bullet tarnish

[RW]

I know it is only cosmetic but is it possible to put bulk bullets in a vibratory tumbler to polish bullets with out any ill affects/ Just wondering it just looks good when everything is nice and shiny and I know it doesn't make any difference but to look good! Thanks, RW

 

[kentcroy]

RW, since I coat my bullets with WS2, I like to polish them up, with old walnut media that I add Brasso thinned with alcohol to. I use my old Midway brand vibratory tumbler,and they come out all shiny and new looking. At this point, I wash them with lacquer thiner, twice, in preperation for the WS2. For that I use another vibratory tumbler specifically for coating bullets, filled with ten pounds of BBs. My 7mm JLK VLDs hold 1/4min, so after being tumbled for about three hours, give or take, they don't seem worse for the wear. Kent

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I would think (as long as you aren't moly coating or something) that as long as your media is clean and free of additives, it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[bheadboy]

if you ever have a chance to tour the Sierra or other mfg plants, you will se they use the walnut filled vibrator as a final cleaning process. this removes the lubricants used in the mfg process and gives the bright look of a new bullet.

you are just redoing that and given you do not over do it -- fine

Bob

 

[jlow]

I've done them with corn cob media. If your bullets have an open tip, some of the smaller media will get trapped in it. Does not affect function but if you are doing this for cosmetic reason, you might not be happy..... They also do come out with compress air but it would be a pain if you have a lot....

 

[M-61]

I've done them with corn cob media. If your bullets have an open tip, some of the smaller media will get trapped in it. Does not affect function but if you are doing this for cosmetic reason, you might not be happy..... They also do come out with compress air but it would be a pain if you have a lot....

Did exactly the same thing with same results....however some of my bullets were beyond tarnished and had reached the 'green tarnished' stage. HP's so I had the media in the tip. Media removed the green corrosion and I was left with bullets that were stained in spots and with media in the nose. I saw no difference in performance at all. (using really older forgotten about components during the so called shortage)

 

[amlevin]

I leave them 'tarnished'. Makes a nicer "mark" on the target 8)

 

[jlow]

To get really clean, use SS media! ;D

 

[WyleWD]

I got a lot number of bullets that the jackets had some discoloration. Turns out the jackets were discolored due to an inadequate removal of the cleaner they use somewhere in the process. It turned out to be the best shooting lot number of bullets that I ever had and I didn't even try to clean them up. JME. WD

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
Plain lemon juice and water will get your tarnished , discolored bullets nice and shiny.
Rinse well, lay them out on a towel to ensure they are dry before loading or boxing them up.
Good luck,
John

 

[RW]

Thank You Very much for the info the lemon juice and water sounds great, Thanks for all the help, RW

 

[BOBC]

I'll take my lemon juice and water with 2 oz. of Gin and drink it while I'm looking at the tarnish on my bullets. I'd be all for this extra work if it would get me more tens and X's.
The only thing in my opinion, you should do with a bullet when it comes out of the final swaging die is shoot it. I knew a shooter who won for many years, a goodly number of the High Power Camp Perry events. He used to buy his bullets in large bulk quantities from a well known bullet manufacturer. He insisted the maker pick one bullet machine and just put a container under the machine and let the bullets drop into the container in lots of a thousand. When a thousand bullets filled the container, just seal it. Don't wash, degrease or polish them. Leave the lube on etc. and I'll take it from there. Remember their bullets not jewelry. I don't have enough time or space here to go into depth on this subject, but I
do have 60 years of bullet making experience. So I think I know some about making accurate bullets.

 

[sparky123321]

Lemishine, as the name suggests, will work just like the lemon juice. Make sure to rinse well and thoroughly dry before using.