Old 9mm reloads

[ExAgoradzo]

I found some of my FiL's 9mm reloads.
They have corrosion all over many of them.
The brass I am assuming is trash, but if I pull the bullets I hope to save them? the powder? the primers?
What should I do to prevent the rest from corroding? I was shocked when I opened them up...Nothing else I have (mostly stored in ammo boxes or plastic bins in the attic) is corroding. But I wouldn't be a bit surprised that it came from his house and he may have reloaded these in the 90's.
Ideas?
Greg

 

[Fire_Moose]

Pull the bullets and save em. Toss the powder.

Put the cases in a tumbler to see if they clean up.

If not you could even decap the primers and reuse those....though some peiple might not...

Sent from my CZ85 Combat

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Thanks Fire_Moose.
Greg

 

[medalguy]

Cautionary warning: If the brass is truly corroded, I wouldn't try to reuse it. Discolored is OK but corrosion can go all the way through and you will have a problem. 9mm is a pretty high pressure load. 9mm brass is cheap, heck I'll send you some if you need it but I see it for sale for about .03 even today. The powder, I'd toss because you can't be absolutely sure what it really is, but the bullets should tumble clean just fine and they really are scarce today.

General rule: NEVER EVER shoot anyone else's reloads. Period.

I'm not sure why ammo reloaded that recently would badly corrode. Check the area for any chemicals, leaking batteries, anything acidic? Just a thought. Maybe he was eating orange slices while reloading.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

No, these reloads are at least 5 years old and I'm guessing they are older than that. My FiL did most of his reloading in the 80's & 90's but he kept it up until his last few years.
Greg

 

[ExAgoradzo]

Vinegar. I cleaned them with vinegar. Some of them are too far gone to salvage, but almost all the corrosion came off with vinegar and a paper towel. Some Ill just take apart and save the components I can; some Ill shoot through my Blackhawk; then if that works, very carefully trough my M92. If they work, great: I don't think the vinegar got into the powder, Ill give a report next weekend.
Greg

 

[gamestalker]

I would personally toss the powder, but if the corrosion hasn't effected the primers, reuse them puppies, and the bullets as well. I would be careful with the brass though, 9mm is a high pressure cartridge. Maybe tumble it for a few hours and see what ya got.

I thought I read something once about vinegar having a negative impact on brass?

GS

 

[ObsidianOne]

Pull the bullets, toss the powder on the lawn or on plants. Great fertilizer. If you decap, wear glasses and do some research on it first. Whether you trusted him or not, there may be a reason he didn't shoot them. You never know, and a few hundred rounds or less isn't worth a gun, life, or limb.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Blue68f100]

One advantage of using a NuFinish polish in the tumbler. It leaves a protective film.....