Loaded brass cleaning???
It may be a foolish question but I have to ask it. I bought 500 rds of .308 India '86mfg ammo to use in my M1A National Match rifle. Out of a 20 rd mag I get around 6 no fires because the bullet does not fully chamber. After I clean the chamber it will be fine for a while until the dirt builds back up.
The brass is dirty causing the jamming. Is there a way of cleaning fully loaded ammo safely by tumbling?? Or do I have to clean each bullet individually?
The brass is dirty causing the jamming. Is there a way of cleaning fully loaded ammo safely by tumbling?? Or do I have to clean each bullet individually?
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I'm not sure if safety is the issue so much as that tumbling it might make the problem worse by loosening the seat of the bullet in the case.
my 2 cents
Semper Fi
Remember Ruby Ridge.
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
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Ballistic, this question comes up every so often and there are two schools of thought (amazingly, huh? [:D]).
Some folks argue that the ammo makers (at least the commercial ones) do this at the end of the production process to ensure that the consumer sees "pretty" brass when opening the box. I've never been through an ammo plant myself but I trust the veracity of the two guys who have told me this.
Others, basing their arguments on anecdotal evidence and instinctive logic, argue it's not safe.
Until I was affirmatively braced by the first group, I was firmly of the second position. Now, while I'm not ready to give up my dinosaur views entirely, I have a more open mind. It will be interesting to see what new responses your thread generates. I have yet to see a definitive study by an authorative body (e.g., NRA tech services or SAAMI) on this topic, but perhaps someone will be able to cite one and put this discussion to bed for the last time.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain)0 -
Do Not tumble loaded brass!! It will break down the
powder,changing the burn rate! (BAD).DON'T DO IT!!
BE SAFE!! Buffler0 -
buffer is correct. it will change the burn rate. 0 -
when I get dirty ammo and it is brass, I use brasso. It will take an while if you have alot but it is lot safer then the tumbling machine. I have done as much as 500 rd. I put the stuff on and then let dry completly and then start polishing. Comes out clean. Going to use the small paint spayer thing to spray on the brasso and see how it does next time.
spec.4
Don't fear the night, fear what hunts at night. ME!!<br>0 -
quote:Originally posted by spec.4
when I get dirty ammo and it is brass, I use brasso. It will take an while if you have alot but it is lot safer then the tumbling machine. I have done as much as 500 rd. I put the stuff on and then let dry completly and then start polishing. Comes out clean Next time I will try small air spray paint thing to put the brasso on with and see how it does.
spec.4
Don't fear the night, fear what hunts at night. ME!!<br>
Don't fear the night, fear what hunts at night. ME!!0 -
I used to be of the thought that it was unsafe, but then I did some tests. I loaded some ammo- 8mm Mauser as it was- and tumbled half of it for 12 hours, a really long time by tumbling standards. So same powder charges, primers, etc, just half was tumbled. THen out to the range and chronograph tests.... guess what, the burn rate did NOT change. Same velocity, exactly, given 15 fps SD. Your mileage may vary, I wouldn't worry, I'd tumble it. THen again.... semi autos are more sensitive than a 98k Mauser, so I'd try tumbling 10 rounds or so and testing with chrono first.
"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf0 -
Brasso, while quite good at polishing brass, contains ammonia and I wouldn't use it on my cartridge brass as it can make it brittle. I use 000 or 0000 steel wool; it may take a bit longer to clean each case, but does no harm to the brass. Emery
"Well done is better than well said"
Ben Franklin0 -
what if you could suspend the rounds in the tumbler without them rattling around? like in a little rack or something? 0 -
I don't think cleaning them once before shooting them will do any harm, been doing it for years. Then again they are to reload the brass cause of the berden primers.
spec.4
Don't fear the night, fear what hunts at night. ME!!<br>0
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