I have thousands of bullets from my past , active casting years. Stored inside,none have any visible oxidation but I couldn't make them work with Hi-Tek. I tried for weeks and took a break. It must be my alloy.
But I tried HCL wash for some bullets just to see what happens:
Attachment 222653
Two days in muriatic acid made the bullets brown and more oxidation started immediately,white stuff is growing on the surface after wash and dry. I decided they can not be coated.
But couple of days ago I thought I might just as well give them a coating... and I got my best coating ever! I mean, I have been shooting these for two days now with no lube - and no leading.
In my case Zn is very much possible , my alloy being mostly wheelweights. Or Fe from my cast iron smelting pot?
Attachment 222654.
The first coat bonds much harder than ever before. Yes I coated those brown bullets! This invisible contamination may be the reason for some other folks problems as well.
I have fresh bullets soaking in the garden right now, I have about a ton of this alloy,cleaned in ingots. Muriatic acid may be the answer, I wanted to try 45-70 and some other calibers but I thought my alloy just won't work.