Bullet cleaning ?

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JD Fla1

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I received a 50 cal. can of S&B 124g 9mm. bullets shaped like the XTP.
The bullets have some minor corrosion/tarnish/ build up on the them, whiteish in color.
I want to clean them up, and thinking I would need to use a vibratory unit with media of recommendations from here.
I have a wet tumbler, and pins, but I think it may be way over the top for this.
Which media should I use for this?
Midway has F.A. XL unit on sale, so I think I'll pick that unit up for this.
Bullets were free, so why not.
 
JD Fla1 said:
I received a 50 cal. can of S&B 124g 9mm. bullets shaped like the XTP.
The bullets have some minor corrosion/tarnish/ build up on the them, whiteish in color.
I want to clean them up, and thinking I would need to use a vibratory unit with media of recommendations from here.
I have a wet tumbler, and pins, but I think it may be way over the top for this.
Which media should I use for this?
Midway has F.A. XL unit on sale, so I think I'll pick that unit up for this.
Bullets were free, so why not.
Click to expand...

If the aesthetics don't bother you, I'd just send 'em. But if you want them clean, I tumble tarnished bullets in walnut with a shot of nu finish for about 10 or 15 minutes. You have to be kind of careful, as sometimes if you put to many in the tumbler or go to long, it will mar up the copper jacket some. It does periodically leave a granule or 2 in the cavity of some hollow points, but 99.9% of it is cleared with a couple of blasts from the air compressor after running them through the media seperator. Walnut is better than corncob in this respect, the corncob definitely packs up in the cavity and his harder to get out.

Alternatively, when the wife wasn't home, I once put 300 tarnished bullets on trays in the dishwasher, and ran it on the pots and pans cycle. They came out pretty good like that too. I don't think I need to warn you about how careful you need to be doing that. :rofl:
 
The trouble with the dry vibratory tumblers are that the bullets are to heavy to cycle around like cases do. The vibrating should do something to them though.
I bought some that were contaminated with something and I ran them through my Ultra sonic with Armstrong's floor cleaner, it did a heck of a good job on them.
You will need to grab one that is corroded and experiment with it to find what will do what you need it to do.
Are these XTP shaped bullets hollow points? You won't want to put hollowpoints in a tumbler with tumbling media unless you like picking media out of the hollow points. I do not like doing that at all.
If they are shaped like HAP bullets than you have no worries. (non hollow points).
 
yeah, they look hollowed out a just a bit inside the jagged tip. maybe not quite as much as an xtp. I'll get some walnut as mentioned above, and hope they agitate well enough. I think they'll load in a case more consistent if they are cleaned up. They will be cheap range ammo.
I like the d/w method myself, but the horror stories I hear doing that, scares me too.:uhoh: Thanks....
 
I would use the vibrating tumbler with crushed walnut shells because it's more abrasive than crushed corn cob media. The walnut media will remove the tarnish fairly quickly and avoid the chance of the buildup interfering with bullet neck tension. Don't forget to tell us how it works out for you. Have at it and load them up, good luck.

Exit to add:
I would not buy a new tumbler just to clean up the bullets. No reason not to use what you already own. If you intend to also use it for brass that's a different story.

If you do buy a vibrating tumbler I highly suggest a Berry's 400 model. They available with different names on them and are different colors. Cabela's used to have one in green which I bought, the one Sinclair/Brownells carries in red, Kempf sells the Barry's original for $59. There are several other but I can't remember them right now but they are all from Barry's and the warranty card says so. They change the color and brand it for the company who buys them. I searched for the best price at the time and bought the best price. I didn't check if they are still carrying them so its possible you will have to buy from Barry's or Kempf or MEC. (the MEC 400 is the same too but in black) Buying from Barry's or MEC directly is expensive.
 
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What about using the wet tumbler without pins? What about wiping down each bullet with a soaked rag as you load it?
I have and use a vibratory tumbler with walnut but I wouldn't purchase one just for this unless you will use it for polishing things later. I started running loaded rounds through mine with some nufinish polish to remove finger prints, leave a shine and a coat of wax for storage after a test done here (LiveLife I think did it), makes me proud to show off my reloads.
 
I'll experiment different ways, and report back. The National Mettalic dry tumbler is only 54.00. 12.00 for walnut. So, not too bad.
I have had excellent results with their wet tumbler. Maybe that dry tumbler will double as a small parts cleaner also.
 
I have done a batch in a dry tumbler with corn. It works fine. Any media will work.

If you are a true OCD reloader then polish each one by hand with a cotton cloth and Flitz!:)
 
I've tumbled a few hundred 9mm JHPs. First batch was with my "aggressive" media (10/90 hard resin/corn cob). Dull surface but clean. Used a "soft" media (corn pet litter), finish was shiny, but took a bit longer, but all shot fine...
 
LOL -- no ocd here, just want consistency in my reloads. - it'll probably keep my barrel a little cleaner - now, wondering if I should remove the bucket under the media separator before I hit the bullets with my air gun while spinning it. :feet:
 
JD Fla1 said:
I'll experiment different ways, and report back. The National Mettalic dry tumbler is only 54.00. 12.00 for walnut. So, not too bad.
I have had excellent results with their wet tumbler. Maybe that dry tumbler will double as a small parts cleaner also.
Click to expand...
OK...
Why not put some bullets and WALNUT media and NuFinish into the (dried out) wet tumbler you have and give it "a spin"!
Walnut? get some Lizard Litter
No water, :evil:
 
JD Fla1 said:
Now, that's an idea :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Hollow points are probably okay, but soft point rifle bullets are not great. The noses got smashed to bits when I did it, but they were very shiny.
Make sure the canister is very full.

And don’t try it with loaded cartridges. The noses will be worse and the bullets will be setback to all sorts of lengths.

My tumbler is aggressive. It goes to meetings for it.:(

I’ve been meaning to get a vibratory tumbler for just this reason too. Bullets, finished cartridges, and small delicate parts that would be mangled by the wet tumbler.
 
So had an old box of Sierra bullets what were growing green around the gills. A before and after......started with 1 hour in corn cob media.....didn't help. Added enough walnut shell to make that 50:50 and gave it two more hours.

Can't tell it from photos, but those were HPBT.......now cob filled BT. Hope they shoot OK as that cob is packed in tight and is not coming out.

IMG_0285.jpg IMG_0289.jpg
 
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