Dangerous Reloading Practice

Mark37082 said:
I just don't get it. Why tumble loaded ammo? I like clean and shiny brass, but never even considered tumbling loaded rounds. Call me cautious or scared, but I avoid poking the bear when dealing explosive materials.
Click to expand...
It is usually done when loading large amounts on a progressive press to get the case lube off afterwards. Contrary to what some may believe, manufacturers do in fact tumble loaded rounds. That is why new ammo is clean and shiny and not covered in case lube and dirty from running through the industrial type presses.

I am using the term tumble, like most people these days, meaning use in a vibratory cleaner. Although, I know of one manufacturer the actually used a large plastic cement type tumbler.
 
Last edited:
Maybe a bunch of us should get together and get a educational grant to study the effects of tumbling on different powders. See if ball or flake are more or less prone to degradation than stick powders. I can think of all kinds of experiments to try.
 
American Hunter (NRA magazine) asked folks at Hornady & Hodgdon if tumbling loaded ammo was dangerous. They said no. Read more here:
www.americanhunter.org

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Is Tumbling Loaded Ammo Dangerous?

The Statement Tumbling loaded ammo will cause the powder to physically degrade and result in dangerous pressure increases.
www.americanhunter.org www.americanhunter.org
Excerpt:
The Expert Deferral
Logic alone isn't enough when it comes to harnessing propellant gases mere inches from a shooter's face, so we asked experts at two of the World's leading powder and ammunition makers. I spoke to the Chief Ballistic Scientist at Hornady Manufacturing and the Head Ballistician at Hodgdon Powder and asked for their professional opinions. Both agreed that this is a myth devoid of empirical data.

"Powder is hard, it doesn't change shape from any reasonable amount of vibration," said Hornady's Dave Emary. "This notion that you can wear deterrent off of the surface of the powder is a myth, it is impregnated into the powder grains. You can't knock this stuff off."

Both scientists felt that tumbling was a safe practice within the bounds of reason.
 
Frog4aday said:
American Hunter (NRA magazine) asked folks at Hornady & Hodgdon if tumbling loaded ammo was dangerous. They said no. Read more here:
www.americanhunter.org

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Is Tumbling Loaded Ammo Dangerous?

The Statement Tumbling loaded ammo will cause the powder to physically degrade and result in dangerous pressure increases.
www.americanhunter.org www.americanhunter.org
Excerpt:
The Expert Deferral
Logic alone isn't enough when it comes to harnessing propellant gases mere inches from a shooter's face, so we asked experts at two of the World's leading powder and ammunition makers. I spoke to the Chief Ballistic Scientist at Hornady Manufacturing and the Head Ballistician at Hodgdon Powder and asked for their professional opinions. Both agreed that this is a myth devoid of empirical data.

"Powder is hard, it doesn't change shape from any reasonable amount of vibration," said Hornady's Dave Emary. "This notion that you can wear deterrent off of the surface of the powder is a myth, it is impregnated into the powder grains. You can't knock this stuff off."

Both scientists felt that tumbling was a safe practice within the bounds of reason.
Click to expand...
You sure shot my thought down!



Thanks for the information, still not going to tumble live ammo.
 
I get it & I don't blame you @Critter Picker !

Why risk it if you really have no need?

I've vibratory tumbled loaded ammo for 30 min in corn cob or crushed pecan media to get leftover resizing lube off and never had an issue.

But I like that people think about potential dangers and then test the theory to see if there is a cause for worry. Helps us all stay cognizant and aware. When the ammo & powder makers say, "It's safe, within moderation" it reassures me.
 
My contribution to research. These were loaded on a Dillon XL750 using Ramshot Tac, then "tumbled" 20 minutes to remove case lube. An SD of 10 is not bad for a progressive press and a gas gun.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20241113_155941_ShotView.jpg
    Screenshot_20241113_155941_ShotView.jpg
    126.1 KB · Views: 20
Critter Picker said:
You sure shot my thought down!



Thanks for the information, still not going to tumble live ammo.
Click to expand...
Wheh! This article saved me from posting a lot of my handloading data supporting my claim. 🤣 Maybe I'll need to increase my bandwidth with my internet provider with all the apologies I'll have flooding in...🤣
 
Randy Tidwell said:
Teri, I'm a BR shooter also and we routinly adjust our llease to temp changes to stay in tune. That's is why very few of us preload at home.

The 270 I personally witness blow up was due to heat. The gentleman left his open plastic box open on the bench in direct sunlite on a hot day when we broke for lunch. I told him to put it away. He said it's OK. When we went back to shooting, the round he picked up was so hot he dropped it. He then picked up and tossed it in the action so it wouldn't burn his fingers. I yelled, don't shoot that. He blew me off and pulled the trigger. Gun exploded, action swelled, bulged the barrel, split the stock, blew the floor plate off. Only thing that saved his arm from the floor plate was an expensive watch that was shattered.

He gave me the left over round to pull the bullets. The ball powder was almost melted, it was gummy and sticky, never seen that with stick powder, hence I don't shoot ball powder. My choice because I don't trust it.
Click to expand...
I've never had the chance to examine the other ammo after a rifle explodes so cannot say yeah or nay to the condition of the powder. While I have never heard of any powder melting before, "Strange things happen in this world." :oops:
 
Critter Picker said:
Maybe a bunch of us should get together and get a educational grant to study the effects of tumbling on different powders. See if ball or flake are more or less prone to degradation than stick powders. I can think of all kinds of experiments to try.
Click to expand...
We could apply for a government grant for $135,000.00 or more for testing. Or $350,000,000.00 and say it's to test how it effects global climate change.
 
Ol' Red said:
We could apply for a government grant for $135,000.00 or more for testing. Or $350,000,000.00 and say it's to test how it effects global climate change.
Click to expand...
Don't laugh. If presented right, especially with the global climate change issue included...it might just have enough merit to get approved. Most likely at a much lower amount than mentioned. It would cut into the tax dollars used for foreign aid, sending military stuff to other countries and not to mention taking care of illegals and expensive congress people. Hopefully, the illegal issue will be resolved soon. :eek:
 
I remember hearing about the government spending money on tests to see how fast ketchup comes out of bottles.
So I don't think it would be much of a stretch. The only problem would be having to get hired by some lib college.
And having to dye your hair and start saying stupid crap like my pronouns are blankety blank. Hopefully this will end under Trump 2.0 and we can actually teach kids math so they know how to count change back with out looking like deer in headlights.
 
Rotten said:
I remember hearing about the government spending money on tests to see how fast ketchup comes out of bottles.
So I don't think it would be much of a stretch. The only problem would be having to get hired by some lib college.
And having to dye your hair and start saying stupid crap like my pronouns are blankety blank. Hopefully this will end under Trump 2.0 and we can actually teach kids math so they know how to count change back with out looking like deer in headlights.
Click to expand...
Well the government, has spent a lot of taxpayer money for a lot of, let's just say, frivolous and useless things. The big question has to do with the college question. Are there any conservative or at least muddle of the road colleges left? My hair is blonde and would look terrible pink, blue or purple. As for teaching kids anything, I wonder if that is still possible after many years of being educated by teachers who were more interested in warping young minds than teaching anything useful. There is hope, but can it be done in only 4 years?
 
Teri Anne said:
Well the government, has spent a lot of taxpayer money for a lot of, let's just say, frivolous and useless things. The big question has to do with the college question. Are there any conservative or at least muddle of the road colleges left? My hair is blonde and would look terrible pink, blue or purple. As for teaching kids anything, I wonder if that is still possible after many years of being educated by teachers who were more interested in warping young minds than teaching anything useful. There is hope, but can it be done in only 4 years?
Click to expand...
I guess that question has to be answered by parents that pay the tuition and taxes.
I sure as hell wouldn't pay for a degree in sexual diversity and inclusion. And end up with a weirdo living in my basement that can't even count change working at Dunkin doughnuts 😂
 

Similar threads

J
Best practice? Moving your reloading shop...
2 3 4
Replies
43
Views
5K
freefloater59
F
M
Practice question
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
marc357
M
G
Loading shorter than COL dangerous?
Replies
6
Views
4K
Rich Coyle
R
jpfrog
Practice load questions
Replies
1
Views
1K
MagnumManiac
M
Canhunter35
  • Poll
Velocity spread based off load or reloading practices
2
Replies
22
Views
6K
Bradu
B

Recent Posts

Top