Recycled 22 lr Win. wildcats

[Beagler]

Saved a whole brick of Win. 22 lr wildcats from the trash today. Co-worker had the lr's in his damp basement for years and all the bullets and brass corroded and he was going to trash'em so I took them. Carefully pulling them apart brass for scrap and lead for the pot. When I told him I wanted them he just looked at me with a weird face and said why there no good. When I explained he just said "thats cool"

[Defcon-One]

That's Cool! :smile:

[subsonic]

Before you pull them, try tumbling them in a brass tumbler.... may not be match grade, but probably minute of soda can at 10 paces.

[Beagler]

they where beyond saving

[t_dickinson]

I hate to be a wet blanket but what about the still-live primer material?

[mold maker]

Let someone that swages have them. Just be sure they are aware of the condition.
They'll sound just like popcorn in a covered dutch oven.

[fatelk]

I was given about 1000 rounds of ancient .22 LR in about the same condition, and several boxes of 12 gauge in worse condition.

The guy who gave them to me thought I was crazy for wanting them. Even the shot was corroded bad; what earthly good are they?:)

I have yet to pull down the .22's. He had tried to pick out some of the better ones to shoot, but most of them ruptured at the rim and blew powder in his face. I can't imagine a swager would want this corroded garbage when good .22 brass is so readily available.

As to the live priming compound, I guess I could whack each one with a hammer.

[subsonic]

Use bolt cutters and cut the case behind the boolit, but in front of the rim - CAREFULLY. Put the powder on the garden. Then throw the front half in the lead pot, back half in a can of used motor oil. I have heard that the oil will kill the priming compound. Maybe test one to make sure.... with the previously mentioned hammer.

[canyon-ghost]

My thought exactly, was going to suggest a tubing cutter like the one you use for copper tubing. Cut 'em in half.

[bumpo628]

I put the head of the bullet in a vice and then gently use pliers to pull the case off.
I don't let the pliers get near the rim. It only takes moving it back and forth a bit to pop it out.

[Beagler]

I hate to be a wet blanket but what about the still-live primer material?

I know they will not be for long.

[Beagler]

twisted out every bullet with a need nose and held the brass with a reg. pliers The soft bullets come right out.

[t_dickinson]

I'm guessing you got around 5lbs, correct?

[bumpo628]

I'm guessing you got around 5lbs, correct?

Probably about half that.