Corrosive ammo/SKS cleaning at the range

C

cm_machinist

Regular
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys,

Question for you: If I'm out in the field shooting corrosive ammo, what can I use to give my SKS a quick cleaning so I can give myself more time before I can strip the entire thing down and thoroughly clean it? Usually I have to go a ways away from home to go target shooting, so sometimes I have to go hours before I can wash out my SKS. I've heard of guys taking a bottle of Windex with them when they go out shooting, and then spraying it down the barrel after they've fired the last shot. I know it won't be effective enough to wash out the chemically produced salts, but it'll at least give me some breathing room before I start running into rust issues.

What other methods have you guys tried? Thanks.
 
cm_machinist said:
Hey guys,

Question for you: If I'm out in the field shooting corrosive ammo, what can I use to give my SKS a quick cleaning so I can give myself more time before I can strip the entire thing down and thoroughly clean it? Usually I have to go a ways away from home to go target shooting, so sometimes I have to go hours before I can wash out my SKS. I've heard of guys taking a bottle of Windex with them when they go out shooting, and then spraying it down the barrel after they've fired the last shot. I know it won't be effective enough to wash out the chemically produced salts, but it'll at least give me some breathing room before I start running into rust issues.

What other methods have you guys tried? Thanks.
Click to expand...

As long as you're cleaning it the same day there is no need to clean it at the range. I drive far too and clean when I get home or later that evening, still nice a clean with no rust
 
I usually just run an oiled patch through the bore, making sure that the chamber in particular is coated (as it is not chrome lined, if I remember correctly). I then oil the inside of the gas system and give the piston a light coat of oil. The same thing could be done with WD40. This process in no way replaces a proper cleaning, but it will keep the salts from attracting any moisture from the air (which then results in surface rust). This buys me a lot of extra time if I am not able to clean my rife right away.
 
its not going to rust in an hour... the windex is a complete waste of time imo. so little ammonia in it its pointless, but the water in it will rust your gun up faster than if it wasn't on it. The com bloc wouldn't use this ammo if it rusted a gun in a couple hours
 
Easy to carry a small bottle of a corrosive cleaner in your range bag.

I use ballistol and water.

Like others have said rust doesn't take that fast. I always clean my guns the same day I shoot corrosive. Even 12 hours later I've been fine.
 
Even in soggy BC you are ok for 12-24 hours... Just make sure you clean it well within that window. Just a bunch of very hot, soapy water down the barrel and gas effected parts. Run a few wet patches through the bore. Rinse with more just off the boil water, which will almost evaporate itself off now hot metal... Dry with a towel, couple of dry patches through the bore to get water, then a light coat of gun oil.

I usually go back a week later and make sure there were no spots I missed. Gotta hate it when your 100 year old 1891 gets cancer!
 
daniel_250r said:
its not going to rust in an hour... the windex is a complete waste of time imo. so little ammonia in it its pointless, but the water in it will rust your gun up faster than if it wasn't on it. The com bloc wouldn't use this ammo if it rusted a gun in a couple hours
Click to expand...

Thats why they sell it to us, lol
my bro cleans his SKS the same way he did his FN & C7, hot water, dry, & CLP,same day as firing. no rust, no blueing removal, no problems. I don`t even get to take the cosmo off this one till Xmas day.
 
A mixture of vinegar and water (a teaspoon to a liter) will neutralize the salt and lower the ph level. You can keep it in a sports bottle with straw like nozzle. Flush it, patch then oil.
 
I just cleaned my sks last night after neglecting it for a month, I should have took some pictures, no rust, lots of carbon build up but it came clean really easy, never used the water technique on any of my sks's either,
 
Thanks for all the advice guys! Another trick I heard is to fire a couple rounds of non-corrosive ammo when I'm done shooting. I was told this can help remove some of the corrosive material left behind.
 
cm_machinist said:
Thanks for all the advice guys! Another trick I heard is to fire a couple rounds of non-corrosive ammo when I'm done shooting. I was told this can help remove some of the corrosive material left behind.
Click to expand...

I've often seen that too and wondered. If ever I knew I'd be out for a while, a small spray of oil, good if it's one that says it cleans and protects, down the barrel and on fouled parts after it has cooled. Not when it's scorching or it bakes on and not so much that it gets on the stock and gun case; has worked for me. Hopefully the oil has soaked into the fouling and is easier to wipe off, then clean as usual.
 
Don't know if this works but I have been using bore bright and giving it a good soaking letting it run out the barrel. This seems to be working for me so far knock on wood.
 
EL34/6L6 said:
Salts are ionic compounds, usually containing a metal. The salts in corrosive primers are mainly phosphates.
It is not sodium chloride (table salt), we often refer to table salt as salt, but that is like saying that all metal is iron.
Water alone doesn't neutralize the salt, it does what water does, it dissolves it and runs out the muzzle....
The ammonia in Windex breaks down small metals. That, with the water act as a two prong effect, neutralizing and flushing.
Click to expand...

Ammonia will not dissolve corrosive salts. But the water works very well. Ammonia will break down copper fouling though.
 
its not the barrel youre worried about with the corrosive ammo, its the gas tube.
the barrel can wait to be cleaned for a few hours or the next day.. its super tough... a bore snake with a little solvent not a bad idea though...

The gas tube on the other hand, starts to get pitted REAL FAST. and the metal is not nearly the same.

Take your gas tube off... clean it really well with a 30 or 50 calibre bore brush and solvent.. get all the crud out.. hold it up to a light.. look at the interior walls....

Theres a reason NCStar sells out of their cheap replacements with rails on top. They (meaning the originals) get eaten alive when noobs like myself for example neglect to clean the ENTIRE rifle every single use....
 
cm_machinist said:
Hey guys,

Question for you: If I'm out in the field shooting corrosive ammo, what can I use to give my SKS a quick cleaning so I can give myself more time before I can strip the entire thing down and thoroughly clean it? Usually I have to go a ways away from home to go target shooting, so sometimes I have to go hours before I can wash out my SKS. I've heard of guys taking a bottle of Windex with them when they go out shooting, and then spraying it down the barrel after they've fired the last shot. I know it won't be effective enough to wash out the chemically produced salts, but it'll at least give me some breathing room before I start running into rust issues.

What other methods have you guys tried? Thanks.
Click to expand...

It won't rust right away. In fact, its worse if you introduce moisture to the corrosive salts. Its either you clean it or you don't. No half assing or its just going to rust. I've left guns unclean for a few days after shooting corrosive though it. As long as you keep it dry, it shouldn't rust. It might stain the barrel but it won't rust and the stain will come out the next time you shoot it.

Sometimes I don't have time to clean my gun when I get home so I have cleaned the gun a few times at the range before coming home. All you need is Windex, patches, and oil. The SKS already has a cleaning kit so no need to pack one. If you want to minus the windex and oil, then get Balistol. I get mine from Czech Republic. I don't know where you get it here in Canada.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom