The Accurate Reloading Forums
What to do with old reloads
03 November 2007, 22:49
Wooly ESSWhat to do with old reloads
I'm sure this topic has been covered many times, but it's a new one to me. Over the years I have accumulated many rounds of reloaded ammo that I do not have a rifle for. I would like to dispose of them safely. Most folks will gladly take factory ammo off your hands, but are reluctant to shoot someone else's reloads in a gun not intended for them.
The obvious solution is to pull the bullets, deprime the cases and then either discard or sell the components. This is a lot of work! Is there another solution to the disposal of unwanted reloads?
04 November 2007, 00:48
cv1973IF I HAVE RELOADS THAT I WONT USE ANY MORE I PULL THE BULLETS AND DUMP THE POWDER AND SAVE THE BULLET AND CASES.
04 November 2007, 03:24
Ol` JoeI find a nice deep hole..............
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04 November 2007, 05:08
Paul from nzquote:
Originally posted by cv1973:
IF I HAVE RELOADS THAT I WONT USE ANY MORE I PULL THE BULLETS AND DUMP THE POWDER AND SAVE THE BULLET AND CASES.
If it were my powder id burn it on the ground, just chuck a match at it and let it burn. normally get some pretty nice flames. but a large mixture of powder might be different?
04 November 2007, 07:52
303GuyPropellant is a good fertilizer. Just sprinkle it around your garden. Water renders it non-combustible.
Regards
303Guy
04 November 2007, 18:22
tnekkccThe official answer is, of course, a bunch of BS.
I showed the kids how to copper plate a nail with some electricity in a jar with vinegar and salt.
The wife did not want to pour the waste solution down the drain and called the authorities. There were forms to fill out and and places to go, during business hours, to get rid of the solution.
I'm sure you could find a way to get equally jerked around over old ammo disposal.
04 November 2007, 18:26
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by tnekkcc:
...vinegar and salt.
The wife did not want to pour the waste solution down the drain and called the authorities. ....
No good dead goes unpunished!
04 November 2007, 19:09
GSP7Tnekkcc. Your wife called the "authorities" on you small chemical metal plateing operation in a residential area?
(I could picture the righteous, liberal civil servant clerk that took your wifes phone call)
Oh my! Your lucky the fire dept, hasmat team, code inforcement and terrorist task force, child protection services werent sent out to your house. You could have got major fines and jail time.
04 November 2007, 20:22
Wooly ESSIt looks like dismantling the old reloads is the only practical solution. I can burn the powder, salvage the cases and bullets, but am left with the problem of disposing of the primers.
Here's a couple of related questions:
How best to remove the live primers from the cases? Decapping tool on the resizing die?
How to deactivate the primers? I once was told that soaking them in motor oil would deactivate them. Can anyone confirm this?
For all the literature and "how-to" on reloading, there is precious little on "unloading"
04 November 2007, 21:58
Dan HIf you no longer have the gun, do you need the cases? (I understand that neck-sizing does cause issues...)
If you are keeping the cases I would leave the primers and load practice loads for offhand shooting.
Just my .02.
Cheers,
Dan
05 November 2007, 05:38
Slattsno need to burn the powder. Just poor it on your yard. It makes a great fertilizer.
I have always heard that soaking primers in oil was a good way to de-activate them. I suppose if you didn't want to keep the cases, you could just dunk the primed cases in oil and call it good.
05 November 2007, 14:35
D HunterAs to primers, disassemble the ammo as above, just find a rifle they will fit into and fire the unloaded but primed brass in it. Then decap or dispose of as you please.
Although cartridge selection is important there is nothing that will substitute for proper first shot placement. Good hunting, "D"
05 November 2007, 18:57
Terry Blauwkampquote:
Originally posted by Wooly ESS:
I'm sure this topic has been covered many times, but it's a new one to me. Over the years I have accumulated many rounds of reloaded ammo that I do not have a rifle for. I would like to dispose of them safely. Most folks will gladly take factory ammo off your hands, but are reluctant to shoot someone else's reloads in a gun not intended for them.
The obvious solution is to pull the bullets, deprime the cases and then either discard or sell the components. This is a lot of work! Is there another solution to the disposal of unwanted reloads?
Run each one thru the seater die just enough to seat the bullet deeper... just enough to crack it loose in the neck. Old age ammo tends to "weld" in the neck. After you crack it loose, then just shoot them.
Remember, forgivness is easier to get than permission.
06 November 2007, 03:07
sierra2I've been fertilizing my yards with smokeless powder for years, works great. Kill the primers in an oil bath then drop them off at your local dump on hazmat day to be absolutely PC about it.
