Is this ammo still usable?

[mshogren]

I picked up 200 rounds of 308 in a battle pack at a gun show this past weekend. Opened up the pack to put it in an ammo can and found it was all corroded.

It is brass and is supposed to be reloadable.

Can I tumble it and clean it up then use it or should just get rid of it? If I should get rid of it, what is the easiest way?

Mark

PS Note to self: don't buy ammo in sealed battle packs again without first opening them...

 

[Brownie]

Describe corroded....... are ya talkin slightly tarnished or full blown corroded? Pics would help!

 

[gunman41mag]

I've shot ammo that the brass was green, I cleaned it first with a sponge, but it will shoot.

 

[mshogren]

I will try to get a pic tonight.

They are blue-green to the point that you cannot get them shiny with brass polish alone.

Mark

 

[Brownie]

Id say shoot em. As long as you feel the structural integrity of the brass is good

 

[redwingshooter]

Typically surplus 308 is berdan primed, which is very different from boxer primed. It can be reloaded, but you need specialized equiptment and, if you don't want to drill flashholes, berdan primers. Typically most people regard it is too much of a PITA and just add it to the scrap pile. I have no experience reloading berdan primed brass as I'm in the majority group who just scrap it.

 

[Iroquois]

Check for cracks around the neck and elsewhere. If no cracks then clean it and try it.
If the powder isn't fouled and the primers are good it's fine for practice. I've had old ammo
that misfired 2 out of three...I pulled the bullets and loaded them in new brass
[waste not want not]....

 

[mshogren]

Thanks for the info Redwings! I specifically asked if this ammo was berdan primed and was told it was not and could be reloaded. It is supposed to be one of the few that are not berdan primed, it was labeled as austrian.

I do have some berdan primed S&B and the primers do look different. The S&B have a red sealer around them, but the austrian have 3 stakes around the perimeter.

Now I might want to look into what it takes to reload my berdan primed brass since I have 500 rounds of it...

Mark

 

[ghitch75]

toss it in the tumbler for a few hour and bast away!!!

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I would not put loaded ammo in a tumbler. Chances are a primer would not ignite, but I sure the hell would not want to find out.

 

[ghitch75]

I would not put loaded ammo in a tumbler. Chances are a primer would not ignite, but I sure the hell would not want to find out.

it takes a strike to set off a primer.......i have tumbled 1000's of old crusty rd's and i still have all my toes and eyes......they wouldn't go off....

 

[U.S. Patriot]

it takes a strike to set off a primer.......i have tumbled 1000's of old crusty rd's and i still have all my toes and eyes......they wouldn't go off....

To each there own, but I'll never take that chance.

 

[mshogren]

Cleaned up 2 rounds by hand with steel wool and shot them. Both fired just fine

And the brass is boxer primed...and looks like it should still be salvageable!

Now to decide if I want to buy a tumbler now to clean up the rest or just do it by hand while watching TV...

Thanks for all of the input!

Mark

 

[red_zr24x4]

As stated throw them in the tumbler for awhile

 

[mshogren]

As stated throw them in the tumbler for awhile

That is what I will probably do...just need to figure out which tumbler to buy...whole other topic there! Probably just pick one up at Gander since it is close...

Mark

 

[sloughfoot]

To each there own, but I'll never take that chance.

Tumbler and vibratory cleaner are two different animals. Somehow, lots of folks call a vibratory cleaner a tumbler. It isn't.

Vibratory cleaner----no danger whatsoever of firing off a primer in a loaded round.

Tumbler, (think rock polisher, cement mixer) No way would I put a loaded round into one of these.

 

[Aszerigan]

it takes a strike to set off a primer.......i have tumbled 1000's of old crusty rd's and i still have all my toes and eyes......they wouldn't go off....

^^ This. I routinely use a vibratory tumbler to polish my loaded ammo. Don't use a rotary tumbler though.

 

[mshogren]

Good thing I picked up a vibratory cleaner...got it running right now trying to get it cleaned up...

Mark

 

[redwingshooter]

Mark,

That's cool that you found some surplus that is boxer primed. From what I've read over on m14forum that stuff is pretty hard to come by as the berdan primed surplus is so common. Good find and happy shooting!

 

[mshogren]

I agree that boxer primed surplus is difficult to find...this particular stuff is Austrian.

This would have been a better find if it was not corroded or at least nearly this bad. 2 hours in the vibe cleaner so far and they still has many more to go...

As long as I can re-use the brass, I will be happy.

Mark