I have some older boxes of pellets that were opened and used from time to time. A couple of boxes have oxidized and have a whitish coating on them. Are they safe to use? Can they be cleaned and restored?
Oxidized pellets
- Thread starter Jestes5
- Start date
I came across several tins of oxidized pellets some years back. I decided to try to bring them back and sprayed them with silicone spray. After soaking them for a few days I dried them off and they shot just fine.
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Coat them with something to stop the oxidising, then shoot them, you will need to clean you barrel more often!
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I cleaned some old Crosman pellets from the 70s that had heavy scale on them.I used CLR and put them in a little jar and let them sit overnight and the next day I rinsed them and they practically look brand new.
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Yep, no coat them with something to keep them from oxidising again. By washing off the oxidising the pellets are probably slightly smaller so some minor loss of accuracy will probably take place, but for plinking they will be fine, let us know....
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pdxFrank
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So much work for a ~$10 tin of pellets. Just recycle them and move on to more important things to do with your time!
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I have some Beeman silver jet, and some H&N wadcutters from the early to mid 80's oxidized, I sprayed with some silicone, shook them around to spread the silicone, and started shooting them. No problems, Accuracy out of my FWB 124 is fine.
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pdxFrank
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Hard to believe someone would risk a $600 gun over a $10 tin of pellets. Or even spend the time to do so.
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Hard to believe someone would think that some oxidation on a pellet is a risk of anything more than possibly a dirty bore. Lots of us have done this with great results and no damage of course. Clean them. Shoot them.
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They were made to fit the bore and oxidation only changes the friction of the contact surfaces with the rifling which is stronger than an oxidated lead pellet.
If the picture by pdx Frank is "oxidated" pellets he's has also not mentioned those pellets in the picture are obviously deformed for whatever reason (banging the tin of pellets like a paint shaker machine?).
Shoot them and learn things about the rifle you shoot them in with new ones as well and the difference will be invisible.
If the picture by pdx Frank is "oxidated" pellets he's has also not mentioned those pellets in the picture are obviously deformed for whatever reason (banging the tin of pellets like a paint shaker machine?).
Shoot them and learn things about the rifle you shoot them in with new ones as well and the difference will be invisible.
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The oxidized lead isn't going to damage the bore any more than lead would. It's not corrosive powder ammo. Just shoot em.
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pdxFrank
Guest
That's my recycled lead pellets I shot from last year.
Even if oxidized pellets (all the graphite is gone, lead is more white when unprotected for long) are fine, is it really worth the time, even if it's "worth the risk"?
I mean, yeah, if you're in a country making a $1 a day. But if you earn more than min-wage, your time is better spent shooting than screwing around with garbage. IMO obviously.
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Been following this conversation... interesting topic btw. Am curious as to what the 'risk' is @pdxfrank ? Just want to better understand what the risk(s) are. Thanks.
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pdxFrank
Guest
Well, apparently the general-consensus disagrees with me. (lol, not the 1st time)
Go for it. Your gun, your time, your money.
Might as well weight and size them while you're at it.
Go for it. Your gun, your time, your money.
Might as well weight and size them while you're at it.
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Myself, am not disagreeing with you; just wanted to better understand what the risk(s) is so I can make an educated decision to dump them or not...if/when that time comes. Looking to gain the knowledge/experiences from you guys who been through it. Thanks again.
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Guest
Guest
Zero risk involved. Show some groups. Make a comparison. You will not be able to measure a difference in any way.
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