CZ-858 and Surplus Ammo...

Do you have to open and clean the gas system after every firing or just the barrel when using corrosive ammo?
 
SURPLUS AMMO:
I heard that most of the ammo guys are selling was manufactured in the '50s. Is that right?

What MFG years of the czech stuff are you guys shooting?

also heard that the newwer stuff is somewhat less corrosive.. could this be true? (not that i would ever dream on not cleaning my rifle right away)
 
Clean everthing and yes expecialy the gas system as the piston spring will rust out on you in no time. But if your in much dryer climate (e.g. any were but the wet coast) cleaning is not needed to be done asap but aslong as you get to it within 12 hours.
 
Anyone have any idea how brake clean would work on those corrosive salts? Up until now I have been using WD40, and Breakfree. The hot water idea sounds like a good one too, but not as easily accessed.
 
SURPLUS AMMO:
I heard that most of the ammo guys are selling was manufactured in the '50s. Is that right?

What MFG years of the czech stuff are you guys shooting?

also heard that the newwer stuff is somewhat less corrosive.. could this be true? (not that i would ever dream on not cleaning my rifle right away)

Most of the stuff is from the 60's and 70's. I did have one case that was made in 1959 and it all went bang, just like all the others.

Anyone have any idea how brake clean would work on those corrosive salts? Up until now I have been using WD40, and Breakfree. The hot water idea sounds like a good one too, but not as easily accessed.

Run enough fluid through and you'll eventually wash anything away. A spray bottle of windex or water will do the job if you don't have a kettle.
 
Good point Stevo!
I alway's spray it down with Sweet's with Water (a 50/50 mix) before I hit it with the hot water. Also WD40 work's great but makes sure to dry it all up & oil it after wards.
 
Slightly less corrosive ?? Thats like slightly pregnant.... ALL of the Czech ammo we have imported is corrosive.... 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s

We have used thousands of rounds in FAs, no problems, BUT always start your day with a spotless chamber that is 100% dry.
John
 
Most of the stuff is from the 60's and 70's. I did have one case that was made in 1959 and it all went bang, just like all the others.



Run enough fluid through and you'll eventually wash anything away. A spray bottle of windex or water will do the job if you don't have a kettle.

Thanks. Now out of curiousity how do I determine the year of my Czech ammo?

Also, is the corrosive an acid or a base? There's gotta be some chemists on here who know what will actually deactivate this stuff, rather then just wash it away :)
 
Thanks. Now out of curiousity how do I determine the year of my Czech ammo?

Also, is the corrosive an acid or a base? There's gotta be some chemists on here who know what will actually deactivate this stuff, rather then just wash it away :)

It's on the headstamp. The two digit group is the year of manufacture.

Why bother "deactivating" when you can just use water? Whatever you find has to be more expensive and no easier to use.
 
Soooo if I was able to get czech surplus in 1200 (not 1120) round cases for 200 that was MFG in '93 theres no real benefit in getting the new stuff over the old stuff?


I was talking to a fellow today that was explaining how theres just not very much ammo getting into Canada anymore. Do you guys forsee that there will be a supply of this cheap surplus ammo for a long time, or will it eventually dry up?
 
LOL!!!
X39 is the most common center fire round in the world!
But if you want it to dry up real fast in Canada please support your local Liberal/NDP party :p
 
LOL!!!
X39 is the most common center fire round in the world!
But if you want it to dry up real fast in Canada please support your local Liberal/NDP party :p

Well it sure is, but that doesnt mean squat if the government isnt allowing it into the country, which is kinda what the fellow I was talking with was saying.
 
Thanks. Now out of curiousity how do I determine the year of my Czech ammo?

Also, is the corrosive an acid or a base? There's gotta be some chemists on here who know what will actually deactivate this stuff, rather then just wash it away :)

As far as I understand it, the priming compound uses a chloride(I dont remember if it is sodium or potassium but I think its potassium chloride) in the mix, which is a salt. Hot water dissolves the salt deposits left in you bore/gas system and rinses them out whereas solvents and brushing usually do not work effectively against it. Just ask my enfields dark and pitted bore, I was shooting old yugoslovian surplus .303 for a few days and brushed the hell out of it with solvent thinking I was fine, one summer in my basement lockup later it's a shame what happened. almost unshootable if our trying to hit something.
 
Corrosive primers included potassium chlorate.
When fired it decomposes to chloride which is left in the barrel.
Chloride like other halogens is essentially catalytic to the rusting or iron when in the presence of air/water.

To 'deactivate', the use of lead or silver nitrate comes to mind...
But windex works for me followed by hoppes 9.
 
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