Reload/Tumble question

[jakejuan]

Getting back into it after quite a few years. Have all the equipment to reload and am back at it.
As I have looked thru the posts to refresh my memory, I noticed a few different mentions of tumbling the cartridge AFTER completion. I was always taught that is an absolute no-no. The reason being that tumbling can change the size/structure of the powder flakes/kernels there by changing the burn rate siginificantly.
Yes - No??
Thoughts?
Thanks

[Bill Steele]

Getting back into it after quite a few years. Have all the equipment to reload and am back at it.
As I have looked thru the posts to refresh my memory, I noticed a few different mentions of tumbling the cartridge AFTER completion. I was always taught that is an absolute no-no. The reason being that tumbling can change the size/structure of the powder flakes/kernels there by changing the burn rate siginificantly.
Yes - No??
Thoughts?
Thanks

No, at least as long as I tumble them.

[22popnsplat]

It can if you leave them in the long enough , I try not to leave ammo in the truck for extended periods of time . There is a documented case were a farmer left some 30-06 ammo in the farm truck for 10+ years , He grabbed it and fired at a yote and the gun blew up . the remaining rounds were pulled and the stick powder was now a fine dust

[stilly]

Getting back into it after quite a few years. Have all the equipment to reload and am back at it.
As I have looked thru the posts to refresh my memory, I noticed a few different mentions of tumbling the cartridge AFTER completion. I was always taught that is an absolute no-no. The reason being that tumbling can change the size/structure of the powder flakes/kernels there by changing the burn rate siginificantly.
Yes - No??
Thoughts?
Thanks

Everytime I have heard that type of argument, I have also heard a sharp NO IT CAN'T shortly after...

Perhaps someone should grind up gunpowder to a dust and then measure it out and compare the DUST rounds to the bottle rounds and see if there is any difference in velocity. Hmmm. I have a coffee grinder that I use to grind eggshells...

OR maybe ask the manufacturer if there is any harm or difference in doing that.

In making it dust the only thing I can see you doing is making it ignite faster/easier. Hmmmmm. Could be a cool way to speed up your powders. 0o0o0o. Yeah anyways.

As long as you are not wet tumbling it you should be fine, but I bet NOW THAT I THINK OF IT I can tumble some loaded rounds in some of that walnut that I got and see if they come out of the drum any cleaner. That could be nice.

[jakejuan]

So I guess what I am reading is that it is ok to put loaded rounds in my case cleaner (vibration type) for a limited(?) amount of time.
Got it,
Thanks for the thoughts

[Bill Steele]

So I guess what I am reading is that it is ok to put loaded rounds in my case cleaner (vibration type) for a limited(?) amount of time.
Got it,
Thanks for the thoughts

I think it makes no discernable difference.

I had read many anecdotal stories of why you can't (abrasion to the resin retardant on the outside of the powder causing a change to the burn rate, etc.)

I did a test with a number of powders I load. I loaded half full cases of the caliber in which I loaded the powder and ran them for many hours (I usually tumble my loaded rounds like 30-60 minutes) in my Dillon vibratory tumbler (which is pretty aggressive) using corn cob.

When the tumbling was done, I pulled the bullets and compared the non-tumbled powder (control group) with the powder I just pulled under strong magnification. In every single case (ball, flake and extruded) I could see no difference in the powder. While not definitive, it was good enough for me.

On the story of the farmer and his 20 year old rifle powder blowing up his gun, while I don't doubt someone retold that story, and perhaps even that a gun was blown up by extruded powder that had gotten ground up to dust. I don't believe leaving loaded rounds in the cab of your truck for 20 years would reduce it to dust. If that were the case, loaded rifle ammo would come with all sorts of instructions about its storage and transit.

[steepdrop]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/989047_Tumble_live_ammo_Tumbler_Oandapos__thruth_EXTREME_edition__200hour_torture_test__UPDATE__fired_rounds_in_OP.html

[Bill Steele]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/989...nds_in_OP.html

I wish someone would have posted that before I did my test. Mine was pretty whimpy compared to that guy's study. I did mine for like 4 hours and used a magnifying glass...

[bill_k_lopez]

I tumble all of mine. Never had a problem, always have nice clean shiny looking ammo.

4198, Varget, Unique, 231, 296, H110 - no problems.

[M27]

I have never tumbled after loaded, but if I know I am going to be storing the ammo for a long while I will wipe it all down with a silicone rag.

[GeoffLinder]

Again, I find myself in 100% agreement with Bill Steele :-)

[jakejuan]

Read the link.
That answers that.
Thanks for the help.
End of discussion.

[dog]

I tumbled mine for 13 hours once on accident. Still worked fine to me.

[Swagman00]

Rather then offer a "Yes" or "No" answer, i'll try to clarify by adding a shade of grey to the mix.

Tumbling loaded ammo can potentially cause a dangerous situation depending on the propellant in the cartridge, size of cartridge, and how long it's been tumbled.

Ball and small flake powders have the least likelihood to be affected by tumbling due to their small size and mass. Stick powders have a much higher chance of breaking apart and changing the burn rate of the load. You have a far more dangerous situation in a large shell such as a .30-06 or .44 Magnum with an already fast burn rate charge on the chart using a stick powder then a slower ball powder. When those sticks in the case snap or break apart, it will burn not only faster, but uneven.

I wouldn't tumble loaded ammo no matter what's in there though. Anything that gives peace of mind is worth it to a hobby already dangerous enough.

[steepdrop]

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300510