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Re: Tumbling Live Ammo? A few questions

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22 February 2004, 02:29
Ron_Sanders
Re: Tumbling Live Ammo? A few questions
I am new to reloading rifle and pistol ammo, but one rule of thumb that EVERYONE preaches......

NEVER TUMBLE LIVE AMMUNITION ! ! !

If you do, please ensure that these steps are followed:

1. Place tumbler at least 100 Meters away from anything.

2. Ensure you have a video camera to record the tumbing.

3. Use a long extension cord to turn it off.

I found a .22LR in my tumbler when I first used it. (it probably snuck aboard inside a .300 Weatherby case) the .22LR bullet was very hot to the touch, and scared the living crap out of me. I have seen a .22LR get run over by a floor jack in an auto shop, and know how easy it is to set one off. I was lucky that day, but would never suggest anyone tumble live brass, even in a tumbling machine.

Those ammo manufacturers have lots of insurance and $$$ sometimes outweighs the safety of one person in big business.

I'd like to see that video when you are done.
22 February 2004, 03:06
jeffeosso
1: vibrating/thumbling LIVE ammo is a STANDARD INDUSTRY PRACTICE, anyone disagreeing with that can write to www.winchester.com or www.remington.com and ask.

2: This is done to clean/coat the stuff before it hit the boxes and shelves.. who would pay for 1/2 corroded boxes of ammo? Who would risk oil left on brass, increasing bolt thrust

3: Opinions on the matter vary... Some are informed, some are not.

4: Rounds are "vibrated" for weeks, in the hull of a ship, without "known" incidents... this is called a cargo ship

5: The idea of INTENTIONALLY breaking a modern powder is repugnant, and shows that you don't understand that powders have (at a gross level) THREE factors impacting their burn rate. 1: surface area, 2: composition, and 3 COATINGS.

I read somewhere that some person "screens" their powder through mesh, and then sorts that by size, caliming different results from each... okay, great... BUT THE $()@*#()$*@)(#*$(@# IDIOT uses the SAME LOAD WEIGHT from the coarsest to the finest.

He somehow thinks that the gun going 100-150 fps faster is a result of EFFECEINTCY rather than pressure...

jeffe

3:
22 February 2004, 03:37
Ron_Sanders
My apologies. I was wrong. I will check my opinion from now on. I will not tumble live ammunition.