cleaning old ammo

[JBS]

Interesting assertion to make about ALL "surplus" ammunition. Is there evidence to support this?

Talking about this to my friend, he was aware of the issue, but does not feel limited tumbling is likely to make any significant difference. He mentioned some IVI 7.62mm that was about 25 years old and quite inconsistent. He tumbled it without media for about 15 minutes and found this corrected the problem: the powder was caked and this was causing inconsistent ignition, which the tumbling corrected.

Tumbling did not correct anything. Your friend is very lucky he did not kill himself. When nitro based powder starts to cake it is a sign of extreme degradation and the nitro is separating from it’s bond with the cellulose. It has a most uncontrollable burn pattern and can produce tremendous chamber pressures. Some times the things people do makes me want to never shoot at a public range again, makes me glad I am able to have a private range on my small ranch.



Reprint of a letter.
Tue, March 2, 2010 10:04:34 AM
From: Dave Campbell
To: Xxxxxxx

It is the policy of Hodgdon Powder Co. to reccommend against ever tumbling or vibrating loaded or reloaded ammunition. Vibration for even short
periods of time may degrade propellants or change their burn characteristics. Vibrating propellants may cause coatings to wear off and edges or
ends to erode.

Dave Campbell
Ballistician/ Customer Service
Hodgdon Powder Company Family of Propellants:
Hodgdon Smokeless Powders, The Brand That’s True
IMR Legendary Powders
Winchester Smokeless Powders, For Loading Professionals
Pyrodex
Triple7
Goex Black Powder
White Hots
Hodgdon - The Gun Powder People
913-362-9455 ext. 117
dcampbell@hodgdon.com