Rust on Shotshells - Harder than Barrel Steel?

[Cowboybebop]

Living near the ocean rust on my 12 gauge shotshells is a common occurrence. Modern shells use brass-coated steel in the hull. Here's my question:


Will using slightly rusted shells, assuming they are safe pressure-wise, damage (scratch) the steel in the barrel chamber during loading and extraction? Basically, is iron-oxide (or whatever rust is) harder than steel?

 

[JohnKSa]

From what I can tell, iron oxide (Fe2O3) is harder than steel. It is also an abrasive.

In your position, I would store shotshells where they can't rust (airtight container with a dessicant package), or, if that is not possible, wipe each shell down with a silicon cloth. For the ones that are already rusted, I would use something like a wire brush or steel wool to remove the rust.

 

[PapaG]

Iron oxide is the abrasive part of crocus cloth, used to polish metal.

 

[22250Rem]

Years ago I had some 12 ga. shells that had developed some rusting and I fired them all from a High Standard Flite King pump with no problem. But it was just a very small amount of rust; had they been a bit more rusted I probably wouldn't have done it. AFAIK slight rusting is no problem but if there's a lot of it I'd probably take the wire brush / steel wool route like a prevous poster mentioned. If the rust was really heavy and pitted I think they'd get scrapped.

 

[GRIZ22]

I live by the ocean. Never had any problems with rust on shotshells just stored in the factory box in the garage. Some of these have been stored like that for years.

 

[Browngirlsdad]

I got a batch of 12ga shells on trade with a younger gentleman who had inherited his grandad's hunting stuff. They looked and smelled like they were stored in a damp basement. The ones with rust I cleaned up using steel wool and some Rem Oil. If the pitting left too little material, I pitched them (after salvaging the shot of course). All the rest have gone bang, and I don't have to worry about the scratches they can leave in the gun. It only took a few passes with the steel wool to knock the rust off.

 

[Lafitte]

There are still shotshells that have brass, not brass plated bases. If I were having a concern about rust I would just buy HD shells that are with brass bases. A magnet will tell the story. By the way, there may still be a little Fe in the primer but it seems to be of no real problem.

Lafitte

 

[Kingcreek]

If the rust is light enough just rub it off with some steel wool and shoot it. If its more than you can rub off pitch it.

 

[entropy]

I got a box that had rust; as others have stated, I used steel wool to get it off, and very light oil to protect it. They all went bang, no ill effects.

 

[JohnKSa]

Although it's not very likely, oiling the shells could result in oil getting into the primer and possibly deactivating it. If you're going to oil them, do so with a very lightly oiled cloth rather than actually putting oil directly on the shells. A silicon-impregnated cloth is probably even less likely to cause any issues.