Nail polish,primers,bullets & handguns...

[Tropical Z]

I remember reading about the threads where people said you can use nail polish to seal the primers in a carry or car gun.I finally remembered to get a bottle when i was at Wal-Mart last week.Settling on "Wet & Wild" #412 @.93 cents i now have in my possession the said protectant.I seem to have a problem with handgun mags rusting internally and as a result i now occasionally dip the ones i have problems with in synthetic motor oil and allow them to drain for several days before using.This has stopped any rusting problems dead in its tracks.I recently fired a full, oiled Hi-Point mag that had been sitting for about 6 months.All rounds went off without a hitch,but i was sweating out every one.The mag was loaded with WWB which does NOT have a sealed primer or bullet.Now,how many people actually have used nail polish as a sealant and do you also seal the bullet end where it enters the case? I envision my barrel and breachface getting coated in "Wet & Wild" goo! What have you personally observed?

 

[blue86buick]

I've considered somethign like this myself...a "rich man's, DIY" Wolf/Brown Bear ammo. The thing I was wondering/worried about is the sealant coming off where the casing headspaces on the chamber...might make a snug fit.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've used clear nail polish on primers, but wouldn't try to seal the bullet, since a.) that's what crimping is for, and b.) I'd be reluctant to gunk up a gun with mostly burned nail polish. I change my carry rounds ever few months now, so I don't worry about sealing primers.

 

[Dorian]

In that case.....

How can I find out what bullets are sealed?

I carry Speer golt dot +p in my 9mm, and speer lawman in my .45.

Is there someplace I can get a list on what types of ammo are sealed?

And lastly... Why don't you just bbuy sealed ammo for your car gun?

 

[Tropical Z]

You can see if your bullet and primer is sealed as its usually a red sealer around both areas.Most sealed ammo is Russian FMJ which i have no problems with,but sometimes you want something else.Some but not all S&B ammo comes in with a sealed primer and sometimes a sealed bullet also.Rarely is domestic stuff sealed.

 

[themic]

S&B is my carry ammo, personally. i like that it's sealed unlike most ammo, but i have to confess that for the most part it's not that important to me. mostly i carry it because it's cheap enough for me to shoot enough to consider it reliable.

 

[Archie]

US GI ammo is pretty much all sealed.

Or used to be, at least.

It shows up much like the red stuff on Wolf ammo. The bullet sealant on US stuff is a black colored stuff, and doesn't show much. It shows very well indeed if one pulls the bullet without firing it.

To seal primers or bullets, one paints a very thin film over the joint. The ammo companies have machines to do that job; it's a pain for us regular guys.

 

[DBR]

A long time ago, I used to be an avid SCUBA diver. I carried a "bang stick" which is a single shot .223 on the end of a Hawian sling. I waterproofed the primers with clear nail polish and did nothing to the bullet. These rounds were carried to depths of 70ft or approx 2 atmospheres for up to an hour. Every third dive I would fire the loaded round and load a new one. I fired more than 20 rounds this way and none misfired. I used standard Remington .223 55gr.

 

[Tropical Z]

WOW! Now thats a test!

 

[blue86buick]

Where can I get one of these "bang sticks"? They sound fun. I think Bruce Campbell used one in Army of Darkness...shotgun though.

(IIRC, they're illegal for anything other than their intended purpose (scuba, etc))

 

[DBR]

blue86buick,

I don't know about availability today. In the late 60's you could buy one at any dive shop. Shotgun sizes were more popular. When I changed rounds I would shoot the old round under water into whatever piece of drift wood I could find. The .223 would blow a 2" hole through anything less than 3" thick and usually split it end to end. Never did get to shoot a fish with it though. The one time I tried it on a Goose fish about 5' long it just went "thunk" against his soft head. They require something pretty hard to fire.

 

[Dorian]

I think Bruce Campbell used one in Army of Darkness...shotgun though.

Bang Stick.... Boom Stick.... What's the difference?

 

[blue86buick]

Bang Stick.... Boom Stick.... What's the difference?

well, a bang stick goes "BANG!" and a boom stick goes "BOOM!"....although .223 seems to go "BOOM!" to me

 

[pale horse]

What does a "bang stick" look like?