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AR15.COM
1/16/2012 10:26:20 AM EDT
Co-worker gave me this .223 he had laying around said it got wet with the AC unit or something. Do you all think it's safe to fire? what should I use to clean it up? It looks like it would work since the primers are sealed with that red ring around it.

1/16/2012 10:28:45 AM EDT
[#1]
You might try and clean the outside of the cartridges as best you can and if there is not pitting on the steel case, try and shoot them.
1/16/2012 10:29:36 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
You might try and clean the outside of the cartridges as best you can and if there is not pitting on the steel case, try and shoot them.


Should I rub them with 3 in 1 oil?
1/16/2012 10:29:41 AM EDT
[#3]
It doesn't look THAT BAD.

Assuming..........that it'll chamber and with only light rust removal procedures.  Use it up at your next range outing.

Aloha, Mark
1/16/2012 10:29:50 AM EDT
[#4]
Pull the pills and trash (burn barrel) the rest. Crap ammo to start with then add rust and water damage.

Or you post pics of your blown AR
1/16/2012 10:30:16 AM EDT
[#5]
If those were mine, I'd gently massage each round with 000 steel wool then wipe them off with a clean dry cloth.
1/16/2012 10:31:23 AM EDT
[#6]

Should I rub them with 3 in 1 oil?


Shoot only clean and dry ammo.  Oil only to help remove rust.

Aloha, Mark.

1/16/2012 10:32:05 AM EDT
[#7]
Throw 'em in the tumbler, man.
1/16/2012 10:35:39 AM EDT
[#8]
It's Golden Tiger ammo, it will fire.

Strum left some stuff out for awhile and tested it, worked fine.
1/16/2012 10:37:43 AM EDT
[#9]
Put them in the case tumbler.
1/16/2012 10:40:06 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
It's Golden Tiger ammo, it will fire.

Strum left some stuff out for awhile and tested it, worked fine.


looks like wolf laquered to me.
1/16/2012 10:48:07 AM EDT
[#11]
Looks fine.
1/16/2012 10:50:51 AM EDT
[#12]



Quoted:


Throw 'em in the tumbler, man.


If you got one, that's the answer.



 
1/16/2012 10:52:17 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Throw 'em in the tumbler, man.

If you got one, that's the answer.
 


Wish I did but I don't reload. I'm gonna have to clean them by hand.
1/16/2012 10:59:04 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Throw 'em in the tumbler, man.

If you got one, that's the answer.
 


Wish I did but I don't reload. I'm gonna have to clean them by hand.


Harbor Freight
1/16/2012 12:15:37 PM EDT
[#15]
These are actually cleaning up nicely seems like mostly light surface rust and discoloration. I plan to fire these from a Howa bolt action so should be tougher than an AR15 anyway.
1/16/2012 12:18:00 PM EDT
[#16]
Light surface rust. If it looks nasty enough to inhibit chambering, knock the crud off.

I've shot worse.

That said, there could be a real doozy floating down there near the bottom that we can't see in your picture, but I've shot plenty of crappy surplus ammo that looked at least that bad. I wouldn't worry too much.
1/16/2012 12:24:35 PM EDT
[#17]
Cleaned up these so far with a towel and a little 3 in 1 oil. Not bad for free ammo asuming they go bang

1/16/2012 12:44:32 PM EDT
[#18]
They look GTG to me, just light surface rust, probably not problem for a modern gun.

If you are going to clean the cases, I would only clean the "rusty" ones, and I would be double-sure to remove all of the "3 in 1" oil.

During firing, the case is supposed to expand and grip the chamber walls, and after the bullet has left the barrel, the case is supposed to shrink back and so it could be extracted. I believe if you have residual oil on the case, it could put a bit of extra stress on the locking-lugs on your bolt.