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Green mung growing
Pcroft
Member Posts: 51 ✭
Picked up an unopened case of British 303 from 1960. Had to leave 3 bandoliers out for two days, short on sealable ammo cans. I think the green mung is some chemical reaction as the ones in the can are clean and the bandolier on top?
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Comments
British ammunition had mercuric primers well into the 1950s.
Mercuric primers or rimfire ammunition are usually copper rather than brass because copper is less reactive with mercury than brass.
British guns were designated "DP" or Drill Purposes sometimes, perhaps when they got too toxic to fire. The mercury can enter the oxide finish easily and can even become a part of the barrel steel. It can leave the barrel steel when heated to 190 degrees F, or just below the boiling point of water. The oxides probably hold mercury even less stably.
It's a free country but if that were my ammunition, I'd pull the bullets and maybe try to save the cordite, but would entomb the cases in concrete and put them in a landfill. Tossing primed cases is safer than tossing ammo.
verdigris uggg
Thank you soreshoulder, and mac10 I agree!! Soreshoulder, the ones sealed up right away with dessicant packs look perfect, like they were made tonight on the loading bench. Reaction with moisture in the air on the greenies you think?