Failed to fire Ammo

[Average_Joe]

I have approx 60 rounds of wolf 7,62 x 39 that have failed to fire, my question is what to do with them.What is the best/safe way to dispose of them.
Cabelas gave me a credit for the amount that didnt fire.
thanks for any advise given.

 

[blacknwhite]

I would use a bullet puller to just disassemble them.

 

[PestShooter]

I would disassemble them. My range has a tube that goes into the ground real deep and you drop the rounds that failed to fire in there, so if they cook off it will be OK.

Since they are technically UXOs,Unexploded Ordnance)you could dispose of them like the military does and blow them up, which would be real cool but deadly.

 

[RickB]

After you break the rounds down, take the powder outside and spread it on your lawn. It is a fine, if somewhat expensive, fertilizer...and is perfectly safe.

There are a lot of theories about "killing" primers with various liquids,WD-40, alcohol, and water come to mind). Someone or other ran tests a few years ago and the results were not terribly encouraging. Perhaps someone has a more up-to-date recommendation about them.

 

[Average_Joe]

I used a bullet puller and they don't want to come apart.

 

[Forum Boss]

RickB has a good solution about distributing this over the ground--so long as you understand you should spread the powder over a wide area.

I just deleted a post by someone who advocated putting unwanted powder in an open coffee can and lighting it. BAD Idea -- NEVER enclose and then ignite powder. At a minimum you've created a mortar aimed at you...

 

[people]

you will need to smack it very hard. I tried to pull a 545X39 and had to smack my puller on a 4X4 about 50 times before it came free.

 

[TRECustom]

You'll probably have to use a collet puller. A standard .30 cal should work fine. The rounds are probably crimped and may have a bullet sealer on them. We used to use a "popper" puller on G.I. ball rounds. They are fast, but they are tough on the bullets. However you pull them, scatter the powder out in the yard. I have heard that WD-40 will kill primers, and also maybe a drop of drain cleaner. I've never tested either one, so don't know for sure.

Tom

 

[Travelor]

If you can, seat the bullets a little deeper in the case before attempting to pull. This will "break" the seal on the bullet/cases and make pulling easier.

 

[8mmMauser]

Found the following on Wikipedia:

Lead styphnate,lead 2,4,6-trinitroresorcinate, C6HN3O8Pb ), whose name is derived from styphnic acid, is a toxic explosive used as a component in primer and detonator mixtures for less sensitive explosives, such as nitroglycerine. There are two forms of lead styphnate: six-sided monohydrate crystals and small rectangular crystals. Lead styphnate varies in color from yellow to brown. Lead styphnate is particularly sensitive to fire and the discharge of static electricity. When dry, it can be readily detonated by static discharges from the human body. The longer and narrower the crystals, the more susceptible lead styphnate is to static electricity. Lead styphnate does not react with metals and is less sensitive to shock and friction than mercury fulminate or lead azide. Lead styphnate is only slightly soluble in water and methyl alcohol and may be neutralized by a sodium carbonate solution. It is stable in storage, even at elevated temperatures.

Sodium carbonate might do the trick.

 

[TRECustom]

8mm, thanks for the info.

I had heard that drain cleaner would neutralize primers, but was thinking about steel cases. Drain cleaner has sodium hydroxide,caustic soda) in it and would attack a brass cartridge case and quickly destroy it. I should have said so.

To your knowledge, is there a common name for sodium carbonate and do you know if it would attack brass?

Tom