Green .357mag ammo

[Bravo11]

I went out to shoot my Ruger Blackhawk the other day and I grabbed my cowboy style holster that I normally don't use and started to load the cylinder from the rounds stuck in the cartridge rings of the belt. When I took the rounds out they were green around the portion that was against the leather. They fired OK but is this safe? What causes the corrosion?

 

[History Prof]

Being in the leather rings attracted moisture.

Safe? Depends on how deep the corrosion is. If the walls of the casings were too thin, you could have had a head separation.

 

[44AMP]

leather loops

Leather cartridge loops and brass cases is never a good idea. Ok for carry for a few days, but not for storage. The leather holds moisture, and the acids used to tan the leather attack the brass as well. This is why nickel plated pistol ammo was developed. It will also corrode if left in a leather cartridge belt, but it takes longer.

There is no solution, other than don't leave your ammo in the leather belt for extended periods of time. Or use a nylon loop belt. If you want to retain the "look" of the west, just take your ammo out of the belt when you put it away. This is also good for the belt, because if the ammo is left in, not only does the ammo corrode, but the leather of the belt stretches, and the loops get looser, over time.

 

[critter]

I personally WILL NOT fire ammo with green corrosion on the brass as it weakens it and can even eat through the case.

I once fired a 30-06 round in a Model 17 Enfield rifle. The ammo had some of the green goo on it. The brass split or melted through (the edges were melted over as if cut by a torch) and gas went everywhere. Luckily for me, the M-17 has good gas handling qualities and it harmed neither me nor the gun.

NO MORE. Same reason for eye/ear protection. BE CAREFUL!