Corrosive Ammo in an M14

[twoguntim]

I had to wash and clean my m14 about three times before I was satisfied that I got all the corrosive crap out of the gas system and piston. Just when I thought that I finally got it all, I would shine a light into the piston and spot rust. Aaaarrrgh!

I used the boiling water technique followed by a standard cleaning. I was very glad when my 300 rounds were used up. If you are on a camping trip and can't clean the rifle, then forget using corrosive. The couple of bucks you might save buying corrosive isn't worth the heart attack when you find that your gun is full of rust.

It should be mentioned that it is the corrosive salts that cause the problem when combined with humidity. If you are in a very dry environment then perhaps you can get away with it.

 

[Rocket Surgery]

Kinda like your legendary SKS!

I didn't know how to take the gas system off, I swear!

 

[Kayser Sose]

I would never like to find rust on my gun. So, me, I'd be cleaning daily. At least until I stopped caring so much...

I hope always to have a surplus of handloads whenever I need to go without maintenance.

The piston is hollow by the way; have fun scraping it out.

 

[RickR1100]

I shoot corrosive through my VZ58, and have no problem doing so because it's easy to clean it.

On the other hand...I avoid corrosive for my M-14, because as much as I clean it, I'm never even 85% sure that I've properly cleaned out the gas piston chamber. If I HAD to, I would, and I'd just clean it. But otherwise I just avoid it, just as I would avoid using corrosive through an AR-15.

All that said, there's lots of machinegun owners worldwide who shoot lots of corrosive through their very expensive/valueable/irreplaceable MG's.

 

[m6tlogistics]

shot thousands of Bulgarian corrosive through mine-thorough cleaning after range followed up by another 2 days later seemed to do fine

 

[BCP]

So I'm just curious, how many of you clean your M305's upside down, or completely tear them down before cleaning? I've only cleaned my gun once in 3 years, but I give it a light oiling every 6-12 months. I have to clean my gun soon, and I'm debating whether I should take down the gas assembly so the wipeout doesn't climb up through the hole into the piston chamber.

I just turn off the gas port before I clean out the barrel. But then I don't use foaming cleaners like Wipeout. I wonder... will cleaning foam leak through with the port closed?

 

[t-star]

I haven't tried it myself but the chromed barrels and sloppy chambers suggest they are meant to shoot sloppy corrosive ammo.

not even close- the sloppy chambers are so you can fire rapidly( think light machine gun) with grit and carbon present in the chamber- the chrome was to reduce wear on the barrel, so it wouldn't have to be replaced as often as well as rust reduction-

 

[Rocket Surgery]

t-star I miss the times when you would capitalize half of the words in your post, what happened bro?

 

[t-star]

I just turn off the gas port before I clean out the barrel. But then I don't use foaming cleaners like Wipeout. I wonder... will cleaning foam leak through with the port closed?

why don't you just swing the gas assembly out of the way before you clean the barrel?-take out the plug, drop the piston, undo the collar , slide that toward the front sight, and then do the same with the cylinder, and stick a piece of tape over the gas hole?- easy peasy

 

[t-star]

t-star I miss the times when you would capitalize half of the words in your post, what happened bro?

CAPITALS are added for EMPHASIS , so you GET THE POINT- that's what we were taught at ANNAPOLIS

 

[t-star]

I just turn off the gas port before I clean out the barrel. But then I don't use foaming cleaners like Wipeout. I wonder... will cleaning foam leak through with the port closed?

it won't matter- foam or liquid, it still drips down into the gas port and hence into the cylinder-
all of this is UNNESSARY UNLESS THE PISTON IS NOT MOVING
page 13 of fm23-8 states
" under normal usage the gas cylinder SHOULD NOT BE DISASSEMBLED as long as the piston SLIDES FREELY within the cylinder when the barrel is tilted end-for-end from an upright position ( and bolt locked to the rear)-
ie the "klunk test"
further, it goes on " disassembly of the gas cylinder is sometimes necessary when subjected to extreme climate conditions"
however ,the manual does not say that you shouldn't clean it if it makes you feel better

 

[RickR1100]

...well T-star, if you don't want to clean your guns completely after putting a few hundred rounds of corrosive ammo, you may do that, but I wouldn't advise it for anyone with any gun.