White powder

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LordGibson

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This may be a stupid newbie question, but I've searched here and on google and haven't really found much.

I just received a box of goodies from Natchez which included several boxes of CCI Blazer 115g 9mm jhp. In one of the boxes, there's a fair bit of fine white powder on each round. It's mostly on the copper jacket, but some is packed in pretty well against the casing and it's not clear if the source is external or internal to the cartridge.

The cartridge holder is made of white plastic, so I suppose it could be that in shipping the edge of the casings has rubbed the plastic to a fine powder in each of the wells. But none of the other boxes are so affected. And there's quite a bit of it.

I've used several boxes of Fiocchi and Lawman ammo before and never seen anything similar. This is the first time I've purchased Blazer.

Any ideas?
 
That's sort of what I thought at first, but my understanding (and what it says on the box) is that the bullet is completely encased in copper. . . so I'm not sure where any lead residue would come from.

Plus, this is white white, like cornstarch or flour. I would think lead powder would be darker, more of a pewter color?
 
Probably some sort of buffer and/or dry lube sort of stuff to facilitate rounds moving through the packing equipment.

That, or your ammo was shipped to the store in the same truck as half a load of flour.

It's probably nothing.
 
Long as it's not coming from inside the cartridge I'm not worried about it. From what I'm reading you folks don't seem to consider that a possibility, so I'm satisfied.

Thanks for the input.
 
From the CCI web site:

Questions

If you need assistance, we're ready to help. Call CCI technical service at 1-866-286-7436 or use our Ask CCI on-line form.

The technical service telephone lines are open from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday through Thursday (except holidays)
 
You intercepted a box that was supposed to be "the holiday sampler" to the local cocaine drug lord. Better hope he doesn't read this thread, figure out who you are, and come looking for you.
 
Lead residue - as lead oxidizes, it does oxidize into a fine white powder... doesn't seem to hurt anything, if it is the exposed lead only...

just make sure it isn't coming out of the case first...
 
If it is powdered oxidized lead you really, really don't want to be breathing or ingesting it. Treat as hazardous.
 
No Pilman, you're not. I was thinking this was going to be a "lock this thread" fest and decided to look like the typical rubbernecker watching an impending wreck. Obviously, I read it wrong as well.

I suspect some companies may tumble some of their old stock supplies to give it that satisfying like-new sheen. I say this as I've seen on a few occasions what appears to be corn cob media inside boxes of ammunition. One box of 60gr .32acp silvertips (old style) had this media lodged inside the sump of many of the JHPs.

I would think nothing of it, likely just a residue byproduct of mass production, cleaning or packaging.

Bottom line? Don't try to freebase it.
 
Again, it's awfully hard for me to believe it's oxidized lead, as the bullets are completely encased in copper jacketing. Plus, there's quite a lot of the powder on some of them. I will, however, proceed as if it were just to be on the safe side.

I'm leaning towards shavings of the plastic wells from shipping. . . Or maybe some sort of tumbling residue, either for (or a byproduct of) cleaning or preserving. I have an inquiry in to CCI, but have yet to hear back.

If I were to take one of the rounds apart to see what's inside, how would I go about it?
 
Go to your local reloading supplier (or a friend who is a reloader) and get ahold of a "kinetic bullet puller" looks like a plastic hammer, with a hollow well in the head, and a collet in one end... you lock the round in the collet, and beat the hell out of the other end on something hard that you don't mind damaging (NOT your mothers or wifes kitchen counter!)

bullet and powder come out of the casing, with no damage to anything...
 
Kinda late for this now, but I would have immediately put the ammo in a zip-loc bag, washed my hands and called CCI. If CCI had no idea what the powder is, I would call the local FBI office, express my concerns and follow their advice. Some of you jokingly mentioned anthrax, but the reality is life is getting scarier every day.

edit:Sorry, I missed the part where you HAVE contacted CCI. Let us know what they say.
 
Actually, that's pretty close to what I did. I left that box of ammo in the shipping box by itself and washed my hands thoroughly. My first thought was lead, and though I'm pretty sure now that's not what it is, I'll continue to treat it as such.

At this point, my thinking is I paid $5.99 for the box and it'll probably cost me $2 down at the local dump to dispose of it properly. $8 for peace of mind is fair enough. It's just not even worth my trouble at this point.

Thanks for all your suggestions.
 
I could be that one of those desiccant packets that is packed in with a lot items these days split open at some point.
 
Maybe i'm the only one but I thought this thread read "White Power" for a second lol
Click to expand...

No, you were not the only one. I also did a double take when I first seen it.

RH
 
Lead residue comes in 3 colors: Dull gray, bright red. and pale yellow.
You've got ground up packing media.

The rest of you guys, don't let me slow you down. This is one of the more amusing threads I've stumbled across here.
Polonium metal is also dark gray. Don't know about the oxides, tho...
 
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