Hate to even ask BUT

[BozoWise]

I know it is not a SMART thing to do, but I have on accident before dropped a loaded round in my vibratory tumbler. Has anyone ever known of a round going off in a tumbler?

I thought of this while looking at a loaded round that I would so love to clean up. I think I will just get out the hand polish, but wanted to ask if someone has had one go bang in the tumbler

[1st cav sgt ret]

BozoWise there was a thread on this very subject on AR I think,and got responses from one end of the spectrum to the other! IMO the one thing that I think it does is as it vibrates it can remove some of the deturant coating on the powder therefore changing the burn rate"somewhat".I have loaded some rounds,put them in the tumbler for 10/15 minuites removed them and pulled some of the bullets to find graphite rubbed on the inside of the case and bullet base,At the range however the POI of those tumbeled and those not was the same! therefore I now tumble all loads after loading to remove the grease, However I only do this with softpoint ammo NOT fullmetaljackets(just not worth the chance)

[CoyoteJim]

I know it's like comparing apples to oranges, but a friend of mine in Yuma bought a new Barrett and found some surplus .50 military ball. He thought it was too ugly to use in his new gun so ran a few rounds in a vibratory case polisher. I think the vibration caused the powder to break up and as a result pressure built up when he fired the first one and destroyed the rifle. He wasn't hurt, just felt a little humble. By the way, Barret honored their warranty and replaced the receiver. Anyway, thats the story he related to me.

jim

[Rancher]

For what its worth, I tumble my loaded rounds for a few minutes to remove the sizing lube. I may regret it someday, but I've never had a problem with it. This leads me to a question, though. How do companies who sell remanufactured ammunition clean theirs after they process it? I'm assuming that they tumble it because I cant believe that they'll pay someone to sit around with a rag and wipe off the lube. And maybe they use a completely different process and I've exposed yet another small portion of the vast breadth of my ignorance............

[BozoWise]

So far it sounds ok to put one loaded round into the tumbler, especially since I do not ever plan on firing it?

[chris112]

First I have never tried tumbling a loaded round because EVERY thing that I have read about cleaning cases said to NEVER tumble them. They also said to clean/tumble the cases after sizing and before loading (assembly). If you must clean up a loaded case I would suggest Brasso and a soft cloth.

[texasshooter]

Actually I use a product called "Flitz" to clean my brass, since I don't own a tumbler, and it works GREAT! It doesn't take much. I just put a little on a rag, spin the case in the rag with a drill and it about 3 seconds then wipe it clean... the case out looking brand new.

[SteveS]

Hey BW! Thought I would drop you a note both in reply to your "hate to even ask but" post.

I've never run loaded ammo in my cleaner, but I guess it would depend on how much impact capability exists in the cleaner when it's doing its shake, rattle and roll thing. As for me and mine, I'd rather just clean with some Flitz.

Gotta go to get a myleogram and CAT scan tomorrow. Maybe will find out more info about my back problems, 'cause I sure want to get together with you to shoot at some prairie puppies.

[buzzsaw]

Bw
I hate to admit this, I may be the luckest thing on earth but I have tumbled a lot of surplus 308 in my tumbler.
So far nothing has gone wrong. The ammo has never given me any problems. Some of the ammo had to be cleaned before you could even load it in a mag.

[BozoWise]

How is the back? We'd love to have you.

Where do you get Flitz?

[texasshooter]

I have always gotten it a Gun Shows, but I think you can find it in harware stores too. It's in a blue and siver tube, which is inside a blue and silver box.

[BozoWise]

I'll try Home Depot Tom

[1st cav sgt ret]

bozo youve got mail,if you dont want to go the flitz route you might try BRASSO it is a brass polish you should be able to find it at Walmart,as you dont intend to fire this ctg it should be ok,Brasso has a lot of ammonia in it tho I dont use it for ctgs I intend to fire as it makes brass brittle

[BozoWise]

Thanks the Flitz works well

[POP]

Do not do it. It might be a one in a million chance of the round going off...but it has happened!