Extremes can always be used and comments using words like “always” must then apply to everything else too.

I’d bet that were the reloading and shooting precrices of those who say something must “always” apply would be shocked to know they aren’t always following every reloading or shooting practice.

How many reloaders have not tempted fate with loads? Do you work up your loads every time you open a can of powder? I bet not. I bet that you take a can and if it’s of the same brand and type you loader er up and crank out the rounds.

I’m not advocating tumbling loaded ammo but those that want to say that something must “always” apply rarely apply many other safety precautions “always”.

Now just make sure to individually wrap each reloaded round in foam peanuts and let them float on a water bath so they don’t vibrate on the trip to where you shoot and for crying out loud, put down that mobile phone when you are near ammo, static electricity you know, like blowing up a gas station you might take out the neighborhood.

Your site states that putting loaded ammunition in a tumbler has the following results- “Extensive tumbling can cause the breakdown of the powder grains”.

I want to verify that this is your present position on this. That tumbling loaded ammunition in a vibratory tumbler can and does effect the gun powder in the brass case.

Could you provide me with the details of your research supporting your position of polishing loaded ammunition or has that position changed? Is there scientific support for your published remarks? Could you provide specific “peer reviewed” published reports to that fact? I have interviewed other companies and firearms writers who do not support your claim on your site. Perhaps they are wrong? Please advise. Jim Schmidt

——————————————————————————–

It is the policy of Hodgdon Powder Co. to recommend against ever tumbling or vibrating loaded or reloaded ammunition. Vibration for even short
periods of time may degrade propellants or change their burn characteristics. Vibrating propellants may cause coatings to wear off and edges or
ends to erode.

Dave Campbell
Ballistician/ Customer Service
Hodgdon Powder Company Family of Propellants:
Hodgdon Smokeless Powders, The Brand That’s True
IMR Legendary Powders
Winchester Smokeless Powders, For Loading Professionals
Pyrodex
Triple7
Goex Black Powder
White Hots
http://www.hodgdon.com
913-362-9455 ext. 117
dcampbell@hodgdon.com

—–Original Message—–
From: Dave [mailto:holey.socks@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 4:41 PM
To: Dave Campbell
Subject: Tumbling Loaded Ammo

What stance does Hodgdon , IMR And Winchester Powders, take on the practice of tumbling ammo, after it has been loaded or reloaded??
There is an ongoing debate amongst loaders if this is recommended by powder manufactures.

Thank you for your time
Dave
holey.socks@yahoo.com

Just err on the side of caution, so we minimize the chances of wearing a piece of a someone’s firearm, newly implanted in our head or torso.

I live in Australia.

I recall a case of a rifle blow up some years ago.

The rifle was a highpower target rifle. The ammo was .308 Win with 155 grain projectiles (I believe, but may have been 144 gr projectiles).

The subsequent investigation concluded that the rifle blew up because the shooter had tumbled the ammo. The unfired, but tumbled, ammo was pulled apart and it was found that the propellent had been turned dust leading to a conclusion that the dust detonated instead of burned.

I do not know for how long the ammo was tumbled. But I don’t think it matters. What matters is that YOU SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT TUMBLE ASSEMBLED AMMO

Others have done simple experiments and concluded that they can not see visible signs of powder changes after tumbling loaded ammo and then pulling apart the rounds. See, e.g. http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300510

But these experiments are far from comprehensive (or scientific) and rely, typically, on simple “eyeball” inspections. The “evidence” was “hey the powder pretty much looks the same (after tumbling), so it must be the same.” How many of these “home tests” tried 40 or more powders, or sent the tumbled powders to a lab for close analysis? Remember if one claims that tumbling loaded ammo is “safe”, that better apply to EVERY type of Powder, EVERY case fill percentage (load density), and EVERY tumbling interval. NONE of the “home workshop” type tests I’ve seen has sampled more than a half-dozen types of powder, and they were normally tumbled in cases with a full powder charge.

Moreover, AccurateShooter.com takes the position that ammo-makers and powder-makers are advising caution for a good reason. And we would certainly not put in print a procedure that runs contrary to manufacturers’ stated safety warnings, particularly when there really is NO GOOD REASON to tumble loaded cases other than to make them look prettier.

As one shooter posted on the Accurate Reloading Forum: “You might get by with it for years and years and then all of a sudden something happens and a gun blows up, I’ve seen it happen. It’s not worth the potential hazards. A lost eye or finger isn’t worth all the shiny brass in the world.”

Furthermore, when you consider that, say, all Remington ammo is trucked from their single distribution warehouse to points all over the nation, and also consider that road travel imparts vibrations to the trucked ammo for hours on end, it jsut plain does not make sense.

I don’t know where Father Frog got his information. He does not give a cite.