Shiloh Rifle Forums

These bullets were cast of 1/20 and lubed with SPG a couple of years ago. Stored in clean boxes in a cool basement. Now they have what looks about like 3fg powder on them. It's not powder but that's as good a discerption of the stuff. Have you seen this yourself? I'll wipe the case down but think maybe the lube has reacted with the lead or tin.
IMG_0407 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

If It's lead Oxide, wash your hands really well. stuff is really poisonous .
but lead oxide is usually white. antique ammo is covered with it.

Ken

Maybe a reaction with the brass?

Tin in certain solders can form Tin whiskers. However, alloying Tin with lead usually prevents this.

The bullets have the grit on them before they are loaded, the one cartridge was just loaded. The rest of them are in boxes yet to be loaded. My guess would be inline with oxide combining with the lead and/or tin to form the beads but that's a WAG as I've never seen it before.

still think it's the start of lead oxide that will eventually turn grey. don't touch the stuff....Ken

You said those bullets were loaded for a couple years. If that SPG has any sort of animal fat in it it could be fungus. Mold will grow in damp basements.
When mold drys out it will be gritty.

It is powder It is too uniform in size to be mold. It is not lead oxide.

Scrape some off and put a match to it.

These bullets have never been loaded except the one. They have never been out of the bullet boxes or exposed to powder. It’s always dry here and an even temperature were stored. I’m hoping some one has seen this and can comment on if it will effect the rifles bore. Strange stuff makes me curious.

That is odd. My vote and/or guess goes to mold as SPG is a tallow based lube. From what I can remember; it is or was made with sheep tallow when Steve Garbe first brewed it up. I don't know if that's still the case. I have a few bullets that have been lubed and sitting around for close to 2 years now and still look clean but I make my own grease from beeswax, anhydrous lanolin, and neats oil. Your guess is as good as mine sir. ????

What else has those 'clean boxes' been used for?
Gary

The boxes were plastic Hornaday round ball and a new small cardboard box. Both produced the same “grit” on the bullets. Studying the bullets today I’m favoring the lead oxide idea. The consistent size of the “grit” is intriguing.

Put some in water. Put some more to the flame. It's not lead oxide. I'd be money on it.

It looks to me like moth larvae poop. Seriously.

Looks like powder to me. 3fg, or 4fg.