Damp cartridges, will they dry out?

[Jonny English]

Hi all, I appear to have bought some cartridges that are damp or have been kept in a damp environment. They leave a load of unburnt powder flakes in the barrels.

Will they dry out on a radiator or something similar or are they knackered?

 

[Aris]

Hi all, I appear to have bought some cartridges that are damp or have been kept in a damp environment. They leave a load of unburnt powder flakes in the barrels.

Will they dry out on a radiator or something similar or are they knackered?

There is a video on YouTube where George Digweed compares damp cartridges, and ones he put by the radiator for a day - radiator ones burned much cleaner, and presumably with more punch.

 

[Buffalo]

Hi all, I appear to have bought some cartridges that are damp or have been kept in a damp environment. They leave a load of unburnt powder flakes in the barrels.

Will they dry out on a radiator or something similar or are they knackered?

I had a similar issue a few Years back with  a batch of Kent velocity - put them in an airing cupboard or somewhere warm and they should be ok after a week. 

 

[shootinguru]

:fie:  I have dried out both paper and plastic shells in the past! Then what would I know? ask one of the 1000 experts on here! :crazy:  

 

[Jonny English]

Thanks for the replies guys, I've only got 75 so I've sat them on top of the radiator for a few days to dry out ready for the weekend, might even, take them out the boxes individually to make sure they get a good dry. Just didn't want to take them and them fail and me be short of ammo for the day.

Thanks chaps

 

[ips]

? ask one of the 1000 experts on here! :crazy:

no mate there are only about 12 of us actually

 

[** Pending Removal **]

no mate there are only about 12 of us actually

True story....... :laugh:

 

[ips]

Ha

+~1

Just saying



(smiley inserted)

 

[Jonny English]

This should get them dry for saturday:-

 

[Will Hewland]

I gather that heating them isn't good either. They burn fiercely if dried out too much!

 

[Jonny English]

Well go to the foot of our stairs!

I'll give them this evening on the rad, then box them up and let them settle back down again tomorrow onwards.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

I gather that heating them isn't good either. They burn fiercely if dried out too much!

+1

Which means.......whalllooop crunch ouch...!

 

[Jonny English]

Got them all boxed again now, let's hope they're fine for saturday.

 

[Hotshot100]

Going back to your original post, are you certain that they were wet as unburnt powder is also an indication that they've been stored at too low a temperature. I always try to avoid buying cartridges during the cold months for that very reason as dealers often store them in unheated containers and this can cause problems with poor ignition.

Double base powders are less affected by temperature.

 

[ips]

I remember some very anal dtl shooters in the old days lining boxes up on radiators in there hotel rooms before a major, i preferred to spend my time with single malt.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

+1

4

 

[Jonny English]

Could be a bit of both, I do believe these are stored in 40' containers outside. I'll take some spares with me just incase they Don't go so well. There are little bits of rust on some of the brass on some of the shells that have been in the top or bottom of the box.

 

[PhilS]

Mart,

Take the rust off with very fine wet & dry paper to avoid it damaging the breech face.

 

[RobertBeard]

I don't think brass rusts!