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Thread: Should ya clean lead bullets?

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Should ya clean lead bullets?

    I got a deal on quite a few lead balls, and bullets, that I guess have oxidized. Are they OK to shoot and hunt with like they are, or should they be cleaned up? And if so, HOW?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    They are going to be noisy in the washing machine.

    Just kidding!

    No .... just shoot them .... if you had exposed lube and dirt there I'd be wary of a grinding compound effect from it.

    But just oxide on the outside of the lead will not hurt anything.

    Shoot away!

    Three 44s

  3. #3
    Boolit Bub
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    Most of them are not lubed, But there are a 100, big 45cal bullets that are lubed, and have some grime on them. Can anything be done with them?

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
    seanhagerty's Avatar
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    If I was concerned about them, I would melt them down and remold them.

    Sean

  5. #5
    Moderator Emeritus


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    Quote Originally Posted by seanhagerty View Post
    If I was concerned about them, I would melt them down and remold them.

    Sean
    +1 if you don't yet cast heres an excuse to start.
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master

    mdi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toad View Post
    Most of them are not lubed, But there are a 100, big 45cal bullets that are lubed, and have some grime on them. Can anything be done with them?
    One way I've used gritty boolits is to place the boolits on a paper towel in a metal pan and melt the lube off in a low oven ( 160 - 175 degrees, below the flash point of paper) Lube melted and draind down and absorbed by paper towel.
    BTW, before the flames start I've done this many times and the paper towels don't burst into flame and none are even singed...
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    theperfessor's Avatar
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    Or boil them in plain water in an old pan and then tumble lube them.

  8. #8
    Banned

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    boil the lube off them.
    lead oxide is hard stuff [airc it's about 50 or more on the bhn scale]
    you can run the cleaned boolits through your tumbler to shine em up then re-lube.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check