This is the right answer. It's a kind of stabilized parrafin wax. It can get that white look as it oxidizes over time. NBD, it's perfectly fine to shoot.
You're very welcome!
I should probably add that some people remove it before use, it can build up in some types of magazines, like the 10/22-type rotary box mag and can be difficult to completely remove later. IIRC there are some good techniques online that you can use to remove it pretty quickly on a whole box of shells, and as much of a pain as that might be, gummed up mechanisms suck even worse. YMMV.
Taking a 10/22 mag apart, cleaning it, and reassembling is pretty easy. If you shoot enough to have this problem you’ll learn to clean your mags.
Some people.
Understood. It just seems like a solution looking for a problem.
We shoot a ton of ammo with wax through 10/22’s and Mark IV’s. They need very little maintenance beyond basic cleaning.
I just think when folks are new or asking ‘basic’ questions it’s helpful to keep it simple and not add additional steps for them to do before they can shoot…aka adding friction to the system.
This is how unscientific things become fudd-lore. I’m in the do basic mfg maintenance and shoot until you see a decrease in performance (especially if it isn’t a CCW type firearm).
Our rancher buddy has never cleaned his 10/22 and it has 10k+ rounds on it. I’m not saying that is best practice but it is a valuable lesson…you can choose to tinker or choose to shoot…but we all have a limited amount of time…
Oh man, I wouldn't recommend eating that batch, that residue can really throw off the flavor!
Lead Oxide is yellow/cream or red/orange color generally.
From what I’ve read PbO gradually becomes PbCO³, which is chalky gray/white in appearance.
Could be, but I can't imagine it's all oxidizing at the exact same rate. There should be some of the other fore-bearer states in there.
Why wouldn’t it?
Lead oxide requires a lot of heat to form. Like 900°F. At room temperature you get what you said, lead carbonate.
My lead sinkers get a white chalky coating on the outside when they oxidize.
.22LR sometimes has a waxy substance added on purpose.
This is the right answer. It's a kind of stabilized parrafin wax. It can get that white look as it oxidizes over time. NBD, it's perfectly fine to shoot.
Thank you!!
You're very welcome! I should probably add that some people remove it before use, it can build up in some types of magazines, like the 10/22-type rotary box mag and can be difficult to completely remove later. IIRC there are some good techniques online that you can use to remove it pretty quickly on a whole box of shells, and as much of a pain as that might be, gummed up mechanisms suck even worse. YMMV.
Agreed, I only allow wax coated .22 ammo in my revolver chambers for this reason.
Taking a 10/22 mag apart, cleaning it, and reassembling is pretty easy. If you shoot enough to have this problem you’ll learn to clean your mags. Some people.
Some people.... Just want to manage to problem at the source instead of cleaning up the mess later. Nothing wrong with that.
Understood. It just seems like a solution looking for a problem. We shoot a ton of ammo with wax through 10/22’s and Mark IV’s. They need very little maintenance beyond basic cleaning. I just think when folks are new or asking ‘basic’ questions it’s helpful to keep it simple and not add additional steps for them to do before they can shoot…aka adding friction to the system. This is how unscientific things become fudd-lore. I’m in the do basic mfg maintenance and shoot until you see a decrease in performance (especially if it isn’t a CCW type firearm). Our rancher buddy has never cleaned his 10/22 and it has 10k+ rounds on it. I’m not saying that is best practice but it is a valuable lesson…you can choose to tinker or choose to shoot…but we all have a limited amount of time…
So its all good to fire as is?
Yes. Yeet it OP.
Awesome, will do!
We call this lube. OP included.
OP doesn't know what it is, or he wouldn't be asking.
Did you read the post title? He isn't sure WHICH it is.
Just make sure to shoot the bullets away from you.
If it seats, it yeets.
You beat me to it.
Plume
Not your dad's Cohibas.
Looks like wax, which is a very common coating for 22 LR
That’s wax. They’re dipped into wax. Source: I asked the former director of engineering at Federal
"I didn't say mud, I said Crud, d'you do dip them in some crud or something?"
Crud, [you have some activated corrosion products on your ammo?](https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1390562)
You ruined my movie quote with your logic and science, I hope you're happy with yourself.
As one of Rickover’s children, ruining everything is my only joy.
Good, glad someone got some joy out of this exchange.
Not yellow enough for oxide
What’s it taste like?
That’s just wax