SKS surplus: Rust inside.

Ritchie

Ritchie

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Hi Guys,

Just got a case of 7.62 x 39 Czech Surplus (bxn 63).

I pulled a few bullets and found this on every one:

http://members.shaw.ca/ebay101/762rust.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/ebay101/762rust2.jpg

The second picture, you can see a brown dust on the powder. The case interior is pure orange with rust. I've no doubt they are shootable but I've also pulled some bxn 71 and they were clean inside.

Anyone else have this?
 
I'm suprised you'd find this in Czech ammo, but it isn't unheard of. Since the commies used laquered steel cases, they were slightly more resistant to acidity than brass. The QC in processing the powder, getting rid of all the solvents, could be less stringent.

My guess is your lot has an elevated level of residual acid in the powder.
 
Interesting... All I can think of is maybe there were some strange and rare environmental changes in the factory, man made or otherwise that caused greater humidity in the air which might have allowed moisture in the cases during processing. :confused:
 
Thanks for the heads up, Ritchie.

It makes me wonder just what the condition is of the Czech cases I haven't opened yet. In one sealed can I opened, I have come across several boxes inside that looked like they had water damage and the ammo on those stripper clips had some exterior discolouration. I guess I'm going to have to find the ammo can where I stored them and pull some bullets.

I hope they all aren't like the one in your photos.

Cheers!
 
Canuck 223, knows what he's talking about. I had a bunch of #44 powder from Higginsons (20+years ago) that started to show rusty dust, I thought,"oh well", loaded some up and shot it anyway. BIG MISTAKE, rhere weren't any pressure signs but after 100 rounds, with the usual cleaning procedure after every 20 or so rounds, there wasn't any corrosion, but the bore looked like it had been attacke by a ball peen hammer. The accuracy was gone and the barrel unsalvageable. When I gave some of the powder to a buddy at UBC, he came up with the same conclusion as Canuck 223, still solvents present in the powder, the rust on the steel tops and bottoms of the containers should have been my first clue. bearhunter
 
Just an update:

I've pulled EVERY ROUND apart. All rusty.

I've dumped out the powder into an old container and tumbled the bullets to get the rust off the sides.

I've placed 1/4 tsp of large sand blasting media in the bottom of the cases, finger jammed the bullet back in and then tumbling the cases.

They're coming out nice and clean without any primer blockages, viewed with a mini maglite.

A fresh fill with H4895 and they're good to go. I'm doing about 20 over a couple of days, shouldn't be long till I've done the whole case.

What a pain in the arse though. It's a good job that I love to reload :)
 
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Are these the same ones from SIR that are on stripper clips? I just tried to pull one and couldnt mange with pliers. I guess I need a tool....
 
diananike said:
Are these the same ones from SIR that are on stripper clips? I just tried to pull one and couldnt mange with pliers. I guess I need a tool....
Click to expand...

They are the ones in the light blue boxes and stripper clips, yes. The headstamp is BXN 63. These did not come from SIR though. It was not the supplier's fault.

I've pulled BXN 71 and they were perfect. I think I remember pulling BXN 68 and 69 and they were also good.

I have a RCBS collet die for pulling as I always pull surplus samples before I use them. :D
 
Yes, looks like a bad batch of powder. Too much free acid as said above.

Was the case tin or asphalt covered paper?

You might consider returning it to the importer who brought it in. I am sure they will replace it.
 
RobSmith said:
Bah, it there were good enough for commie conscripts, they're good enough for me ...
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I agree, I buy them cause every one goes bang and my SKS has a chromed bore, probably for this reason... If I was that picky,, my wife would still be single!!!:evil: If I pull the trigger and I get nothing but smoke, or reduced report I will be concerned but this is not BISLEY stuff, just fun stuff..
 
shoot!!! said:
I agree, I buy them cause every one goes bang and my SKS has a chromed bore, probably for this reason... If I was that picky,, my wife would still be single!!!:evil: If I pull the trigger and I get nothing but smoke, or reduced report I will be concerned but this is not BISLEY stuff, just fun stuff..
Click to expand...

My Yugo doesn't even have a chrome bore ... as for your wife well .. no comment ... :bigHug:
 
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