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stevenjay1
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Oxidized Lead Bullets
Jun 16th, 2022 at 9:04pm
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I found some lead cast 45/70 bullets that have been tucked away in a corner for the past 30-40 years and were lubed with SPG.  However, they have oxidized around the grease groves.  The oxidation is hard and feels like sand. I understand that lead oxidation is very hard and could scratch the bore.  Is this correct?
Thanks, Steve
  
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rgchristensen
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #1 - Jun 16th, 2022 at 10:08pm
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STEVE:
I don't think the lead oxides are very hard, but I wouldn't shoot them anyway.   Melt 'em down.

CHRIS
  
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Aussie_Hunter
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #2 - Jun 23rd, 2022 at 1:46pm
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have quite a few old, mainly rimfire, cartridges,that have oxidised projectiles, just keep them for old times sake, any suggestions to halt the oxidisation ?  thanks.
  
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GunBum
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #3 - Jun 23rd, 2022 at 6:39pm
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The mild way to remove the oxidation, is to soak them overnight in a solution of baking soda and warm water.  If that doesn’t work fast enough for you, soaking them in vinegar does the same thing faster, but will also remove the lead if you leave them in it too long.
  
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stevenjay1
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #4 - Jul 3rd, 2022 at 9:25am
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Thanks for the suggestions.  I tried a few in both baking soda and vinegar.  Both worked to a degree but still not going to shoot them. Since I don’t cast I’ll just hang on to them and might find a use for them down the road.   
Thanks, Steve
  
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TRowe
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #5 - Jul 3rd, 2022 at 11:09am
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I have found with SPG lube that I can't keep it for long on the bullets as it seems to turn hard and sort of frosty. Some other lubes seem to last forever.
  
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rgchristensen
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Re: Oxidized Lead Bullets
Reply #6 - Jul 3rd, 2022 at 1:22pm
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TRowe wrote on Jul 3rd, 2022 at 11:09am:
I have found with SPG lube that I can't keep it for long on the bullets as it seems to turn hard and sort of frosty. Some other lubes seem to last forever.


Some lubes will do that, particularly the ones that contain soaps of one kind or another.  It seems to be corrosion of the lead alloy that we are seeing.  It's never a problem with my BP lube (Eric Stevens' recipe) of beeswax, lanolin, and Mobil One motor oil.

CHRIS
  
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