Bullets turned green(brass)

[Macmac]

Bush, As of late , say the past 5 years maybe I have noticed a would be over kill under maintaince, for just about any metalic objet that has moving parts, ie motor bikes, cars and guns.

I still got long hair half way down my back, but am a gear head under it. That and a skinner, so old school.

Might not be poor maint, under the terms of lack of, but more over kill with kindness..

If a thin flim works a drowning must work better huh? errr not really..

I see guys over fill motor bike engines all the time on line, infact drowing seals, changing oils at 600 miles after that first one, and it just goes on.

There is something missing, bit I can't put a finger on it, know what I mean?

A thin film isn't dripping wet...

One item I just can't stand is WD-40. It has it's place but to me that comes under cleaning something metalic, and searching for vacuum leaks..

Pretty much in any airs, it is GONE in 3 days time. To make it last longer you need to wrap what ever in plastic and tape what ever tight.

I don't believe because you fired 25 rounds in a gun that it needs copper remover each time, and that by using copper remover each time anything very special happened.

I do believe and not many mention this is that if you did shoot a gun, that day cleaned it, and well, that with in about 3 weeks if you run a patch thru it that patch will likey be dirty. I don't care what that gun burns either.

On the other hand that dirt isn't going to do much...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Macmac...I'm a retired Marine/Industrial Master Diesel Mechanic of over 45 years. I just turned 65 and my hair is halfway down my back (retired my barber at the same time I retired). I retired as machinery overhaul shop supervisor. Yer preachin' to the choir...I DO like clean firearms though...

WD-40 is for loosening rusty nuts and bolts only. Though it removes masking tape adhesive quite well...

 

[VARifleman]

I thought Zep45 pententrant was for that...least that's what we use for pesky boiler bolts.

I find it interesting that Hoppes #9 would cause this, as I thought it was just a powder solvent. Hmm...might have to look for a different solvent for my .22 as I don't like copper solvents for it.

 

[Pilot]

Didn't Bareny Fife's sole bullet he kept in his pocket turn green too? I'm betting moisture.

 

[Macmac]

Bush, I figured as much, "preachin' to the choir". I found better than WD for nut bustin, in that stinky PB Blaster, and SEA FOAM, which I like even better.

Of course mista' hot wrench gets everything that isn't so delicate faster.

To me WD is a fair metalic cleaner, and a good vacuum leak detector.

Propane works fairly well seeking vac leaks, but can be hard to tell just what the leak is since you can't see what areas exactly you aimed at. The WD hits a leak and changes mix. BamO' Thar she Blows.

Bushy, you might be interested in a couple pleasure crafts engines I got to do over. 1953 Chrystler 331 cu in hemis, made as marine with V drive. Both in the same boat. You might remember these, while I can't, as I was 2 when these were new. One turned the way God Intended and the other one turned bass akwards, but you knew that.

These things didn't bother tryin' ta save an ounce either! Oddly the manual for that year engine said the firing orders were the same for both. I thought about some, as it sure didn't seem right to me. It wasn't right either.

I got both all broken down in lots of boxes, as someone before me had them and failed. The heads had been redone, but I checked anyway as habit, layin them on a bench and pouring K-1 in the combusyion chambers. Whoa! K-1 passed intantly and with authority. I should have just looked with a flash light as the new valve guides had been reamed way off line, and with the springs pulling the valves in tight as they were installed, The illumnation showed as a cresent moon! Not to damnned good huh?

This boat went to Davy's Locker in fresh water, and I guess stayed there awhile. When ever it was brought back up, not much happened. The cast iron crankcase pans were left to freeze over winter, and so blew out. The carbs were filled with green and brown goo, and so was the glass water traps.

Still that vintage stuff is cool, but costly.

I better git ta' topic..

VA, It is uncertain what substance was used, so far as I know. I was the 2nd, maybe 3 rd poster, so I for a fact don't know.

I never had this happen with regular Hoppes #9, so I have the idea there was another Hoppes Copper eattin' bore cleaner, more for a serious copper clogged bore chem, that caused this.

I was hoping to find out as I make repro Trade Silver, of which certain items are ordered in copper. Rare, but it happens, and some customers want the items antiqued. I can create green on copper, but it takes some time and it isn't very controllable.

On Silver this is a no brainer. I can make it blue, red/purple and black almost instantly.

 

[Macmac]

Pilot, We cross posted. If what you say was true, Barney would have handled that bullet, and alot I guess. His hand salts and acid skin would be more the cause, than water. The water would be media to pass the acids and the salts.

Well that's how I see it anyway.

 

[The Bushmaster]

L O L Macmac...Read the "fine" print on my last post. "Retired"...I sold all my major tools and only kept those that I will need to maintain what I own...Spent a large part of 45 years at sea. Boats don't interest me anymore...Look at my profile and you'll understand...

 

[Macmac]

I saw retired, so what ya got new rubber on yer hide! LOL I had it in mind 1953 was chargin up a re-fresh in yer old codgery brains. You just don't go find 1953 331 hemi's everday a this date ya know?

Like you I try to not work engines not mine, but bein that bit younger I get dupped into it more often than I like. Something about that vacant look in the eye, the droop at the shoulder, and the mouth a gap gets to me, and so out come the tools.

I am warned... No more motor talkin' ta' Bushy... and certainly none on what might be over thar horizon....

 

[rugerman]

Hoppes will do it, ever noticed what happens to your brass brushes if you leave hoppes on them after you clean your guns. rugerman

 

[The Bushmaster]

No rugerman...I haven't noticed. And I don't clean my bronze brushes after brushing my bores (and I use Hoppe's #9 Benchrest copper solvent). I just pat them with a gun rag and let them air dry...

 

[shc1]

Moisture or aliens, probably moist aliens.
Toss in global warming and we’re all doomed anyway.

 

[reclusebcs]

green on brass cases

ok so cases left in a leather belt turn green , so what it the best way to clean as they are still loaded ?

 

[JRH6856]

Use a brass polish intended for use in brass tumblers and clean them by hand. Whatever you do, don't use anything that contains ammonia.

 

[tipoc]

Wipe em off with a damp rag, not dripping wet, damp, and by hand. Then if you want them to shine like new polish them with a brass polish, again by hand.

tipoc

 

[GP100man]

I shoot lead exclusively & clean up is a snap with EDs RED.

I try to keep em all rotated & shot !!

I`ve had Hoppes turn em greenish ,but never stuck em.

Is`nt the last thing to do is dry bore with patch& jag then oil litely ??

I don`t use the slotted tip thingy anymore.

 

[tipoc]

Wow! I hadn't noticed that this thread was revived from 2008 to ask one question.

tipoc

 

[gutterman]

I was always told that Hoppes #9 if not removed from the gun after cleaning, with cause the "green" affect.

 

[tipoc]

reclusebcs reopened this thread to ask about bullets he had left in a gunbelt for a few years and the brass has developed verdigris as a result. That question was answered. Easy stuff to just rub off.

tipoc

 

[Fishslayer]

Musher...Pertaining to "box-O-truth...When was the last time you saw Hoppe's gun oil come in a tin can? Besides I didn't see a lable on that can (how convenient)...Just what he wrote.

As I understand it the older Hoppes #9 is a different formulation than present day. Supposedly there was more ammonia in the older stuff.

I often get some green on my patches cleaning old Mosins with modern Hoppes. Whether thats just loosened up old verdegris or fresh stuff I have no idea.

 

[tipoc]

I often get some green on my patches cleaning old Mosins with modern Hoppes. Whether thats just loosened up old verdegris or fresh stuff I have no idea.

That's copper residue from the bullet jacket.

As a jacketed round travels down the bore it sheds a bit of itself. Usually more in older barrels than new. The Hoppe's turns this green as it's cleaning.

It's a different process than the verdigris you'll see grow on brass bullet cases left in leather belt loops too long.

tipoc

 

[481]

Sheesh, if my bullets start turning green, I am just gonna change my name to Barney and be done with it.