Is this normal for an sks?

[D3vin]

To have lots of copper deposits on the gas piston after a round of shooting?

 

[saskgunowner101]

Looks like rust??

 

[Innercity]

That's rust Buddy.

 

[Dyspnea]

Rust not copper, shooting corrosive ammo and not cleaning are you?

 

[.30/06 FTW]

Let me guess, you shot corrosive & didn't clean it?

 

[D3vin]

Bad image but it is deposits. not rust.

Edit. I clean the sks every time after shooting corrosive.

 

[Innercity]

Bad image but it is deposits. not rust.

Edit. I clean the sks every time after shooting corrosive.

Rub it with Oil.

 

[Dyspnea]

No reason copper would deposit on the gas piston,barrel yes

 

[Traveler]

there is no way that that is copper bro definatly rust.

If you dont believe me take some clp and a rag apply generously and rub and im sure you wont have it there anymore

 

[Leviathan024]

Put some bore cleaner on the piston. If it dissolves blue its copper. If not its rust.

*Hint* it's rust

 

[dand883]

Yeah, looks exactly how my gas piston did after shooting the 72-31 "non corrosive" lever arms is selling... it's rust

 

[kyle700]

Ya man sorry to say they're right. Clean er up good as you can and keep shooting.

 

[Magellann]

Either way it looks like an easy fix.

 

[D3vin]

Point taken. Whats a good way to get rid of the really caked on crap?

 

[QuickDraw16]

If nitro or some other solvent won't cut it, go to steel wool...
Only as a last resort because it will increase the surface area for the reaction of the corrosive salts and the piston metal!

 

[Kayser Sose]

That ain't copper it's rust

 

[Aries-]

There is no way for copper to get in there. Copper jackets are different color than case copper.

EAsy way to get it off is to use the shaft of a screwdriver and oil. Oil the piston. And rub the rust with the shaft of the screwdriver. It will start to flake off. After that rub jt with oiled 0000 steel wool.

 

[Kayser Sose]

I bet it'll come off with just the steel wool and oil.

 

[biker_boy]

Clean it oil the rod good to go.

 

[TRaTSeRiF]

In the future, every time you shoot corrosive stuff, the bare minimum is hot water down the bore, through the gas tube and rinse the piston and the bolt (in pieces). I rinse everything but the stock as it's very easy to field-strip the rifle. The hotter the water the quicker it dries (got a 1.7l electric kettle for under $10 at wally's world). While the small parts are trying I clean out the bore and she's good to go. Corrosive cleanup adds about 10-15min to the entire job, but the only drag is that you have to do it as soon as possible after shooting (I do it as soon as I get home). Some may tell you what I do is overkill but if I didn't disassemble and clean the bolt, I would have never found out that it was developing a nasty crack that would have cost me a couple of fingers. Got a replacement on order from Marstar as we speak

Tip: I always leave the bore, the gas tube and the piston heavily oiled and just wipe off the oil on range day or the day before. That protects the components that are most exposed to corrosive salts in case some didn't wanna rinse off (fat chance but still lol).