made ammunition can actually take. We used to drop shotshells in the shallow water frequently when hunting. They always ran.

My lovely wife would find a single casing, BB or 22LR dud before anything actually goes in that wash

 

[rct269]

There are much worse things certain dummies can put in the washing machine!

We have ADT. Along with the regular entry protection and motion detectors, they provide remotes you can carry around in your pocket-----arms and disarms the system from a good distance, and even has a panic alarm. We figure all this is worthwhile because we live out in the country, out of sight of pretty much anybody anywhere besides God. The best indicator of this isolation is our driveway is 3/4 of a mile long!!

The front doorbell rings. This simple thing is cause for alarm because anybody we know, or know is coming goes to the back door simply because that's the part of the house where we're likely to be. I grab a gun, and go to a front window where I can see what's what---and peek through the blinds.

There are THREE Sheriff's cars in the driveway----also THREE Deputies on the front porch! One is at the door, the other two are flanking----with shotguns at the ready!

I go to the door---unseen from the other side. "Can we help you?" I ask. "Are you alright?" comes the reply. We're alright, so I reply in the affirmative, put the gun down, and open the door.

It seems ADT received a panic alarm, notified the Sherriff's office who notified the deputies, who arrived on the front porch in FOUR MINUTES FLAT (from three different locations)----with shotguns at the ready. This snappy response was explained thus: "We don't mess around when we get a panic alarm!"

The panic alarm came from my remote---which turned out to be in the washing machine-----and took offense at the strange environment.

The lesson to be learned is check your pockets carefully before you throw your britches in the washer!

Ralph Tremaine

Oh----and ADT gave us a new remote---a dry one------no charge!