What are the benefits of corrosive ammo?

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What are the benefits of corrosive ammo? Is it just a cost thing or is corrosive ammo somehow superior to non-corrosive ammo?

If there are no benefits to corrosive, than why does it even exist? Why would an organization choose to make ammo that they know will corrode steel?

This is my general musing question of the day.
 
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They are cheaper to make, were preferred for match loads and last better in long term storage and when you are supplying millions of rounds to insurgants they don't always clean their rifles properly--so you can sell them more rifles (or make more to keep your factories running).

:)44Bore
 
The reason for corrosive ammo?

First, it's not the ammo itself wich is corrosive, it's the salts that resulted from the combustion of the Mercury Fulminate. These salts are hygroscopic, wich means they adsorb water (like a magnet attracts iron).
Most of these ammunitions were made before the late '70s, and this technology dates from the '30s (not 19ish, 18XX)... But it is still used in Russia, China and many other countries, because it's cheaper then say, the modern priming compound such as Tetrazyne and Lead Stryphnate.
At that time, they got two choices; potassium chlorate or mercury fulminate.
Most manufacturers then ended up using the mercury fulminate because it is more stable over time and non corrosive. But unfortunately, over time, the ph lowers and it becomes a bit on the acidic side. Then, the salts are even worse. This can be avoid by good storing habits.

So, why shooting corrosive ammo? - Because it's cheap.
 
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Baribal said:
First, it's not the ammo itself wich is corrosive, it's the salts that resulted from the combustion of the Mercury Fulminate. These salts are hygroscopic, wich means they adsorb water (like a magnet attracts iron).
Most of these ammunitions were made before the late '70s, and this technology dates from the '30s (not 19ish, 18XX)... But it is still used in Russia, China and many other countries, because it's cheaper then say, the modern priming compound such as Tetrazyne and Lead Stryphnate.
At that time, they got two choices; potassium chlorate or mercury fulminate.
Most manufacturers then ended up using the mercury fulminate because it is more stable over time and non corrosive. But unfortunately, over time, the ph lowers and it becomes a bit on the acidic side. Then, the salts are even worse. This can be avoid by good storing habits.

So, why shooting corrosive ammo? - Because it's cheap.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you're not mixing up mercury fulminate and potassium chlorate in the start of the statement? You seem to contradict yourself later on in your post.

Mercuric priming is not good for your health (breathing mercury vapours) and bad for your brass if you reload, but I thought it was non-corrosive?

Potassium chlorate is corrosive for sure.
 
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