I've come across a few tins of RWS match .177 pellets. They have oxidized and show that white powder.
Just dump them, or can they be saved ?
Just dump them, or can they be saved ?
Can oxidized pellets be rescued ?
- Thread starter thebeav
- Start date
Sure, save them. Just spray them with your favorite lubricant, get them good and coated and then wipe them off with a paper towel or towel. I like the WD-40 silicone formula but whatever you usually use for lubricating pellets or slugs will work.
Stoti
Stoti
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Here is a helpful video TOM HOLLAND STYLE!
NO! NOT Spiderman... (He may claim otherwise tho...)
https://youtu.be/b_9fP1z8D08
NO! NOT Spiderman... (He may claim otherwise tho...)
https://youtu.be/b_9fP1z8D08
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I had a tin of heavy oxidized pellets and put them in a small jar with CLR and let them sit overnight and the next day I rinsed them off and laid them on a paper towel and roll them around And used a heat gun on low setting and kept them a good distance away to completely dry them. They look brand new afterwards.
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I don't remember who said it, someone who had tested the lead hardness of pellets, or an engineer at H&N, but: Old lead gets harder. So, performance might change (as in, the barrel might like it better than before, or not so; and hollow points won't expand as nicely as before).
Matthias
Matthias
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Thank you folks, some good information here.
It looks like I should be able to save some money. There was no way I was going to put them through a gun, looking like they do.
This was a sealed tin, probably the worst looking.
It looks like I should be able to save some money. There was no way I was going to put them through a gun, looking like they do.
This was a sealed tin, probably the worst looking.
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Oxidation residue can be extremely hard. If that is what it is, just be sure your cleaning method is successful. I have had old .22 rimfire ammo that looked very similar, but it is usually dried lubricant, not oxidation. And I believe that is a common misdiagnosis with lubed lead bullets. But, I'm not aware of any pellets that are treated with any type of lubricant. I'm sure that many folks would just shoot them as-is. That might be okay, but if it's as hard as some oxidation I have seen and felt, I would be hesitant to shoot them, and definitely not without cleaning.
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Try 50-50 vinegar water and if thats not strong enough then 100% Coca-Cola. Nah just use 100% Coca Cola your pellets look really toast.
Rinse well clean water then follow Tom Holland's video.
Rinse well clean water then follow Tom Holland's video.
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Yea, this tin is the worst. They're really crusty......
The others are generally just lightly white powdered.
That's a good video by Tom !
I guess I've been out-of-the-game longer that I thought. I remember paying a few bucks for a tin of RWS ammo. Now it's more like 20 bucks.
I see many sellers say 'vintage' sealed tin. I'm not going to buy what I posted the photo of. Is RWS still producing, or is all of their stuff now vintage ?
The others are generally just lightly white powdered.
That's a good video by Tom !
I guess I've been out-of-the-game longer that I thought. I remember paying a few bucks for a tin of RWS ammo. Now it's more like 20 bucks.
I see many sellers say 'vintage' sealed tin. I'm not going to buy what I posted the photo of. Is RWS still producing, or is all of their stuff now vintage ?
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Odoyle,
as usual with scopes, you are right. I can attest to this. Through personal experience with Coca Cola.
Compared to other material softening liquids, Coca Cola is rather economical.
So I use it daily, applying a libertate dosis.
And it works! I never have constipation!!
Matthias
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Yes they are still producing quality German made pellets for around $8.99 for the Meisterkugelns if you shop smart. You may be able to get by with the cheaper RWS Basic Diabolos and Hobby pellets for around $5.00-$7.00 depends where you buy from. The other German cheap alternative is the H&N Excite line. Shop smart don't pay more than you need to. Unless you just simply too rich then it won't matter paying double or triple or 4x or more for the same item then add double that for shipping...
Don't buy from EBay or Amazon nowdays unless you want to pay double to triple or even more and get ripped off on shipping.
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Odoyle,
as usual with scopes, you are right. I can attest to this. Through personal experience with Coca Cola.
Compared to other material softening liquids, Coca Cola is rather economical.
So I use it daily, applying a libertate dosis.
And it works! I never have constipation!!
Matthias
So how clean do the pellets come out washed down with Coca Cola after your #2?
You can balance it with lots of hard chocolate and potato chips and green bananas and a rather interesting experiment at that...
Many uses for Coca Cola for cleaning too and neutralizing battery acid and rust and oxidation removal. Just don't get it on your blueing or fresh bare metal unless you want patina.
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Thanks for the shopping tip Odoyle.
Yea, that's where I got my prices, ebay and Amazon.
I'll shop smarter......
Yea, that's where I got my prices, ebay and Amazon.
I'll shop smarter......
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Results are in...I didn't have any Coke here at home, but I did have a jug of CLR in the bathroom.
After a few hours, look at these ! They look new ! I haven't lubed them up yet.....
After a few hours, look at these ! They look new ! I haven't lubed them up yet.....
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In the interest of full disclosure, I looked at these pellets under 10x magnification and they are VERY 'pocky'. Especially the skirts where the heaviest deposits were.
I tried to take a picture. I don't think I would put these through my gun. The rough skirt is certain to cause deposits. I cleaned some that were just lightly 'powdered, they look really good. This one tin was just too far gone.
I tried to take a picture. I don't think I would put these through my gun. The rough skirt is certain to cause deposits. I cleaned some that were just lightly 'powdered, they look really good. This one tin was just too far gone.
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These old Crosman Pellets from the 1960s Were heavily oxidized and this is what they look like after I cleaned them with CLR And then lubed them.I even shot some of them out of my Crossman 600 and they shot accurately. 
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Pellets harden very slowly over time. However, their BN hardness can be lowered again by placing them into the oven at 400 degrees, let them heat for 5-10 minutes, then remove them and let them slowly air cool. This will soften them right up.
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I’d clean them up and shoot them . Using what ever method works best. Really stubborn? Ultrasonic cleaner but I’d would leave them in there for long . Lub and shoot. I’d be surprised if the hardness significant changed or affected accuracy but I’ve been wrong before .
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