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Jeremy · Veteran Member

I was just wondering if pellets oxidize? Im assuming that they do over a long period of time? but I also assume that most companies coat them with a thin coating of oil so that would stop oxidation.

I have tins that are years old and show no sign of oxidation at all.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

All lead tarnishes over time when exposed to air, a pellet coated with oil or anything else which will prevent air reaching the surface will not tarnish.

Al

Jeremy · Veteran Member

Cheers Al

Im also going to guess that even if a pellet tarnishes that it wont be a danger to a steel air rifle barrel will it ? that it will still be okay to shoot?

Jeremy · Veteran Member

I found this link about treating oxidized pellets

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/02/how-to-lubricate-pellets.html

Seems a little extreme to me. Id figure a guess that the only thing from shooting a pellet that has oxidized is having to clean the barrel a little more often because maybe oxidation might throw accuracy off somewhat?

Like I was saying I dont have any pellets that are showing signs of tarnishing. I do have some BB's that have tarnished slightly but figure there also fine shooting out of a smooth bore BB gun.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I would go ahead and shoot them Jeremy. I have pellets that I don't replace for a couple years and they still shoot fine. I have never have had a problem with anything that was old.

Jeremy · Veteran Member

cheers Todd Smile

Slavia · Moderator

I use any slightly gray pellets that I may have in guns like my B3, where I don't care about ultimate precision. They are a little dirtier, but it's not hard to clean a barrel.

To be prudent I would avoid eating, drinking, or smoking while handling oxidized pellets, and I would wash my hands thoroughly afterwards.

Jeremy · Veteran Member

cheers for the info guys, so if a pellet is slightly gray then its fine to shoot. But If they start to have a white powder on them I read that they should be cleaned and relubed?

Jeremy · Veteran Member

also what do you guys use for lubing your pellets? I was thinking about trying the idea in the link above but substituting silicone oil in instead. But dont know if I should wash the pellets in some warm water with some dish soap first?

SMP · Silver Status Member

Cleaning pellets is a rather rare thing but there is a died in the wool bunch in the FT world that clean and re lube.

The general thing out there is to put the pellets in a plastic container with a lid (a peanut butter jar...etc) add a few drops of dish soap, lots of water. Then screw on the lids and gently rotate to tumble the pellets.

For relubing there are a few concoctions. Use one of the commercial pellet lubes that end up leaving a dry wax film.

Or possibly this stuff may work. It forms a dry wax teflon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00030BFEM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000GL19TY&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=02HJRQKZZ8BSQQWZXPT1

However.....you can count on the velocity dropping a bit. and the POI will change

Jeremy · Veteran Member

cheers for that SMP Smile

So I guess using a silicone oil to protect the pellet from oxidation probably isnt the best because it wont dry?

I get the impression that most good pellet companies coat there pellets in something that slows oxidation?

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Just for information lead is attacked (oxidized) only superficially by air, forming a thin layer of lead oxide that protects it from further oxidation. The metal can not be attacked by sulfuric or hydrochloric acids. But it dissolves in nitric acid with the evolution of nitric oxide gas to form dissolved Lead(II) nitrate, which is toxic.

As Slavia says take care when using oxidised pellets, don't lick your fingers before picking up one. Mr. Green

Al

Jeremy · Veteran Member

So I guess the best course of action is just shoot the damn things and not have a sandwich while doing it,lol Razz

SMP · Silver Status Member

Lol...ya no sandwiches

I am fairly certain that crosman is using a stearate like lubricant on their premier FT pellets.
After doing some shooting my fingers have a slippery sheen on them and it is not black or grey suggesting graphite.
But as you say these are high end pellets at $25 for a box of 600.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

We used to cast needle blocks for textile machines, these were a 1”x1 ¼” Block of lead with up to 48 needles cast into it, we added antimony to the raw lead to harden it and this also had the effect of keeping the lead shiny, no oxidation.

So Crosman pellets shouldn’t oxidise if they contain antimony, I would have though?

Al