Bullet lead oxidation

[shellcracker]

I have 500 .357 cast wadcutters that are oxidized. They are not shiny and have gray powder all over them. Does anyone know if I can still use them to reload 38 special target loads? They were sized and lubed,3 grooves) before oxidation, do you think it would help to "freshen" them up with some ALOX tumble lube? I also have some old 110gn super vel JHPs that the exposed lead is oxidized. Do you think it would help to tumble them first or don't worry about it? I can't find information anywhere in any books on the effects of lead oxidation on bullet performance. Anyone have any experience loading or shooting oxidized bullets? Thanks

 

[Travelor]

Your problem is probably caused by exposure to moisture, either either mpisture or water vapor. Your jacketed bullets - spray some WD-40 on a soft piece of cloth or towel and put the bullets in it and slowly tumble,roleright and left as a group of bullets while the cloth is suspended in your hands) the bullets back and forth and the WD-40. This should "kill" further oxidation and remove some of what is present. As to the wadcutters, WD-40 sould probably soften the lube so I would just tumble the same way with a clean cloth or towel and shoot them.

But I would look at where the bullets were stored and try to either change the moisture in that area or move where you store you bullets. A friend was having the same problem in a small reloading room on a concrete slab and we painted the floor with concrete paint and the problem stopped.

 

[treeman]

be aware that the powder on the bullets is lead oxide which is more poisoous than lead, just a caution. ___treeman