Disgardn Live Ammo?

[Leon]

Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Hello all,
This is a first for me... ? Found a 44 cal. bullet, that has not been fired.
Found it on the 3rd hole I had dug. after that I was just ready to get rid of it, so I ended the hunt early.
Any tips on what to do with it? If posible, I would like to disarm it and keep it for the collection of many other bullets I find here in the city parks?

I know nothing about ammo,,, how unstable could it be?
It looks to be in fairly good condition, other than, coverd in dirt...
Found at about 3" down
I don't want to take any chances of it going off!!!

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Please Help?

 

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[southern gent]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Dissarming ammo can be dangerous, however if you check the local listings you may find a gun shop that does reloads and they will most likely help you out. Good luck.HH

 

[lab rat]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

If you just want to get rid of old ammo or ordinance, take it to any police or fire station. They will dispose of it in a safe manner. Some things shouldn't be moved, like grenades, cannonballs, or mines. In a case like that, you want to run away quick, and if it doesn't go off, call the bomb squad and have them remove it.

As for disarming anything to save it, it will probably cost you more than its worth, but I could be wrong. Let us know how it works out!

 

[wooden nickel]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Don't sweat it. It ain't a grenade and it isn't gonna go off by itself. You could deactivate the primer by putting a good penetrating oil on the primer for a while that should do the trick. Personally I wouldn't bother.

 

[True_Metal]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

I agree, i would'nt worry about it. I have found some live 12 gauge shells, five 223 Rem centerfires and a few 22 rimfires on my Gf's back paddock property near the woods and never had a problem with them going off either while digging them or setting around in my house.

 

[mrbelvetron]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Also agreed. It should be fine just sitting in your collection or on your desk as a display even. I wouldn't set it on fire or anything, though. 8)


BTW, what you found was a cartridge. The bullet is just what comes out of the barrel when fired.

 

[Leon]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Thank you all for your replies!
I appreciate all the info,,, never have messed with any kind of ammo, wasn't sure about how unstable this thing could be... I will probably try to find someone to disarm it, as I would like to keep it for my so-called collection...
I have only been detecting for about 3 months,,, I'm sure this will be one of my more interesting finds...
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Again Thankyou!

 

[kc in wv]

Don't do a thing

I have been hunting for 40 years. I spent 12 years in the Army Reserves as an ammunition specialist, the last 6 of them as an inspector. Ammunitions for modern hand guns, rifles, or shotguns is very stable. About the only things that will set it off is extreme heat or to strike the primer in the end.

Now on to ways to use it; set it in a display of hazardus finds take a picture of the display and sent the picture to your local school boards, and police departments with an explanation of your hobby and tell them this is some of the things you have found. It will go a long way getting permission to hunt their properties. Keeping the permission is up to you.

 

[Lasivian]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Being a gunsmith and reloader I know the perfect answer to this

Get a "Kinetic Bullet Puller".

It'll cost you 10-14$, you load the bullet into it, then hit it on something hard. The force of the hitting makes the lead bullet pull free from the brass shellcasing without firing the shell.

You can then throw the powder away, and get someone with a .44 cal pistol to fire the primer (It won't do much without the powder, just a big flash really, and if it's been fired nobody will ever doubt in the future that it's a safe round.

Then you can stuff the bullet back into the shell and poof! you have a perfect inert shell and bullet to add to your collection!

If you take the shell to someone that does reloading they can probably do all this without much effort, primers can be fired indoors without much issue, just use a plastic trashcan or even a paper bag to contain the sparks. (They aren;t enough to burn or melt a bag or can).

 

[lab rat]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

One thing I forgot to mention, and it looks like nobody else has brought it up either:

If the casing is badly corroded you don't want to mess with it. If it looks intact you shouldn't have any problem. You'll know by looking at it if the brass is pitted badly, in which case there's no telling how unstable the powder might be.

Just something to consider-- good luck!

 

[Leon]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Thanks again, all
I thing I will do as Lasivian suggested, and find someone who does reloading to disarm it for me.
If not, I'll take it to the local Police station to dispose of it..

Also, that was a really good idea, Kc in wv, about showing the School Boards, and Police the dangers we as detectorist help keep out of the parks, and out of the reach of children...
One thing that I have found to be more dangerest then most things, is something most normal people wouldn't even think of , and that is the pieces of aluminum cans cut by the lawn tractors, that are usually right on the surface... I would hate to think what that would do to a kid who fell and slid across one?

The Culprit...

Happy Hunting!!!

 

[Doug Mauck]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

I agree with the others.......it's safe! I found a .44 calibre cartridge casing yesterday that turned out to be from the 1860's. It was rimfire. Does your cartridge have a primer set in the center? If not, it may be worth something!

 

[Gold_pinger]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Also, that was a really good idea,? Kc in wv, about showing the School Boards, and Police the dangers we as detectorist help keep out of the parks, and out of the reach of children..

If you want to you can use this pic about 2 months of junk from a beach pond mothers let thier small children play it.

 

[Leon]

Re: Disgard'n Live Ammo?

Scary, when you think about it. There's another hazard I didn't think about right on top the pile.
The old Bic ( Butane ) lighters, don't think I would want to hit one of those while digging.
I was going to ask this question on the original post, and forgot.
Have any of you ever heard of anyone hitting something dangerous, and have it go off ( Blow up )

P.S. The cartridge is a center primmer

Happy Hunting!!! & This kinda goes along with this post, May the hole you dig, not be your own!