green ammunition

[big bear]

I got about 30 rds of 348 factory ammo at a yard sale. It had been stored loose in a box with a wad of paper towels. It's got lots of green tarnish staining parts of each case. Cases appear intack. Anyway to clean it up before I shoot it?Thanks

[J Miller]

I got about 30 rds of 348 factory ammo at a yard sale. It had been stored loose in a box with a wad of paper towels. It's got lots of green tarnish staining parts of each case. Cases appear intack. Anyway to clean it up before I shoot it?Thanks

If it's just tarnish then there's really no problem. I'd get a wad of 0000 steel wool and gently clean the cases off. But tarnish isn't usually green. Green is usually a corrosion. Then I'd check to make sure the corrosion did not eat through the cases. Sometimes in the middle of the corrosion you'll see spots where the brass has turned a reddish color then in the middle of that holes.

After cleaning them and inspecting them real good I'd just shoot 'em. Most likely you'll have a case failure or two. Then after that they'd spend time in the tumbler getting really cleaned up.

Joe

[Tycer]

From the title, I thought Al Gore had created another breakthrough in environmentalism!

[big bear]

Thanks!I thoght the GREEN would get some quick attention!

[Buck Elliott]

Throw it in the case tumbler I got a batc hof old 50Cal bullets a couple years ago (the turned brass kind) that tarnished and a quick (well, maybe I shouldn't say quick) trip through removed all of it, but since you say it's old ammo, I have to wonder how old and and if maybe the powder isn't corrosive

NEVER tumble loaded ammo in a case cleaner set up. You may not like what it can do to the powder inside those rounds. Just clean them with a paper towel -- it may take a few, but they're cheap -- then inspect and enjoy.

As mentioned, you may have some case splitting, so if in doubt, throw that one out...

[dr walker]

I have used a little bit of Brasso on a wet paper towel, it cleaned 'em right up.

[J Miller]

Brasso contains ammonia. Ammonia reacts with and weakens brass. There are other brass polishes that do not contain ammonia. I'd seriously suggest one of them and not Brasso.

Joe

[southernutah]

use a scotch brite pad

[Hobie]

Throw it in the case tumbler I got a batch of old 50Cal bullets a couple years ago (the turned brass kind) that tarnished and a quick (well, maybe I shouldn't say quick) trip through removed all of it, but since you say it's old ammo, I have to wonder how old and and if maybe the powder isn't corrosive

I wouldn't worry about powders, I'd worry about primers. I would NOT tumble loaded ammo. I have done it accidentally, but certainly can't recommend the practice.

[Modoc ED]

I wouldn't worry about powders, I'd worry about primers. I would NOT tumble loaded ammo. I have done it accidentally, but certainly can't recommend the practice.

Certainly not with pointed rounds anyway.

[J Miller]

Some years ago, 10-12-15 I don't remember, I bought a vibratory tumbler at a yard sale. I had a bunch of 45 ACP rounds that just came out grody. So rather than wipe each one down I tossed about 400 of them into the tumbler and tumbled them. They came out clean.
Over the years I've fired them all off without incidence. It worked with the vibratory tumbler and round nosed bullets, but I don't recommend it.
I know the factories tumble their freshly loaded ammo but why take the chance.

Joe

[Hobie]

I am unconcerned about one round setting off another. What worries me is that some powders could change grain size or do something to the coating and thus alter burning rate in a negative way. If a cartridge were to be initiated in that environment it would be unconfined and not cause any damage.

[AJMD429]

I am unconcerned about one round setting off another. What worries me is that some powders could change grain size or do something to the coating and thus alter burning rate in a negative way. If a cartridge were to be initiated in that environment it would be unconfined and not cause any damage.

Yep. That is the same concern I've heard others voice, and it makes sense, especially with the larger powders.

Brasso contains ammonia. Ammonia reacts with and weakens brass. There are other brass polishes that do not contain ammonia. I'd seriously suggest one of them and not Brasso.
Joe

Yep on that also - I'd be careful not to weaken brass with any type cleaner that might also clean guns/barrels. I threw out about 100 old 6mm Remington brass because of that one time...

[big bear]

Voila!The steel wool worked great, no problem. two of the rounds have a differnt looking bullet though. Silvertips are about half and half silver end and copper base. Three rounds have only a silver tip at the very end. A rough attempt at weighing rounds suggests they are lighter, about 20g.Headstamp all of them Super Speed. The "regular" ones also have "348 WIN" on headstamp, the ? lighter load has ".348 WIN." on headstamp. All of the letters and numbers on the "lighter" rounds are smaller than the regular ones and my new brass.I am quite sure they are not reloads as I got them from the son of the purchaser and his Dad did not reload. Anybody sort this one out? I think I probably won't shoot the unusual rounds, for now

[Ysabel Kid]

From the title, I thought Al Gore had created another breakthrough in environmentalism!

Or another mandate!

I've seen green funk on brass cases stored in loops on a leather holster. Dumped them in the tumbler and they came out squeaky clean. Of course, none of the bullets were pointy. Still, when I first read the suggestion I thought it was nuts, but it worked perfectly.