lead corrosion

[tedmn]

Hi
I purchased a handful of .32cal lead balls in a nice deer leather pouch from a gun show recently. The balls have a pretty good coating of lead oxide on them (white powdery).
I'd like to clean them up before firing, mostly to keep the lead off my hands.
Anyone have a method to remove the oxide and keep it from forming?
Thanks

 

[Grimord]

Spray the balls with WD-40 and roll them in an old sock. The lead oxide should come off and the balls will stay lead oxide free.

 

[Zonie]

I think oiling and wiping them off with something is still going to leave a lot of lead oxide on them.

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it.
If I keep my fingers out of my mouth and wash my hands with soap and water before I smoke or eat anything, I'll be fine.

 

[Darkhorse]

WD 40 or oil has never worked well for me. I use the WD 40 and wipe all I can off then shoot them.

 

[Carbon 6]

If all I has was a handful I'd throw them back into my melting pot and make new ones.
Leather often contains residual acids or is acidic and that's what corrodes/oxidizes the lead and other metals. leather and leather bags have ruined a lot of metal stuff for me over the years.

 

[hanshi]

Corroded lead ball is much too dangerous to hunt with. I know of numerous instances where game animals were killed when hit by them. Sooo...keep 'm out of yer mouf.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Lay them on an old terry cloth towel. Spray liberally with Ballistol or other CLP oil and let soak for ten min. roll them around vigorously for a few min. The lead oxide will come off pretty well. Store them in a cotton sock or linen bag. They will stay good.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Much more simpler than all of the above. Put a couple drops of Dawn dishwashing soap into a pot of water. Wash the balls by hand. Wearing nitrile gloves would be a good idea. Rinse, let balls dry and give a tiny squirt with WD-40. Of course, wash yer hands well afterwards.

 

[drobs]

Load, shoot, wash yer hands afterwards.

 

[good ole boy]

I had some the same way.I soaked and cleaned em in Bakin Soda.Worked great.Just like cleanin corroded lead acid car battery terminals.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Just shoot them. They aren't grapes so keep them out of your mouth.

 

[Juice Jaws]

Just shoot them, wash hands afterwards. Shooting ML is not rocket science even if we try to make it so.

 

[45man]

Lead oxide means oxygen has been at the lead. I cast many and coat with a spray of Barricade to store. The stuff is dangerous to you to breath or whatever so don't suck on balls. The oxide is harder then the lead but still not near jacketed bullets so just shoot them. It is just ugly.

 

[FishDFly]

Question, how is the oxide harder than lead?

You can wipe lead oxide easily off the balls with your fingers, but lead does not smear on your fingers near as readily as does the oxide.