Old ammo cleaning question

[Igor]

I have around 600 rounds of Korean War era .30 carbine ammo that I inherited from my Dad........he was the original ammo hoarder, but that is another story.
Anyway, a good part of this stuff is extremely dirty........not corroded, just dirty and gummy.
I have fired a fair amount of it with no problem, but what is left needs to be cleaned up.  What is the best way to do that?

[CP]

Windex and some rags.

[MonstroMuley]

Fine Steel Wool and liquid "Goof Off" ... followed by a shot of Rem Oil.

[SuperX]

I have chucked the rounds in my drill (bullet end first) and used steel wool on corroded cartridges.  Works good and is pretty fast.

 

[livin4fishin]

If you have a tumbler, run it through that. Gonna need to go through a bunch of media for that much ammo, but you'll be able to set it and forget it.

[wadu1]

If you have a tumbler, run it through that. Gonna need to go through a bunch of media for that much ammo, but you'll be able to set it and forget it.

That's what I would do, used to shoot a lot of battle field pickups. They were all tumbled shiny new but you never knew if it was AP or tracer.

[Igor]

Thanks for all of the advice.  It kinda gives me the willies to tumble loaded ammo, but I have done it accidentally over the years when cleaning range brass, with no problem.

So, that's what I'll do, and hope for no KABOOOOOMS !!
 

[Lady Grouse hunter]

I'd SAY Dump it in A Firing tube At A gun range!!!
 

[HighlandLofts]

Dry tumble it, no problem.

[The Big Game Hunter]

I have around 600 rounds of Korean War era .30 carbine ammo that I inherited from my Dad........he was the original ammo hoarder, but that is another story.
Anyway, a good part of this stuff is extremely dirty........not corroded, just dirty and gummy.
I have fired a fair amount of it with no problem, but what is left needs to be cleaned up.  What is the best way to do that?

Just out of curiosity, what's the headstamp on that ammo?

[wadu1]

I have around 600 rounds of Korean War era .30 carbine ammo that I inherited from my Dad........he was the original ammo hoarder, but that is another story.
Anyway, a good part of this stuff is extremely dirty........not corroded, just dirty and gummy.
I have fired a fair amount of it with no problem, but what is left needs to be cleaned up.  What is the best way to do that?

Just out of curiosity, what's the headstamp on that ammo?

I would venture to guess it's WRA/WCC, if it's EC that would be cool.

[Igor]

I have around 600 rounds of Korean War era .30 carbine ammo that I inherited from my Dad........he was the original ammo hoarder, but that is another story.
Anyway, a good part of this stuff is extremely dirty........not corroded, just dirty and gummy.
I have fired a fair amount of it with no problem, but what is left needs to be cleaned up.  What is the best way to do that?

Just out of curiosity, what's the headstamp on that ammo?

L C 53

[solomtnhunter]

I've tossed plenty of dirty vintage LC stuff in my tumbler with no problem whatsoever.  I leave the tumbler in the garage though (just in case) and do wash/clean the walnut afterwards too. 

[Igor]

I would venture to guess it's WRA/WCC, if it's EC that would be cool.

It's interesting that you mention "EC".  All of this .30 carbine ammo came in a really cool old wood box.  Inside the box are a bunch of small cardboard ammo boxes labeled:
CARBINE, CALIBER .30 M1
AMMUNITION LOT
KINGS MILLS ORDNANCE PLANT

Hand stamped in red on each small box it says "REPACKED E.C. 7-44".

[wadu1]

I would venture to guess it's WRA/WCC, if it's EC that would be cool.

It's interesting that you mention "EC".  All of this .30 carbine ammo came in a really cool old wood box.  Inside the box are a bunch of small cardboard ammo boxes labeled:
CARBINE, CALIBER .30 M1
AMMUNITION LOT
KINGS MILLS ORDNANCE PLANT

Hand stamped in red on each small box it says "REPACKED E.C. 7-44".

When I was collecting headstamps, EC was one I never found EC "EVANSVILLE CHRYSLER". I think it was only made in 43. At one time I had all kinds of odd-ball ammo, like an extra long rifle .22 and some UMC .22 with a side stamp near the bullet crimp (S).