Old hollow point .357 (maybe XTP)

[Lee Q. Loader]

Something else I was given by the friend of a friend.
These are .357" 158 grain. I think hornady xtp's.
Notice the corrosion in the lead hollow point. Would you try to clean this? If yes how? Or, would you load and shoot as they are?

 

[PapaG]

Load 'em and choot 'em.

 

[.38 Special]

Lead oxide. It's harmless and I'd ignore it. If it bothers you it can be removed with WD-40, which is an old muzzleloading trick.

 

[FROGO207]

Yep load em and choot em. Don't need to be clean to make a hole in something. Just refer to them as vintage, just like me LOL.

 

[ballman6711]

You could dry tumble them for a few minutes if you want them to be clean looking, but you will end up with bits of media in the hollow cavities. It can be cleaned out or shot with the media left in, won't likely make a difference in accuracy.

chris

 

[Random 8]

I would give them a light pass in the tumbler just because. I have done this with similar bullets. Use them for target shooting, performance on a game animal may no longer be as designed. I've had issues with older bullets separating the core due to that oxidation being present between the jacket and core.

I've also had them prematurely separate in-flight, but that was in a high velocity, fast-twist rifle. That shouldn't be a problem up to .357 mag velocities.

 

[AJC1]

I would not mess with lead oxide dust anymore than absolutely nessary....

 

[Ifishsum]

The bases and sides look clean, I would just load and shoot rather than clean (and disturb) that little bit of lead dust inside the hollowpoint. No benefit to cleaning them IMO

 

[Random 8]

Had another thought. If you have some rubbing or denatured alcohol, I'd dump them in an empty Hodgedon can with a few ounces, roll it down the stairs, then discard the alcohol and can. Should get rid of the loose oxide on the sides. Probably a better option than tumbling.

 

[Yamifrk]

Make a vinegar and salt bath for them. 1 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. Let them soak a couple minutes and then rinse them off with water.

 

[tominboise]

I'd load and shoot them as is. I have done this a few times with old bullets I acquired in various trades. The rocks I shoot don't care.

 

[WeekendReloader]

Wipe them down with an old rag and load them. Toss the rag in the garbage.

 

[dcarr]

load and shoot but then i just plink

 

[EricBu]

Something else I was given by the friend of a friend.
These are .357" 158 grain. I think hornady xtp's.
Notice the corrosion in the lead hollow point. Would you try to clean this? If yes how? Or, would you load and shoot as they are? View attachment 1138680

Look like Montanna Gold bullets, great bullet. You can ignore the corrosion, or drop them into your tumbler for 30 minutes with a little dab of NuShine. Those large HP's are easy to clean walnut media out of with a shot from an air compressor.

If you're wondering, yes, I tumble about 30K pulled or seconds bullets every year. I do always wear a K99 mask when dumping the tumbler and blowing off the bullets, but I do that all the time, not just tumbling old bullets.

 

[mdi]

Wipe them with a rag as you reload them. BTDT with some 40+ year old JHPs to make sure no abrasive substance is on the bullet. Worked just fine, no damage to dies or guns.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Only the exposed lead will be oxidized.
Load them and shoot them as you would if new…