How To Clean Tarnished Bullets
If you have ever fired a gun, you know that bullets often become tarnished due to frequent use and exposure to the elements. The good news is that tarnished bullets can be easily cleaned with a few simple steps and a few common household items. Cleaning your bullets helps keep them in good condition, and also helps improve their performance and accuracy when shooting. Knowing how to clean tarnished bullets can also help improve the look and feel of your gun, so it is an important skill to have. Follow the steps outlined here, and you will be able to clean your tarnished bullets in no time.
What Causes Tarnished Bullets?
Bullets can become tarnished from being fired or from being left in a gun safe or drawer for a long period of time. When bullets are fired, they pass through a gun barrel and encounter friction from the inside of the barrel. The friction causes the bullet to become hot, and the copper inside of the bullet to oxidize, which can result in the bullet becoming tarnished. Leaving bullets in a gun safe for a long period of time can cause them to become tarnished as well. The humidity inside of a gun safe can cause the bullets to oxidize, which can result in them becoming tarnished. The amount of tarnish on a bullet can vary greatly. Bullets that are fired often indoors may not become tarnished at all. In contrast, bullets that are fired outdoors can become very tarnished because they are exposed to the elements. The amount of tarnish that a bullet has also depends on the type of bullet it is. Bullets that are copper-coated tend to become much more tarnished than lead bullets.
How To Clean Tarnished Bullets
There are a few different ways that you can clean your tarnished bullets. You can either clean them by hand or clean them in a dishwasher. You can also clean your bullets using a tumbler, which is a device that you can use to clean many items at once. – If you clean your bullets by hand, you will need to use a mixture of warm water, dish soap, and a non-scratch scrubber. You can also add a few tablespoons of baking soda to remove any stubborn tarnish. – If you clean your bullets in a dishwasher, make sure that you put the bullets in a mesh bag before placing them in the dishwasher. – If you use a tumbler, you will first need to add a mixture of warm water, dish soap, and a few tablespoons of baking soda. The mixture will help clean and remove the tarnish from the bullets.
Gather the Supplies
The supplies necessary for cleaning your bullets will depend on the method that you choose. If you are cleaning your bullets by hand, you will need a bucket or a bowl, warm water, dish soap, a non-scratch scrubber, and baking soda. If you are cleaning your bullets in a dishwasher, you will need a mesh bag, warm water, dish soap, and a few tablespoons of baking soda. If you are using a tumbler, you will need bullets that are clean and dry, a tumbler with a rotating device, and a container to hold the water.
Pre-Cleaning Preparation
Before you actually clean the bullets, you will need to make sure that you have them prepped correctly. You will start by sorting through the bullets to make sure that they are all clean and dry. You can use a toothbrush to remove any dirt and grime that may be on the bullets. Next, you will want to unload the bullets from the gun they came from. You can do this by separating the bullet from the casing and removing any gun powder that may be inside of the bullet. Once the bullets are unloaded, you should store them in a dry place.
Cleaning the Bullets
If you are cleaning your bullets by hand, you will need to add the warm water, dish soap, and baking soda to the bucket or bowl. If you are cleaning your bullets in a dishwasher, make sure that you put the warm water, dish soap, and baking soda inside of the mesh bag before you place the bullets inside of the dishwasher. If you are using a tumbler, you will first need to add the warm water, dish soap, and baking soda to the tumbler. Once the water, dish soap, and baking soda are added to the tumbler, add the bullets and close the top.
Post-Cleaning Care
After you have cleaned your bullets, you will need to dry them off and store them properly. If you are cleaning your bullets by hand, you can either use a clean towel or let them air dry. If you are cleaning your bullets in a dishwasher, you will need to take the bullets out and let them air dry. If you are using a tumbler, you will need to open the tumbler and let the bullets air dry before storing them. Bullets that are cleaned often will last longer and will perform better when shooting. Knowing how to clean tarnished bullets can also help improve the look and feel of your gun, so it is an important skill to have. Follow the steps outlined here, and you will be able to clean your tarnished bullets in no time.
Tips for Cleaning Tarnished Bullets
– Cleaning bullets is good practice when you first buy them as it helps remove any dirt or impurities that might be trapped inside the casing. It can also help prevent them from becoming tarnished too quickly. – If your bullets are very tarnished, you may want to clean them with a commercial cleaning solution. You can also clean them with water, but this may take a bit longer. – Before cleaning your bullets, you will want to set up a work area. This work area should be free of any flammable materials, and should have plenty of ventilation. – Before cleaning your bullets, make sure to read all of the instructions on any cleaning solutions that you may use. Some cleaning solutions may be harmful to the bullets, so you want to make sure you use the right one.
Best Practices for Keeping Bullets Clean
– Always clean your bullets after every firing. If you fire a gun infrequently, this may not be possible, but it is recommended. – Avoid touching your bullets with your bare hands. This will help prevent them from getting dirtied or damaged. – Store your bullets in clean containers. This is especially important if you are storing them for a long time. – Clean the inside of your gun regularly. Dirt and grime can build up in it, and can cause damage to your bullets.
Conclusion
Cleaning your bullets is an important step that you should take after each time you use them. It helps keep them in good condition, and also helps improve their accuracy and performance when shooting. Knowing how to clean tarnished bullets can also help improve the look and feel of your gun, so it is an important skill to have. Follow the steps outlined here, and you will be able to clean your bullets in no time.
