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If I remember correctly, there are two different solvents that was used by the military to clean the barrels; one is dark brown and the other is milky white. Can you tell me which one is for corrosive ammo; or are they both for corrosive ammo? Or am I delirious and totally mistaken.
I've used both, either seems to be fine. The dark is the newer type. The milky stuff seems WWIIish.
Alternatively, running hot water or a water based cleaner through the bore first is the least toxic and stinky way of doing the job. Just procede w/ normal cleaning after the water.
The corrosive salt is potassium chloride, which is altogether water soluble. And a "heart healthy"- salt (sodium chloride) substitute.
Bob. I have been using Wipe Out, Hoppes No 9 and G96 and have decided to also use Windex. Will use a good dose of Windex first then the other three as listed. Possibly overkill but I actually enjoy cleaning guns. Have also been somtimes "shooting" Wipe Out in the barrel before leaving the range just to be more careful. Buy some cheap balloons and put one over the muzzle to prevent it running out but keep the tip of the barrel down so you don't get it running out of the chamber. Also on very wet days have cleaned the gun at the range. Hard to believe just how dirty milsurp ammo can be as last week shot a CZ 7.62 X 39 bolt action that a friend loaned me and it took forever to get it perfectly clean.
Water warm or cold
Preferably warm
Water is best to dissolve the potassium chloride, and Windex works because it is 90/95% water.
This what I use as well, followed up with compressed air.Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Peppers
I use Hoppes' No. 9, for everything.
If I recall correctly, Hoppes is fine for all new, non-corrosive primer ammunition, however, it does NOT dissolve the salts that were used in pre-1952? corrosive primer ammunition. If you are shooting corrosive primer ammunition, you should be cleaning with either the old USGI solvents from the same era, or be using very hot soapy water, to clean your rifle. You obviously need to make sure that all of the water is removed, and that the barrel, bore, and other metal parts are oiled, before storage. World War II guidance had soldiers cleaning their M1's for three consecutive days after firing with corrosive primer ammunition. HTH, KarlKWQuote:
Originally Posted by Charlie59
I use a mixture of Windex, hydrogen perioxide and Simple Green. A quart is made up with a sixteen ounce bottle of perioxide, a tablespoon of simple green and the rest windex. Also, another solution I have used instaed of windex I use ammonia and windshield washer fluid. This is one tablespoon of ammonia into a quart of windshield washer fluid. These are mostly water, Both will remove salts and start removing both cardon and copper. The first one is better as it will get into the pores of the metal better. I use them while the barrel is still warm and let sit for about five minutes before running a dry patch through the boe to dry. Then use your favorite bore cleaner to remove the other deposits. Be careful with both on the finish and bluing of the firearm as the finish and bluing will be affected by the solutions containing ammonia.
I have fired over nearly 4000 rounds of 5,45x39 1970s Russian thru an AK I have. All of it has been corrosive. I clean with straight Ballistol and have never had corrosion issues. Many black powder shooters uses the stuff also mixed with water. It forms a milky mixture that doesn't spearate out. You need to be especially careful in areas that become hot and dry from oil during firing, like the operating rod.
I thought I read somewhere that Ballistol actually is formulated for removal of corrosive salts. I have not used it but if it performed as advertised it sounds ideal, like a CLP with properties to remove corrosives and they claim it is fine for all rifle finishes.
I have 400 +/- rounds of Korean KA headstamp corrosive I will be firing through my 1903. Each time I intended to shoot this ammo I have come up with an excuse to avoid my fears of corrosive salts in my nice 03 - too humid today, not enough time to immediatly clean, etc. I think when the dry fall weather comes along I will take this ammo a thermos of scalding hot water, a little dish soap and a funnel, put the muzzle into a cup of soapy water and using a bore swab liberally wash the bore down with the hot soapy water, than rinse some clean water through the breech out the bore to remove the soap. Than clean as normal. I hope this will take care of the corrosive issue.
Yup ball has it right.Quote:
Originally Posted by ballbags
Corrosive ammo comes from the primer not the powder and is the result of potassium chlorate decomposing into KCL (Potassium chloride) a salt.
The solubility of KCL is well known. I've included a chart of it below. (Bigger values are better)
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../09/kcly-1.jpg
You'll notice that plain old water is significantly better then anything else. The hotter the better. Boiling water is 2x as good as room temperature water at removing the salt.
So if your cleaner of choice is water then you're good to go. If it's any other chemical you're just pouring your money down the barrel and doing next to nothing or worse.
FYI: Windex is made from:
Isopropanal,
2-Butoxethanol,
Ethylene,
Water,
Ammonia
So the water component can remove KCL, but the solution as a whole is not as good as water by itself.
A final note to consider. KCL by itself does not cause rust. Its hygroscopic meaning it takes up water and holds it. That water reacts with the steel(iron) and very small electrical currents break the water into hydrogen and oxygen. The free oxygen goes after the iron producing rust. The KCL adds more ions to the solution which increases the current flow and the rust process.
That is almost the mixture we used for wetting the patches when loading our muzzle loaders for competition. 2 ounces hydrogen peroxide, 2 ounces 409, 2 ounces water soluble oil and enough water to make a quart. Mixed it was milky colored and called "Moose Milk". It wasn't good for cleaning the bore, but helped when you had to shoot a long string without cleaning. Hot water was used for clean up.Quote:
Originally Posted by chumney
Remember that whatever you mix, the water is what dissolves the potassium chloride. A little soap acts as a wetting agent, getting the water into the cracks and crevices.