Cosd Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Was shooting one day when it really bucketed down, rucksack which I thought was waterproof, wasn't! Anyway the cartridges had obviously got damp, when I put them away that day they were dry so I didn't think anything of it. Next time I got the cartridges out the brass had gone black and sticky on many of the carts. I used some wire wool on them and they did clean off. Has this happened to anyone else before? What did you do, clean them up or discard? Why did they turn sticky almost like black tar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 my lad had a leak from his pop bottle, same result, the tar effect can only ,I assume come from the powder mixing with the water and leaking out in some way, dont use them, I would phone the shop you got them from to ask about safe disposal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 my lad had a leak from his pop bottle, same result, the tar effect can only ,I assume come from the powder mixing with the water and leaking out in some way, dont use them, I would phone the shop you got them from to ask about safe disposal Thanks for that pavman. My local gunshop is closed on Mondays so I just called "Just Cartridges" who were helpful. They said the cartridges are safe to use (as long as they are plastic not fibre wad) even if they had gone completey rusty. The sticky discharge has nothing to do with the powder, and is just a reaction between the water and the electro plating. His advise is to clean with some wire wool (Brilo) and to leave in a warm room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 They will be fine. I've fired cartridges that have spent over a day underwater. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Target-Squab Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Best way to dispose of cartridges is to cut the top off - it can be done safely and easily. Remove the shot and put the powder in a pile for disposal or burning - it will not explode, but just flare up so make sure you do it away from the house and safely. Just be careful and if in doubt don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deer stalker Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 i have found cartrides of mind that i some times drop (climbing fences/gates/loading landy back up with kit) and find them weeks later yes the brass has gone very dull and some even rusted but they will fire just fine when they are dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Thanks for that pavman. My local gunshop is closed on Mondays so I just called "Just Cartridges" who were helpful. They said the cartridges are safe to use (as long as they are plastic not fibre wad) even if they had gone completey rusty. The sticky discharge has nothing to do with the powder, and is just a reaction between the water and the electro plating. His advise is to clean with some wire wool (Brilo) and to leave in a warm room. What **** advice from Just Cartridges. It has nothing to do with a reaction between water and electro plating, I don't see sticky gunk on my car when it rains !!!. Plating is a metal finish and as such can not react in such a way with water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Charlie! Dissimilar metals and slightly acidulated water/moisture ('pop') is the ideal combination for corrosion. They become simple electric cells! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 Charlie! Dissimilar metals and slightly acidulated water/moisture ('pop') is the ideal combination for corrosion. They become simple electric cells! Agreed, but that does not produce a sticky discharge as mentioned in Cosd's post regarding water and electro plating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 He may have a degrading boiled sweet or toffee in his shell box! It happened to me. It's still there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) Agreed, but that does not produce a sticky discharge as mentioned in Cosd's post regarding water and electro plating. Are they Maionchi STI's or Eley VD's? Edited October 3, 2008 by Floating Chamber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted October 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 They are Rottweil cartridges. The update is that I have shot some of the affected cartridges and they worked absolutely fine. Since cleaning with the wire wool, they have not discoloured nor has the sticky stuff re-appeared. Though I am not absolutely certain I can only put it down to corrosion. It isn't as though they swam in water, they were in a rucksack that got very wet and moisture had obviously got to them. I think my next investment should be on a cartridge bag. Having been out with Catamong earlier this week I saw this is what he uses and reloading is quicker as well. I use a leather cartridge belt then carry a load in my rucksack which I won't be doing again. Do you guys use cartridge bags? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 Agreed, but that does not produce a sticky discharge as mentioned in Cosd's post regarding water and electro plating. Are they Maionchi STI's or Eley VD's? I don't want to be shooting any of them ever in my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating Chamber Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 'glad YOU got the pun, Ollie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 Years ago I had a Eley hymax that went through the wash in my jeans pocket without doing it any harm..........and it killed a duck a week later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 They`ll be ok as long as the whole cartridge is not damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayslayer Posted October 10, 2008 Report Share Posted October 10, 2008 It depends on if the cartridges are damp or wet, wet meaning have been submurged,damp cartridges when fired will give very slow speeds and may missfire I find that the best thing to do is store the damp ones in your airing cuboard or other warm place for a month i have test fired cartridges dryed in this way on a proof range and found they will return to normal proof spec. The ones that have actual water inside them are best got rid of as the primers will not always return to normal and swollen fibre can give excessive pressures. To be safe any suspect wet cartridges, get rid of them and take action on keeping them dry in the future,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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