Is it safe to tumble loaded rounds?

[ironjaw]

I have some mil. surp. .308 ammo. I have shot from this batch before with no problems, but it has been a while. Well this past sat. my gun kept jamming, either the rounds wouldn't cycle, or they would not eject all the way. At first, I thought my gun was dirty, but I field stripped and cleaned it. It kept doing jamming, and I finally ran some 'clean' ammo thru it and the gun and ammo worked fine.

My question is, could I buy a tumbler and polish the rounds to 'clean' them up? Someone with more knowledge on this please help. Thanks in advance!

 

[sloughfoot]

I wouldn't tumble loaded ammo. I have cleaned them with a vibratory cleaner though.

Shooting it out of an M1A? Have you shot any steel case or lacquered ammo out if it? If so, that will foul the chamber and cause sticking.

 

[42769vette]

ive never done it but i think it could be a bad idea

 

[shibumiseeker]

Tumbling ammo has some risk of incidental ignition. Not likely, but possible. Vibratory cleaning is perfectly fine.

I know you said you cleaned your gun, but did you clean the chamber? It's not something most people do when they "clean" their guns.

 

[IndyMonkey]

you should let me shoot it out of my socom...or 1919.

 

[Colt556]

I wouldn't try it.

I'll shoot it out of my M1As if ya don't feel safe with it though.

 

[ironjaw]

whoever the mod was that fixed the title.....thanks

I was shooting it out of my LR-308T. When I clean my guns, they get clean!

IM....say when, let's shoot that baby again! Rockwoot thanks again for letting me shoot that beast!

 

[rjstamp]

Looks like you have a nice family so you wouldn't want to lose any of those kids with a random discharge.......don't try it!

 

[billybob44]

Vibratory case cleaner is fine. You can use crushed walnut shells to knock off enough dirt to shoot.
This also does well for the bullets. There have been volumes of stories told on loaded round case cleaning. For 20-30 minutes of cleaning it is completely safe in a Vibratory type case cleaner..

 

[ironjaw]

well looks like I need to google a vibratory case cleaner then......

 

[billybob44]

well looks like I need to google a vibratory case cleaner then......

I know we hate to use them--but--E-bay usually has loads of them listed. I have had good luck with most sales. You can't go wrong with a large Dillon or Lyman..

 

[Moses]

i would think that tumbling or vibrating loaded ammo would not only be unsafe but would also break down the propellant. try a little bear hair or steelwool and just clean them by hand.

 

[HandK]

I'm gonna ask your wife to hit ya again!! Just jayin!!

 

[Colt556]

I think Harbor Freight sells vibratory cleaners.

 

[shibumiseeker]

i would think that tumbling or vibrating loaded ammo would not only be unsafe but would also break down the propellant. try a little bear hair or steelwool and just clean them by hand.

There have been studies where loaded rounds have been vibrated for hundreds of hours and then the propellent was looked at under a microscope with no discernable change in properties.

 

[indyjoe]

There have been studies where loaded rounds have been vibrated for hundreds of hours and then the propellent was looked at under a microscope with no discernable change in properties.

Good to know. I wonder if it depends on powder type. That would be my only concern, that the powder is broken up and increasing the surface area and therefore the burn rate. This could mean higher pressure and bad things.

 

[Slow Hand]

I asked teh same question on another board awhile back. Tim Sundles, owner of Buffalo Bore ammunition company said they clean ALL of their loaded ammo before packaging. I've done it with some ugly .45 ammo before and it worked just fine.

Doug K

 

[96firephoenix]

safe? maybe.
prudent? no.

 

[Colt556]

Would this work?

Ultrasonic Cleaner

I think if a fine media was used it would work, not certain though.

 

[Gamez235]

There have been studies where loaded rounds have been vibrated for hundreds of hours and then the propellent was looked at under a microscope with no discernable change in properties.

Link? I am not saying your wrong but for something that could involves ammo. I'd want to be sure. This is one I'd call a powder or ammo manufacturer on.