Is it "OK" to tumble dirty bullets

[TTE]

I have seen some bullets at gun shows that are quite dirty. I have resisted buying because they are old and dirty (although very cheap).

If you run them through a vibrating tumbler (corn cob), will they be OK to shoot ? Not bench rest ok, just in general practice OK ?

Thanks for your insight and comments

 

[Bob3700]

If it is just the bullet , tumble away. There maybe some tarnishing that tumbling will not remove, but overall they will look a lot better N will shoot just fine.
Don’t tumble loaded ammo though!

 

[TTE]

It's just the projectile in my "bullet" question, not loaded ammo

 

[rijndael]

Go for it, I tumbled many bullets to apply bullet coatings, like hbn. I also tumbled a few to remove coatings. It works fine.

 

[Bill Norris]

I run bullets thru the vibratory tumbler all the time to coat with HBN.

 

[snert]

Off topic, but since it was raised in this thread...
It should be known that tumbling loaded ammunition may result in a breakdown of the granular powders and the "coating" aspect of that powder that is thre as a result of manufacturing processes. That breakdown may result in a different (an unknown) burn rate. Therefor, tumbling loaded ammunition is not recommended, because it cannot be "certain" that the powder loaded initially remains the same powder after tumbling.

 

[Mcrider55]

Off topic, but since it was raised in this thread...
It should be known that tumbling loaded ammunition may result in a breakdown of the granular powders and the "coating" aspect of that powder that is thre as a result of manufacturing processes. That breakdown may result in a different (an unknown) burn rate. Therefor, tumbling loaded ammunition is not recommended, because it cannot be "certain" that the powder loaded initially remains the same powder after tumbling.

The use of the word "may" tells me they have no definitive proof of their statement.

Forum Boss: MCRider55 has been permanently banned from the based on his advocacy of tumbling loaded ammo (in a now deleted post in this thread) and other bad posts which have required Admin intervention.

The ban is permanent and we will also ban his IPs.

 

[Clancy]

I’ve done it.

You can also wash them in a salt solution very easily.

 

[snert]

The use of the word "may" tells me they have no definitive proof of their statement.

I used the word "may".

I also tumbled 1943 era 30 carbine. In that case, "will" change the powder woould be an accurate description. But hey, you do you. I will learn from my stupidity.

Forum Boss: Mcrider55 has been banned.

 

[TTE]

I’ve done it.

You can also wash them in a salt solution very easily.

I wonder if that works with brass as well ?

 

[Clancy]

I wonder if that works with brass as well ?

No idea. I never want to clean the inside of my cases.

 

[mauser284]

I have often wondered about this myself. If a bullet falls to the ground I have often trashed it especialy a 22LR cartridge. The idea of dirt being pushed down my bore at high speeds is more than I can bear! Barrels are expensive compared to a single dirty round.