Corroded rimfire?

[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?

[Flamingo]

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

[revchuck38]

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?

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.

[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.

[revchuck38]

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.

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.

[willie]

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.

I think you are correct!

[Duelist]

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?

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.