I have accumulated a few boxes worth of corroded .30-06 HXP ammo from CMP. I sure don't feel comfortable shooting the stuff and I also don't want to just toss it in the garbage. Anyone know of a safe and legal way to dispose of the stuff?
Generally speaking about all you can do is.. pull the bullets, if done carefully and they are clean(able), they can be reloaded into useable cases. Scatter the powder on lawn, flowers etc, its a good fertilizer. Spray wd-40 into the case to deactivate the primer and throw the case away. In my experience, recyclers dont like unfired primers.
If you can get it to Ramseur, give it to Fred. He specializes in shooting corroded ammo. You should see the stuff he normally shoots... ::) ::) ;D
Just send it to me , pm me for my adress I will pay for the shipping .
Just trying to help.
Wade
If you want to take the time, after you pull the bullets and fertilize the lawn with the powder, you can "fire" the empty cases in a bolt gun and then sell the cases for salvage brass, like you do with fired berdan cases and spent .22's and various split, crushed, cracked, almost-head-separated, or whatever, cartridges. If there's any chance the primers are corrosive, be sure to clean the barrel and chamber thoroughly, and soon.
Scots-Irish frugality talking here. Remember, shooters were recycling before recycling was cool.
Here is an IDEA, Everyone recycle all that nonreloadable brass and donate the proceeds to RWVA!!! ;D
Quote from: MIGHTY MOUSE on January 22, 2008, 09:04:31 PM
Here is an IDEA, Everyone recycle all that nonreloadable brass and donate the proceeds to RWVA!!! ;D
Great idea.
Between my 4 cases of SA and my 3 cases of Hertinberger, that's about 8000 rds of spent brass. I need to get shooting.
8000 empty cases...what's that equate to in dough-ray-me? I used to take 55 gal barrels of scrap brass and copper from job sites (worked for my dad at his plumbing buisness). Clean copper used to bring .30c/lb. That was in the late 80's early 90's.
By all means, pull the bullets and tumble them clean, but I reuse the powder (so far 48 grains of 4895 in the HXP). Weigh the HXP cases, then find a case that is close to that and transfer the powder case to case. If you are going to reload HXP cases (No, Gomer, not the corroded ones) get access to a Berdan decapper, because about one in twenty primers will 'punch through' upon sizing/decapping. dave
Quote from: jetfuelburner on February 28, 2008, 11:03:36 PM
Quote from: MIGHTY MOUSE on January 22, 2008, 09:04:31 PM
Here is an IDEA, Everyone recycle all that nonreloadable brass and donate the proceeds to RWVA!!! ;D
Great idea.
Clean copper used to bring .30c/lb. That was in the late 80's early 90's.
Recently #1 copper was above $3.00/LB , Brass was .80/LB ,heck even lead is bringing decent $. RWVA can get a boost in revenue from old ammo, scrap brass.
Yes, a good idea.
Take it to a shoot.
Put a sign on it "Free - corroded - to be broken down for components".
It will be gone in no time.
Buckshot
I would be happy to take a Truck load of that ammo(and yes I mean A TRUCK LOAD ;D ;D ;D ).
Wade
dude, just leave it in my mailbox (or garage if theres alot).
i'll shoot just about anything, as long as it goes BANG!\
-Oran
All the corroded ammo I've seen is cosmetic, not structural.
If that's the case, I'd just clean it off w/ Scotchbrite or steel wool or even emery cloth by hand. You don't need for it to look perfect, just want it to be smooth and not flake off crud into the action. Clean it dry, i.e. no fluids, in case the primers aren't sealed. If you spot pits or cracks, then maybe you don't use it.
Otherwise shoot it. If you have some missfires, it's good ball and dummy ammo.
I know some people tumble loaded ammo to clean it, but I'm not too hot on that idea. Probably work tho. Probably even pretty safe with hard military primers.
Guys and gals, even if you don't reload, even if it's Berdan primed brass, save it. The time is coming when it'll be well worth getting into reloading. In fact it may be time now.
Cheers....Rich
I had the same predicament but with 900 rounds of 8mm. I pulled bullets, brned powder and put the brass in the buckets at the home range
Quote from: BoltGuy on January 22, 2008, 03:26:35 PM
I have accumulated a few boxes worth of corroded .30-06 HXP ammo from CMP. I sure don't feel comfortable shooting the stuff and I also don't want to just toss it in the garbage. Anyone know of a safe and legal way to dispose of the stuff?
I throw mine in the burn barrel or toss it in the wood stove.
Before anyone makes uninformed comments about this practice read and watch the SAAMI information on sporting ammunition.
I also do this as training for the fire department, to demonstrate that ammo in a fire is not a hazard to a firefighter. A loaded firearm in a fire is another story.
SAAMI sells a video for the local fire departments to shoe how safe it is to be on an ammo fire.
Bought one for my VFD when they expressed concern about me having "too much ammo" ;D.
Told him not to worry, I keep most off site **)
Sam
Why not pull it, then polish, then reload it.