Corrosive Ammo

[Nibor]

Hey guys,

What exactly does "corrosive ammo" mean when buying surplus ammo?

 

[curtmg]

The primers have salts in them. You need to clean after every use ASAP, usually by pouring water down the bore, boiling water if possible. Some people use windex or other liquids. Be sure and give a regular cleaning after that, as the water and bare metal don't go together very well.

 

[hedgehog]

check this out

]his ammo is usually surplus but I have heard cases of ammo like wolf being corrosive. Almost all, if not all surplus on the Market these days is corrosive. What makes it corrosive is that there is Mercuric type salts in the primer of the ammunition, when this ammo is discharged it literally coats the barrel in these salts and will rot your barrel if not cleaned the right way. Hoppes solvent and etc will not work it will rot under it. What I use is Windex with ammonia I shoot a lot of surplus threw my Mosin M44 and the bore if fine, except for the soviet troops who had it before me did not clean it right after shooting corrosive ammo. Simply to get those out use a bottle of windex and spray down the barrel to opposing end making sure it does not go on your action. Always do towards muzzle. Next let it sit for about a min the put one patch down the barrel. Then repeat that step again. Next spray some windex on patches and run them down the bore until they are clean. Usually 3 or 4 will do the job but if shooting a lot more may be needed. Next dry your bore very good and proceed with regular cleaning. Make sure you spray your bolt face with windex also. I personally like to take the bolt apart and clean it. These steps are for BOLT ACTION RIFLES. Semi-Autos are different because of the gas system, but use the same base. There are many ways to clean corrosive ammo but I find this way to be very easy and reliable and I have used it for years. Make sure you use the windex part at the range and dry it and when home do regular cleaning.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

The primers contain corrosive salts which can damage your firearm unless they are removed through cleaning. Do a search on cleaning + corrosive for a wealth of info.

 

[Nibor]

Thanks guys

 

[on-ca]

Corrosive has two meanings, one for the brass and one for the bore/barrel.

Mercury fulminate in the primer damages brass and it cannot be used for reloading. But it will not damage the gun/bore/barrel.

Potassium chlorate in primers is the one that damages the bore/barrel. But it will not damage the brass.

If the ammo is corrosive, unless you know the composition of the primer, you must assume both in that you should not reload the spent casings and really clean your gun as per what everyone recommends.

on-ca

Hey guys,

What exactly does "corrosive ammo" mean when buying surplus ammo?

 

[Nibor]

thanks on-ca

I haven't reached the point of re-loading yet, but I'll definately keep that in mind for when I do.....

 

[NAPOLEON DYNAMITE]

Do I have to worry about any commercial cartridges using corrosive primers, or are they only used in surplus ammo? I was going to use some cheap Winchester "Value" ammo for plinking. Should I be concerned?

 

[lone-wolf]

Your fine

 

[.Ben]

no corrosive stuff in factory ammo, cheap stuff just might be a little dirtier thats all,,

corrosive milspec ammo will damage your bore/action faster if not cleaned properly windex works well so i hear, my nagant is corroded to hell prolly from when it was shot constaintly with corrosive ammo my barrel is also counter bored and shot out so the groups arent very good anyways so i tend to go a little less on cleaning but if your firing corrosive in a brand new sks or vz-58 cz etc..... clean clean clean!!!!

with the proper care milspec ammo is a cheap and fun way to get some rounds off without spending crazy money....