Corroded rimfire?

I have two pocket holsters for NAA Minis that I had stashed in the box of holsters. Each had a little pouch for extra rounds. So I took out the rounds today and found that the brass was badly corroded and were as green as a Greek statute from under the Aegean.

Interestingly that the leather seemed to contribute. Certainly boxed 22s don't do that in my experience.

I have doubts about them being safe to shoot. Ideas about getting rid of them? Turn them over to the police? A gun shop.

Should I have checked them earlier - yes, I should have but I didn't.

Thoughts?

Toss them in the dud box at the range or you could pull the bullets with a set of pliers.

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Originally Posted by Glenn E. Meyer

I have two pocket holsters for NAA Minis that I had stashed in the box of holsters. Each had a little pouch for extra rounds. So I took out the rounds today and found that the brass was badly corroded and were as green as a Greek statute from under the Aegean.

Interestingly that the leather seemed to contribute. Certainly boxed 22s don't do that in my experience.

I have doubts about them being safe to shoot. Ideas about getting rid of them? Turn them over to the police? A gun shop.

Should I have checked them earlier - yes, I should have but I didn't.

Thoughts?

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It's called verdigris and is a known thing. I bet it's one of the main reasons LE ammo went to nickel cases when spare ammo was carried in loops. If it's just built-up green gunk that you can wipe off, I'd do so and just shoot them. If they're pitted, I'd go with the dud ammo box suggestion.

Verdigris is copper carbonate from oxidation of brass. I've not figured out why it's associated with leather unless it's by chance as in leather holding exposed rounds.

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Originally Posted by willie

Verdigris is copper carbonate from oxidation of brass. I've not figured out why it's associated with leather unless it's by chance as in leather holding exposed rounds.

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I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe it's due to a chemical reaction between the brass and chemicals used in the tanning process.

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Originally Posted by revchuck38

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe it's due to a chemical reaction between the brass and chemicals used in the tanning process.

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I think you are correct!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Glenn E. Meyer

I have two pocket holsters for NAA Minis that I had stashed in the box of holsters. Each had a little pouch for extra rounds. So I took out the rounds today and found that the brass was badly corroded and were as green as a Greek statute from under the Aegean.

Interestingly that the leather seemed to contribute. Certainly boxed 22s don't do that in my experience.

I have doubts about them being safe to shoot. Ideas about getting rid of them? Turn them over to the police? A gun shop.

Should I have checked them earlier - yes, I should have but I didn't.

Thoughts?

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They should be fine if you wipe them off and shoot them.

I have done that before.

Yes, the leather chemicals (and possibly the moisture in the leather) accelerates verdigris in brass.