Safe dud disposal

[Mark75H]

I have been disposing of duds in oil for safety, but have started to wonder if water would creep thru the crimp just as well or better

Maybe I will do 3 or 4 of each and disassemble and compare.

Has anyone tried either to see how effective one may be vs the other?
Some online sources say that wet powder can be dried out, but I'm pretty sure reloaders will confirm this to be inaccurate

Not looking for opinions or internet search results, only interested in actual test results

 

[ken792]

I just pull them down or throw them in the trash.

Mil spec ammo is properly sealed against oil and water anyway. I’ve fired some Lake City 5.56 that has been sitting in water for a few weeks. I’ve also fired a few rounds I’ve found on the ground that are almost black with oxidation after running it through a wet tumbler.

Smokeless powder is indeed waterproof and can burn while moist water. Primers will be quickly compromised by water though.

If you want to completely inert them without breaking them down, throw them in a burn barrel or with no vent holes while you’re not over the top of it. The primers and powder will cook off shortly with small pops.

 

[guzma393]

Give them to your local reloaders and they will dispose of them safely; duds can be properly pulled for their brass or projectiles. If the primer is still intact/good, they can be decapped and reused. If this isn't an option, drop the duds off a range as they typically have dud containers for this reason, or call your LGS' if they can take them in.

Trickiest component to render inert is the primer. Smokeless powder is easily burned off or distributed along a lawn/flora (acts as fertilizer). Primers, however, are typically lead styphnate based, records do indeed show that they can still go off even when submerged in oil or water. Absolute way to render primers inert is by cooking them off in a controlled environment, or burying them after being submerged in oil/water.

 

[Bountied]

Are we talking .22s or centerfire? You either need better ammo or a better gun.

 

[John from MD]

Just throw them in some 50/50 anti freeze and it will seep into everything. I have pulled bullets that have sat for a few days and found the insides soaked.

For me, since I am a true conservative, I pull the lead off of dud .22's and add it to my soft lead for making bullets. If I have a problem with a centerfire round, I pull it apart and reuse the components.

 

[Mark75H]

Just throw them in some 50/50 anti freeze and it will seep into everything. I have pulled bullets that have sat for a few days and found the insides soaked.

For me, since I am a true conservative, I pull the lead off of dud .22's and add it to my soft lead for making bullets. If I have a problem with a centerfire round, I pull it apart and reuse the components.

Thank you for being the only one who answered the question from experience.

 

[teratos]

Thank you for being the only one who answered the question from experience.

I was waiting for that, too! Thanks.