Cleaning old Ammo

I have read where it wasn't advisable to put ammo in a vibrating case cleaner to lightly clean it.
I have some older ammo I found that I loaded several years ago and would like to clean it before I shoot it and was thinking of putting it in my vibrating case cleaner filled with corn cob mix for a few minutes.
Do you think this would be okay or should I just wipe off the bullets and cases?

Doubt if a few minutes in the vibratory would do any harm, but try a handful first.
I'd just roll them around in an oily rag.

jwax wrote:Doubt if a few minutes in the vibratory would do any harm, but try a handful first.
I'd just roll them around in an oily rag.

And wipe all traces of oil off before shooting. The brass needs to “stick” to the chamber when it expands, as designed, to prevent extra forces on the slide. That’s what I was taught by my Lyman manual

I believe factory ammo is tumbled after assembly.

jwax wrote:I'd just roll them around in an oily rag.

Hmm, sounds like a recipe for misfires.  Not kidding, if oil enters the case, it can mess with powder ignition.  Oil affects powder ignition, it does NOT kill primers.

jglenn21
I believe factory ammo is tumbled after assembly.

Think you are correct - believe it was mentioned in print in "Ammunition Making", an out-of-print book published by NRA.

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I think I'll just wipe them off with a heavy cloth to clean any loose dirt that may have accumulated.

BTW, 
Absolutely love your avatar.

I may or may not resemble that!
Al

Al wrote:BTW, 
Absolutely love your avatar.

I may or may not resemble that!
Al

Thanks, sometimes I do