Yep, I Tumble Bullets.

[Calvin45]

Have you personally witnessed cold weld? I haven't. I've only read about it on the forums. I've pulled bullets from milsurp cans made in the 70-80s. No cold weld. I recently pulled bullets from ammo I made 10yrs ago. No cold weld.

I'm just straight up losing faith that cold weld is even real at all haha.

I will also be worried about deforming the tips bouncing around in a Tumblr

hasn't caused any issues for me. I use a vibratory tumbler as part of my HBN application process.

Of course I'm not a match grade shooter nor
I shooting benchrest rifles. But still…no problems. And that's not corn cob, that's just other bullets and pre-hbn treated steel bbs in a vibratory tumbler

 

[Boss Hoss]

Can you explain what variable is removed by tumbling?

When a large batch of bullets are all thrown together and tumbled there are variables that are present in any manufacturing process. The longer parts are run equipment gets more heated just as one example. The reason that these bullets are more expensive is each one is packaged as it comes off of the press sequentially. This means less variance from bullet to bullet.

Here is a video to watch about these bullets. I used to shoot against Joe who is the bald guy on the right. Nice guy and has a hottie for a wife!

 

[Calvin45]

Can one of you previous posters tell me how you know a projectile is 'suffering; from cold weld? I know how hard it is to use inertia hammers to seperate a bullet from the case (milsurp ammo). But I have no way to measure this so called 'cold weld'.
FWIW since reading about the dangers of 'cold weld' I now use graphite before seating my rifle ammo.

I honestly don't ever worry about it. 10 year old reloads and no problems.

I think part of it might be over cleaning. Seriously.

I just tumble my brass in untreated corn media usually. I cannot see my reflection in it nor is it so shiny as to damage my retinas. It is functionally clean. The insides of the cases are still "carbon coated"…I beleive a thin film of residual carbon inside the neck is a good thing.

 

[DoneNOut]

I honestly don't ever worry about it. 10 year old reloads and no problems.

I think part of it might be over cleaning. Seriously.

I just tumble my brass in untreated corn media usually. I cannot see my reflection in it nor is it so shiny as to damage my retinas. It is functionally clean. The insides of the cases are still "carbon coated"…I beleive a thin film of residual carbon inside the neck is a good thing.

I'm just really turned on by shiny things. No lie.

 

[Calvin45]

I'm just really turned on by shiny things. No lie.

You're like a cat. Or an ostrich. Or a magpie.

 

[ButterBean]

I do the exact opposite, I dull everything with scotch brite,

 

[Beluebow]

The longer parts are run equipment gets more heated just as one example.

Sorry..I'm having a hard time following .....So tumbling does what?

 

[8x68s]

I honestly don't ever worry about it. 10 year old reloads and no problems.

I think part of it might be over cleaning. Seriously.

I just tumble my brass in untreated corn media usually. I cannot see my reflection in it nor is it so shiny as to damage my retinas. It is functionally clean. The insides of the cases are still "carbon coated"…I beleive a thin film of residual carbon inside the neck is a good thing.

Can one of you previous posters tell me how you know a projectile is 'suffering; from cold weld? I know how hard it is to use inertia hammers to seperate a bullet from the case (milsurp ammo). But I have no way to measure this so called 'cold weld'.
FWIW since reading about the dangers of 'cold weld' I now use graphite before seating my rifle ammo... Epags

I can see where Calvin might not have an issue with cold weld after long periods as he lives in a pretty dry climate compared to where I live in the "wet" side of Oregon. Like he does, I used to leave the carbon inside cases but noticed seating bullets had a slight grating feel. No concerns originally but over several years & after my incident and pulling bullets, there was gray corrosion on the bullet where it contacted the neck. When I pulled the remaining bullets out of concern, each one made a little pop as the seal broke. I had read about this elsewhere and the consensus was that the carbon leftover and humidity might, I repeat, might cause cold welding. No scientific proof but what I will call circumstantial evidence made me a believer after seeing what was happening with my cartridges. For future use of cartridges that have sat for a while, I now put them in the seating die and give them a "pop" of a few thousandths to break any potential weld before shooting. As to new loads, I brush the necks to clean them up before seating or only put together ammo that I'm going to use. No letting it sit around for years. That was a habit formed from boredom and wanting something to do, LOL.

 

[Calvin45]

Can one of you previous posters tell me how you know a projectile is 'suffering; from cold weld? I know how hard it is to use inertia hammers to seperate a bullet from the case (milsurp ammo). But I have no way to measure this so called 'cold weld'.
FWIW since reading about the dangers of 'cold weld' I now use graphite before seating my rifle ammo... Epags

I can see where Calvin might not have an issue with cold weld after long periods as he lives in a pretty dry climate compared to where I live in the "wet" side of Oregon. Like he does, I used to leave the carbon inside cases but noticed seating bullets had a slight grating feel. No concerns originally but over several years & after my incident and pulling bullets, there was gray corrosion on the bullet where it contacted the neck. When I pulled the remaining bullets out of concern, each one made a little pop as the seal broke. I had read about this elsewhere and the consensus was that the carbon leftover and humidity might, I repeat, might cause cold welding. No scientific proof but what I will call circumstantial evidence made me a believer after seeing what was happening with my cartridges. For future use of cartridges that have sat for a while, I now put them in the seating die and give them a "pop" of a few thousandths to break any potential weld before shooting. As to new loads, I brush the necks to clean them up before seating or only put together ammo that I'm going to use. No letting it sit around for years. That was a habit formed from boredom and wanting something to do, LOL.

Could very well be the dry climate - I didn't know moisture affected this particular issue but it makes sense I suppose.

What do you make of milsurp ammo from decades ago not doing this? Or factory .30-30 from the 70s?

Oiled bullets?

 

[8x68s]

Could very well be the dry climate - I didn't know moisture affected this particular issue but it makes sense I suppose.

What do you make of milsurp ammo from decades ago not doing this? Or factory .30-30 from the 70s?

Oiled bullets?

Isn't milsurp sealed? I would think oiled bullets would be a no-no for fear of it contaminating powder, especially for long term storage. To answer the rest of your question: Dunno... surprised someone hasn't done some scientific reseach. Maybe/probably the Defense Dept. has. They study everything to death. And , in support of the troops, I hope they do!

 

[Ken61]

OH NO, another thing to worry about.

 

[DoneNOut]

I do the exact opposite, I dull everything with scotch brite,
Go play more then. All work and no play makes Bean a dull boy...

 

[DoneNOut]

I do the exact opposite, I dull everything with scotch brite,

All work and no play makes Bean a dull boy....

 

[DoneNOut]

OH NO, another thing to worry about.

Here are my nopes:

Neck Turning
Bullet runout checking'
Cold Welding
Changing primers for tuning
Drop tubes to compress powder
Ladders
OCWs

My Yups:

Quality components.
Mandrel sizing for consistent interference fit
Bullet Jump at touch, or 30 thou off
Case neck and primer pocket cleaning

My OCDs:

Shiny brass
Shiny bullets
strop case neck chamfers
Pretty outside case neck chamfer