Salted or UNSalted (Primers)?

[Ganderite]

Much of the cheap milsurp ammo is "Corrosive". This does not mean that there is anything in the amnmo that is like an acid, attacking the metal.

What it measn is that the primer compound generates a salt deposit in the barrel and gas system. Salt, by it self is not a problem. But salt attracts water, and then steel rusts quickly.

The big variable is water vapour. In a dry winter house, leaving the rifle for a few days would not be a problem. In a well humidified house, or in the summer, the rusting process could start almost immediately.

It would be best to strip the rifle when you get home and wipe it down. I find that if I strip it, put a wet patch through it and then go and get a beer, the rifle is ready for a final wipe and oil by the time the beer is gone.

In the summer time it is easy to take a bottle of water to the range (say a one or 2 litre pop or waterbottle) and to pour it down the barrel from the chamber end before putting the rifle in the car. This water will wash away 99% of the barrel salt. But you still have to clean the gas system when you get home.

I like salted peanuts and butter, but prefer my ammo "unsalted", if possible.

 

[novan3]

Beernuts & nutella, but like my ammo unsalted too, not that there's a choice.

Thanks for the on-point cleaning tips; so it doesn't neccessarily have to be boiling water to pour through the barrel. Is Hoppe's a good solvent to rub the rifle down with?
Cleanings' a hassle, I'd buy a gun just for how easy it is to clean, less the better; but I just can't sleep until a proper one through.

 

[Orvis]

An ammonia based cleaner will also neutralize the salt deposits from mercuric primers.

 

[Halger280HVMag]

FWIW...

Back in the day when I cleaned my .303 with boiling water.
The reason given for all the extra work of boiling 45 gallon drums of water on the range, was that the hot barrel would dry quickly.

Immediately after the boiling water treatment, a couple dry patches were pulled through the bore.

Then an oiled patch was pulled through a couple times.

The bore was left oily, and later cleaned in barracks as part of daily maintenance routine.


2 cents.

 

[CanAm]

Ammonia has no affect on the salts. But due to the fact that Windex has been recommended for years, many believe it does. Boiling water works best.

 

[Ganderite]

Hot water has the advantage of disolving salt and heating the sttel, si it dries right away. A Thermos of hot water is handy for this, for a quick range rinse.

Hoppes, by itself, is better than nothing, but you are using a physical cleaning, not a chemical 9dislovoling) cleaning.

A couple of water wet patches followed by Hoppes would be so much better. Being lazy, I pour water rather than use wet patches in the bore. I use wet patches and paper towls to wipe the rest of the gear.

The point I am making is that it is salt that you are removing, so water at some point is a good idea. Also easy and cheap to do.

 

[mquality]

i hot water then windex never had a problem!

 

[gommee]

Have you ever seen the hot water cause rust on the internals? I have read not to oil the gas tube, but what can be used to coat the metal to ensure no rust shows up?

 

[Curtton]

Have you ever seen the hot water cause rust on the internals? I have read not to oil the gas tube, but what can be used to coat the metal to ensure no rust shows up?

i would oil it but remove it prior to firing .

 

[Orvis]

Ammonia has no affect on the salts. But due to the fact that Windex has been recommended for years, many believe it does. Boiling water works best.

Really? So after all these years using ammonia based cleaners, the ammonia had no affect? That's good to know.
What's funny is that I never had a rust issue with corrosive primer.
After thinking about it, is it the water content that was actually removing the salts?
Also, I'm curious to know, how the hell did this belief about ammonia get started?

 

[THX-1138]

from a highschool chemistry standpoint, it doesnt make a lot of sense, since salts are neutral PH, you wouldnt be neutralizing it.... you're just shifting the PH to a Base

:shrugs:

 

[obiwanbonjovi]

I found that washer fluid works far better than windex most washer fluid is just a mixture of water and alcohol the small alcohol content does help break down the salts and makes the water evaporate much more quickly

 

[Woodbeef]

I found that washer fluid works far better than windex most washer fluid is just a mixture of water and alcohol the small alcohol content does help break down the salts and makes the water evaporate much more quickly

I was thinking the same thing. Cheaper too.

 

[Norton]

Well I’m going to have to go with CanAms knowledge on this one, if anyone knows he would.

I just put a little bit of water in a glass with a half-teaspoon of salt in it, swirled it around a bit, and the salt particles disappeared within 10 seconds.

I then put a little bit of vodka in the glass with a half-teaspoon of salt, and it took a minute of swirling for the salt particles to disappear.

After swallowing my experimental vodka, my Alberta redneck testing is over.
Water removes salt, alcohol doesn’t.

I suggest you all experiment with the various brands of alcohol you have on hand and post your results.

If you find yourselves incapable of typing coherently while laying face down on the rug after numerous experiments, please have your spouse respond to us if she is able to understand you.

Cheers
Norton

 

[gommee]

Did you try putting salt in washer fluid?

 

[agilent_one]

I found that washer fluid works far better than windex most washer fluid is just a mixture of water and alcohol the small alcohol content does help break down the salts and makes the water evaporate much more quickly

The dissolution of salts into an alcohol would be quite negligible when compared to their dissolution into water.