Green crud on Berrys plated projectiles

[rajbcpa]

These plated 380 projectiles have been sitting in the shipping box for a few months. The green crud looks like some kind of oxyidation or rusting.

Most of it comes off by rubbing the bullet in your hand. It has impacted about 5% of the cases.

Is this normal or is something wrong with their plating process?

 

[fields]

Most copper salts are green or blue. Maybe had a little moisture in the package. You have corrosion-wipe off and tumble for a short time

 

[rcmodel]

Copper can't rust.
It can corrode though, when subjected to humidity.

These plated 380 projectiles have been sitting in the shipping box for a few months.

Well, there's your problem right there.

Bet you opened it and coon-fingered a few of them to see what they looked like when you got them, didn't you?

Finger-prints contain salt & acids, and attract moisture eventually.

rc

 

[rajbcpa]

They were packed in a thin clear plastic bag which was unopened until a few days ago.

The green crud has the texture of course sea salt. When it is rubbed off, the platting is removed. I'm loading these as they seem OK.

 

[Hondo 60]

When it is rubbed off, the platting is removed.

and you're still gonna load 'em?
If some of the plating is removed that's gonna change the diameter.

And what data would you use?

I'd be VERY careful!!!

 

[RandyP]

I'd suggest calling the very good customer service folks at Berry and get their advice. I use a lot of Berry plated in a few calibers and have never experienced anything like you are describing.

 

[mljdeckard]

Berry's is in my home town. I proudly tell people, you can spit and it evaporates before it hits the ground. I would find it unlikely that there would be enough moisture in the air they were packed in for this to happen.

 

[fields]

Salt probably came from their process. Moisture probably also from their process.

 

[Still Shooting]

Green Crud - Process Problem?

If the green crud is crystalline in nature, and removal leaves an unplated surface, another problem might be responsible. You say you did not open the plastic bag until a few days ago, and that would indicate the contamination was likely there when shipped. I suspect there may have been an inadequate post-plating wash, or somehow some plating salts spilled on the bullets after they were plated and washed.

 

[mljdeckard]

It wouldn't hurt to call them. If it is something happened there, it probably isn't unique to YOUR box.

 

[tyeo098]

Copper (I/II) Oxide (Copper rust) is green.

Ask the Statue of Liberty.

 

[Silent Sam]

See "Verdigris"

 

[rcmodel]

(Copper rust) is green.

Rust is composed of iron oxide.

Non-ferrous metals like Copper cannot rust because there is no iron in it.

Copper turns green due to oxidation.
It is a three-step process where the copper oxidizes to copper oxide, then to cuprous or cupric sulfide, and then to copper carbonate.

Copper carbonate is the green colored copper or patina that forms over time.
The old name for this green patina is "verdigris".

rc

 

[ghitch75]

yours where in bags in a box?.....i have 4 1k boxs of Berry's plated 380's in just cardboard box's and they have a slight oily feel to them.....i have never seen any oxidation on any of them....do you have a pic?