Is it dangerous to tumble(vibration cleaner) live ammo?

[shawnba67]

I kind of collect oddball ammo, usually pick up a couple rounds at gun shows. I am pondering my own bullet board but would like to see if can make my old corroded ammo shinier or even new looking. Can I tumble it safely to see if it works? Any idea's on how to remove tarnish from old ammo?

 

[lovemywoods]

Yes, it's is safe to tumble live ammo. There have been some previous threads where people tested this by tumbling ammo for various lengths of time, up to several days, with no ill effects.

If you just want to polish a few rounds, I suggest any good metal polish. I personally like Simichrome.
Amazon.com: simichrome polish

 

[shibumiseeker]

No. Vibrate away.

There MAY be some theoretical issue with rotating tumblers, but none at all with vibratory ones.

 

[warthog]

I tumble my loaded rounds. Haven't had one go off yet.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I tumble my ammunition. No ill effects. I'll go so far as to say I theorize that tumbling my LSWC after loading may improve reliability a bit as it takes off the molding parting line on the bullet nose.

 

[rvb]

the bigger concern most have is that the powder will somehow break down from being tumbled and change the burn rate from being vib tumbled, not so much a concern that a round will go off.

But I don't worry about that.... just think about mil ammo.... sitting for hours on planes getting shipped around the world (lots of vibs), then riding long w/ soldiers in vehicles (lots of vibs), you'd have to tumble for days to even simulate that.

tumble away.

I would, personally, avoid a rotary tumbler (eg cement mixer type) as that can cause the rounds to fall onto each other, and in that case they could get enough inertia to set off each others primers.... or at least I could see how that would be possible....

-rvb

 

[xM3RC1L3SS1x]

Throw them in and let it spin "tumble".

 

[rambokid]

I know I will never tumble hollow points again. I had media stuck in almost every cavity.

 

[Number9xd]

Lots of people do it. I haven't (yet) but wouldn't worry too much about it, I usually go back in the house while mine tumbles (in the garage).