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Cleaning old ammo...

Colt Super
I discovered a knapsack/backpack that my x had hidden from me when I left. It had been stored in a barn, open to the weather on each end.

It has a mix of once-used factory brass and unfired ammo.

Everything from 7MMWeatherby Magnum to .223 on the rifle side, to .32ACP to .44 Manglum on the pistol side.

It has been sitting in the pack for two years come next month.

Lots of corrosion and verdigris on the brass, with some covering the primers on the unfired stuff.

Probably a total of 2000 rounds.

1) What is a quick, easy way to clean the once-fired brass, preferably without tumbling, cause my tumbler has a very limited capacity ??

2) What is a SAFE way to clean the unfired ammo ??

I really don't want to junk it - there is likely $400-$500 worth of it, all factory.

Thank you all, once again.

Doug
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • wpage
    Not certain there is a easy way to clean it. Here is a link to another board with some methods including one using media like corn cobs...http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-8453.html
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Doug
    1 part white vinegar 4 parts hot water.
    Soak in a pail for 5 minutes or so, rinse with more hot water and allow to dry (spread out on a tarp in the sun).
    The link is for collector ammo, but it will give you an idea on how valuable specimens are cleaned (you're most interested in method 7 and 10 IE aggressive cleaning of brass cased ammo).
    http://www.cartridgecollectors.org/guide.htm#cleaning
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  • v35
    I bought some 9mm in similar condition and tumbled it.
    Most were misfires.
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  • asphalt cowboy
    I once cleaned up about 300 rounds of surplus 8x57J with nothing more than a couple pads of #0000 steel wool.
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  • yonson
    Vibratory or tumble cleaning of live ammo is not safe as the powder may break down into finer particles resulting in a hotter & unsafe load. Try a buffing wheel instead.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    quote:Originally posted by yonson
    Vibratory or tumble cleaning of live ammo is not safe as the powder may break down into finer particles resulting in a hotter & unsafe load. Try a buffing wheel instead.

    Yep, get one hot while buffing and you'll never have to worry about shooting again (KA-BOOM right in your fingers).
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  • carbine100
    quote:Originally posted by yonson
    Vibratory or tumble cleaning of live ammo is not safe as the powder may break down into finer particles resulting in a hotter & unsafe load. Try a buffing wheel instead.


    Someone needs to let the major ammo manufacturers know this as it is common practice for them to do that very thing![:0][:0][:0] It is perfectly safe.
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  • yonson
    Having heard of an instance of a gun blowing up due to the use of ammo subjected to long-term vibration while rattling around in a pickup for an uspecified, extended period, I suggested not using a tumbler for cleaning live ammo as it may be unsafe. As one member took exception to this, I contacted two ammo mfgrs. for their advice. Their comments, verbatim: Hornady (Tech Dept) said "we suggest that you NEVER do this. This can actually take the deterrents off of the powder causing a very hot load". Federal Premium (Ask the Expert Forum) replied "We do not recommend the tumbling of live ammo as it changes the makeup of the powder and can cause high pressure loads". Neither one mentioned their use of tumblers on live ammo, but the answers seem to say that such practice, if utilized, would be very brief.
    The original query on this subject was for a SAFE method of cleaning corroded ammo. Would it not take an extended time in a tumbler to clean corroded ammo?
    Of course my comment on the use of a buffing wheel should have also included an admonition to avoid getting the ammo hot enough to explode (but then, that's what buffing compounds are for, and an experienced buffer doesn't get the workpiece hot). Litigation thrives on the assumption of common sense - for that assumption, my apologies.
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  • Colt Super
    Thank you all so much for the time and effort which you have put into your expert replies.

    I have decided to take one of two courses of action:

    1) I will hand polish the live ammo, probably using brass or copper wool

    or

    2) I will sell the live ammo, as-is, to folks that want to invest the effort in cleaning it up.

    Thank you all again.

    I knew that I came to the right place !!

    Doug
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