Muzzle Corrosion

bdtyre

bdtyre

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Vancouver
I was doing a remedial cleaning on my M1 (I only put 96 rounds through it last time) when I noticed some pale blue green corrosion in the muzzle. It was surface stuff and came off easily, but underneath there looks to be some decent orange rust. Scrub as I did with CLP and swabs and brass brushes, this rust didn't seem to loosen up.

Now this doesn't seem to affect the accuracy at all, but it does concern me. There seems to be a fair amount of it, and it was nice and sunny last time I went shooting so obviously the orange rust has been there a while.

I checked my Lee Enfield after this and sure enough it has a bit of the same pale blue green corrosion. I haven't checked it, but I don't recall any deeper rust in my Lee Enfield. The chamber end of the barrel on both seem to be free of any corrosion.

Is it possible the blue green stuff is just oxidized copper deposits from the jacketing? It comes off even with a pull through with a dry bore snake. Or is this a symptom of a larger problem? I usually store my rifles in the case and I'm not noticing corrosion or rust of any kind anywhere else on either rifle. And what would work best to help clean the M1? Hoppes #9? Maybe I should put it this way - what combination of cleaner and tool would work to get it out?
 
Are you sure it's rust and not copper fooling?
It would be very surprising that you find rust build up under a layer of copper (unless it was peeling off). The bullet rubs the inside of the barrel and friction polish it. If there was pitting there before, the copper will tend to fill the craters.
 
It very well could be copper fouling. It looks like rust, but it certainly doesn't come off using all the tricks I'm used to.

If it is copper build-up due to pitting, maybe I don't want to removie it! :) As I said, it doesn't seem to affect the accuracy.
 
bringing up another question. Is there a "cleaning rifles for dummies" thread? I've got my first milsurp rifle and lots of corrosive ammo. I've heard soap and hot water are the only way to go. I've heard other things too. Nothing consistent.
 
"...corrosive ammo..." Hot water(a kettle full will do) alone will flush out the salts from the primers. Windex etc really doesn't do any more than very hot water. A flexible funnel will make dumping the water into the barrel less exciting. If you have a semi-auto, flush the gas system too.
"...blue green..." Sounds like copper to me.
"...Scrub..." No need. Run a solvent soaked patch through the barrel and leave it sit for 20 minutes or so. Gives the solvent time to work. Then a brush, etc.
"...Why shouldn't I..." Most cases are made with synthetic lining materials that will trap and hold moisture. Especially if you put a cold rifle in and take it inside. Condensation. A case that's dry and a well oiled rifle will be fine though. Mind you, even trigger locked, storing in a case isn't exactly secure.
 
Screw the funnel, buy a turkey baster "dont use the one in the kitchen unless your single lol" Use the baster to pour the hot water down the bore.
 
I guess I should look into getting a proper gun safe. Kind of a nuisance since I'm living temporarily away from my permanent residence. So plain hot water will do the trick? And that goes in the funnel and gas system. What about the bolt/ bolt carrier? Do I rinse that in hot water or is that not necessary?

And I can say that from my days of chemistry that iron becomes iron oxide which is brown or red, and copper becomes.... err, copper oxide? It's bluish green in any case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom