Anyone do it? Is it safe?

 

Loading lead, the lube gets all over the case and such (single stage) and it would be nice to get rid of it. Stupid idea? You won't offend me if you say it is as I sometimes think things will work that don't.

 

C

stupid idea.

Maybe the single worst idea I have heard in a long time. Like repeated Russian Roulette.

Please do not try this. Switch to plated or jacketed if lube bothers you.

Definitely would not recommend it

Kinda what I thought. But I overheard a conversation somewhere...

 

Anyway, thanks.

 

C

 

"repeated russian roulette". Priceless.

Why is it a stupid idea?

 

Tell me a ammo can full of bullets doesn't get bumped around during transit, tell me a 40 year old can of surplus hasn't been vibrated all over the place.

 

The lube is typically seated inside the brass so you wont do anything to it.

 

I have cleaned up some rounds in a vib cleaner with absolutely no issues. They were not lead but I don't see where this would be an issue.

Why is it a stupid idea?

 

Tell me a ammo can full of bullets doesn't get bumped around during transit, tell me a 40 year old can of surplus hasn't been vibrated all over the place.

 

The lube is typically seated inside the brass so you wont do anything to it.

 

I have cleaned up some rounds in a vib cleaner with absolutely no issues. They were not lead but I don't see where this would be an issue.

 

 

Sure, you might be right..... But why take the chance? ... even if 1 in a million.

I have a bunch of plated on the way so it will be a non issue for me. It sounded wacky and off the wall to me at first and then I thought about it... Exactly what PeteF mentioned. Plus the fact that in my .357 Lever Action Marlin the rounds must take a beating in the tube magazine. Then I thought again and it seemed like a not great idea. Then I thought again... You get the point.

 

So, I ask. Can't learn any other way.

 

BTW, Pete, I have more cases if you like.

 

C

you cant just wipe them off with a moist cloth?

Tumbling loaded rounds can potentially alter the powder in the case, and is dangerous. Changing its physical characteristics could potentially change the burn rate. Burn rate is controlled by the size, shape and sphere of the powder; be it single base or double base. You can tumble it all you want, but when you fire the round you may get a surprise.

Why is it a stupid idea?

 

Tell me a ammo can full of bullets doesn't get bumped around during transit, tell me a 40 year old can of surplus hasn't been vibrated all over the place.

 

 

It doesn't seem like a stretch that a bullet tip or rim might get accidentally slammed into the primer of a loaded bullet. It is why lever guns with tube magazines recommend you use flat point bullets.

Some reference reading. You take it from there. Personally, I do tumble rifle brass after loading for 15-30 minutes to get the lube off. Never had a problem.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/989047_Tumble_live_ammo_Tumbler_Oandapos__thruth_EXTREME_edition__200hour_torture_test__UPDATE__fired_rounds_in_OP.html

Some reference reading. You take it from there. Personally, I do tumble rifle brass after loading for 15-30 minutes to get the lube off. Never had a problem.

http://www.ar15.com/...unds_in_OP.html

 

I noticed there are no stick powders in those comparisons. The rounder ones seem to have fared well.

i have read about other reloaders doing this.. I have never done it myself I always wipe mine down with a towel and inspect them..

 

 

It doesn't seem like a stretch that a bullet tip or rim might get accidentally slammed into the primer of a loaded bullet. It is why lever guns with tube magazines recommend you use flat point bullets.

 

Maybe a fmj 223 might be able to hit a primer but I can't see it hitting hard enogh to cause the primer to go off.

I doubt a lead bullet (typically rounded or flat) would have any chance.

 

I could see how the powder might get broken down by vibration, but the vibration wouldn't be worse than a couple of hours in a truck bouncing down the road.

I know a couple people that do it. I dont because they dont roll around too good in the bowl. I also do all my brasswork (sizing, trimming, swagging) then polish it on the tumbler. The only thing left is powder and bullet. No lube is needed. I also only load rifle and do it on a single stage press.

Ken

I know people who do but I don't. I don't think its as dangerous as some people think it is. I don't see any need for it if you take care and pay attention to what you're doing with a single stage. Cases loaded with carbide dies are sized, deprimed, tumbled, primed and loaded. If you're using standard dies are tumbled, sized, deprimed, lube is washed off, short tumble to bring back the sheen, primed and loaded. I usually use Lee Case Lube which is water based but I've never seen any lube that Dawn and hot water won't remove. Just be sure they dry totally before doing anything else (there as ways to hasten this). 95% of my pistol loading is with lead bullets and if some bullet lube with a squirt of lighter fluid will take it off.

 

I don't think the powder being broken down is an issue either. Ammo being shipped to a war zone is manufactured, trucked Kmaybe several days) to be loaded for shipment, trucked to an ASP in the war zone, trucked to the unit, might be trucked around for a day to several weeks, and used with no issues.

 

If you're a bench rest shooter tumbling loaded ammo may affect your group size but you would have no need to do it anyway as you treat each round like a single work of art.

you cant just wipe them off with a moist cloth?

 

thats too easy.

I know the OP refers to handgun rounds, but I don't think I have a reloading manual that says tumbling live rounds is a another step you perform in the reloading process. Everyone strives to push the envelope, but sometimes expediency should be labeled with a caution sign.

 

Here's another viewpoint from another forum: http://bulletin.accu...an-loaded-ammo/

first off i tumble all the bullets after i load them and second it is way off to say that a bullet head or a rim would strike the primer hard enough to make it detonate, think of all the crushed primers that happen when they dont seat into the bullet correctly and those dont detonate. Tumbling is not a rough process,the round is not being slammed around just gently vibrated allowing the media to roll over the surface to clean ti, that is all. IMHO you are 100% fine tumbling loaded ammo never heard of an instance and i bet a google search wont yield a result either.

stupid idea.

lmao dude you don't know jack shit! All I ever see on your posts is smart ass comments. It's perfectly safe people in gun games do it all the time as do I, your a F**** newbie reloader learn something before you open your mouth. Sorry if I sounded like a dick for the others.

lmao dude you don't know jack shit! All I ever see on your posts is smart ass comments. It's perfectly safe people in gun games do it all the time as do I, your a F**** newbie reloader learn something before you open your mouth. Sorry if I sounded like a dick for the others.

 

I'm not going to reference other posts(i dont really keep log), but this particular one didn't sit with me either. No explination to why its a stupid idea, and the fact that it's not really all that stupid of an idea. Not only do many people do it, but many MANUFACTURES do it. Just make sure your powder isn't sensitive.

Reloading is dangerous and should be left to professionals.

Reloading is dangerous and should be left to professionals.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

lmao dude you don't know jack shit! All I ever see on your posts is smart ass comments. It's perfectly safe people in gun games do it all the time as do I, your a F**** newbie reloader learn something before you open your mouth. Sorry if I sounded like a dick for the others.

 

You DON'T sound like a dick. We need less touchy feelly and more straight forward comments.

 

Here's my take....I found loaded rounds in my tumbler quite s few times by mistake no biggy!

 

But that's not the way to remove lube. Media dust will stick to lube and at best case contaminate your media.

You learn something new every day. I reload jacketed bullets and use a wet tumbling system, so this is doubly not an issue for me. I don't know that I wouldn't be able to stop worrying about dry tumbling loaded rounds with soft Federal primers. Eek!

You DON'T sound like a dick. We need less touchy feelly and more straight forward comments.

 

Here's my take....I found loaded rounds in my tumbler quite s few times by mistake no biggy!

 

But that's not the way to remove lube. Media dust will stick to lube and at best case contaminate your media.

 

i had some REALLY gingy M-2 AP ammo that had been sitting in the bottom of my locker for 20-odd years, as well as a much of mixed other handgun ammo that was messed up, dumped it into the tumbler (Separate lots) and lo and behold, nice, shiny, clean and working fine. Should uou do it as a REGULAR thing? nope, but it's not the Certain Disaster some people say.

I don't feel the need to do it, but lots of people do, specially with rifle ammo that may have lube on it. I've had rounds that have spent a hour in my dryer and worked fine. I don't think 10min in a tumbler will do anything to it.

 

Everyone who wants to say it is a bad idea, please provide some evidence. That said, I would figure out what is the minimum amount of time you need to remove the lube and limit yourself to that, I'm sure if you forget about it and tumble it for a few days the powder could break down a bit. I might even use a plug timer, but I don't see the danger.

Excerpt from the article I provided from Accurate Shooter in my link above:

 

Hodgdon’s official policy is: “Completed ammo should not be tumbled. The powder will degrade and increase in burn speed.” (From Mike Daly, Customer Satisfaction Manager, Hodgdon/IMR.)

No, that article says "Extensive tumbling can cause the breakdown of the powder grains". Define extensive? Hours, days, weeks? You need 10min to remove the lube. That article also doesn't quote any non-lab cases of powder breakdown.

 

Put a factory box of ammo on a train across the country and it will get significant shacking for many many hours. Or on a plane on a 12h flight, etc.