I would like to know if it has been proven that cleaning reloaded ammo after reloading has degraded the powder inside? I have read that it does but not to what extent. I have some .223 ammo that I loaded about 6 months ago and it is starting to tarnish the brass cause I didn't wipe my prints and oils off after reloading. I am wondering if I can still put them into the RCBS Vibrator with some Nu Finish polish/Corn Cob media and remove the tarnish? These reloads are for paper cutting and not for precise target shooting. If it does degrade the powder, then what happens to the powder as far as the degradation goes and power wise? Thanks to all who know the answer. I am still going to use them for target practice if they don't ignite inside the Vibrator.
Vibrating cleaning after reloading??
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Blue68f100
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Will not hurt a thing. May test have been run over the years and none that I know of showed that it damaged the powder. Think of how ammo is shipped all over the world for the military and none of it is impacted. If you watch how the ammo rolls in the media there is no impact. Just don't over load the cleaners, that is when you can run into problems.
CQB45ACP
Member
Have you been reading this thread? If not, do so.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/tumbling-polishing-ammunition-post-loading.906178/
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/tumbling-polishing-ammunition-post-loading.906178/
My cases are clean and shiny when I load them. When I first started reloading, like many I didn't have a tumbler, I just wiped cases clean. Later I bought a used tumbler with some other reloading stuff, and my cases have been shiny ever since, except for test loads sometimes, I don't always shine them up as much, just tumble a bit to clean them up.
That said, I would tumble some loaded rounds if need be. After all, 24 hours in a vibratory tumbler didn't affect those loaded rounds in the test @snuffy and I did. Not looks, not numbers.....
That said, I would tumble some loaded rounds if need be. After all, 24 hours in a vibratory tumbler didn't affect those loaded rounds in the test @snuffy and I did. Not looks, not numbers.....
bullseye308
Member
Manufacturers do it. Many Reloader’s do it. Some have even gone so far as to tumble some for 48+ hours then pull the bullet and find the powder still looks the same, as in not a pile of dust. Think of what military ammo goes through in transport, riding in trucks over crappy terrain, being jostled around in planes, on trains, and in all manner of vehicles not meant for a nice ride.
You will be fine, you are just tumbling it long enough to clean it off and give it a protective coat.
You will be fine, you are just tumbling it long enough to clean it off and give it a protective coat.
tightgroup tiger
Member
Loaded ammo just sinks to the bottom of the vibratory tumblers. I did that as an experiment with rifle ammo. Lighter pistol ammo may make it around the cycle in a vibratory but heavier stuff, goes down like the Titanic and stays there.
They do get cleaned but not as fast as throwing them in a rotary tumbler. The only thing I have ever damaged in my rotary is putting loaded rifle rounds in mine. The lead tips got beat up, so I only post tumble pistol ammo now.
They do get cleaned but not as fast as throwing them in a rotary tumbler. The only thing I have ever damaged in my rotary is putting loaded rifle rounds in mine. The lead tips got beat up, so I only post tumble pistol ammo now.
jdsingleshot
Member
My bullets aren't smart enough to brag about being launched from beautiful brass, so I don't waste time or money on beauty products.
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