P.O.F. primer or powder causing rust in my bore?

[ohdannyboy303]

brought my no.4 out to play and when i looked down the bore there was some kind of rust build up. it wasn't actually in the bore's metal but more like just laying on there. it was easily brushed away leaving my bore shiny again so which is it, the primer or the powder(spaghetti noodle) causeing the build up? and to think this was supposed to be mildly corrosive LMAO!!!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[finloq]

Your Pakistani ammo is probably Berdan primered. Most military surplus Berdan primered ammo from pre-1980's is corrosive. There is a salt-like substance in the primer to stabalize it. Unfortunately any of the primer residue that sticks to the inside of your barrel or bolt will draw moisture to itself. This can lead to rusting. Clean your rifle soon after firing and it will not be a problem. Soon, depends on your humidity. I live in the Mojave, not much of an issue, here. Some people use Windex (ammonia based cleaner nutrilizes the salts), Hoppes #9 works very well, some people use plain old water (the salts are microscopic and dissolve easily). Follow up with a light coating of oil and you will be fine.

[ohdannyboy303]

Your Pakistani ammo is probably Berdan primered. Most military surplus Berdan primered ammo from pre-1980's is corrosive. There is a salt-like substance in the primer to stabalize it. Unfortunately any of the primer residue that sticks to the inside of your barrel or bolt will draw moisture to itself. This can lead to rusting. Clean your rifle soon after firing and it will not be a problem. Soon, depends on your humidity. I live in the Mojave, not much of an issue, here. Some people use Windex (ammonia based cleaner nutrilizes the salts), Hoppes #9 works very well, some people use plain old water (the salts are microscopic and dissolve easily). Follow up with a light coating of oil and you will be fine.

I live in a region must like the nile delta but without the possibility of a drought so I guess it would be more like the mekong(sp?) delta which easily explains the speed in which the salts appeared. went shooting friday got the suprise yeasterday.

thanks, i almost had to visit the crazy house for a little while over this incident.

[krinko]

Hoppe's No9 contains no water and will not dissolve or flush out corrosive primer salts.
Plain water is the easiest way to go, with a follow up of the Hoppe's to get other residue.
When that's done, set the rifle out where you can see it and clean it with water again on the second day.
Give it a visual inspection on the third day before you pack it away.
-----krinko

[finloq]

A difference of opinion. Krinko is probably more experienced than I and I would respect his opinion as erring on the side of caution is definetely the path to take here.
Hoppes #9 was formulated in 1903, when the conversion from black powder to smokeless powder was in full swing. It was designed to remove (among other things) the corrosive mercuric salts. One of Hoppes ingredients is Ammonium Hydrochloride, probably the source of that lovely smell (and why it does not taste good on a burrito).

[jmoore]

"Old" Hoppe's maybe was a good "one chemical for all cleaning purposes", but don't count on it, esp. the new formulation. The potassium chlorate in the primer is part of the explosive compound. Whilst stable, upon firing it becomes potassium chloride, which is the heart healthy version of regular old table salt, sodium chloride.

Like table salt, it is very hydroscopic, and the moisture it attracts justs sits on the metal surface. Oils can mask or slow this potentially damaging situation, but they won't remove it. A good hot and/or soapy water flush WILL, however, wash the salts out. No magic involved!

[Mk VII]

no such thing as 'mildly corrosive', anymore than 'mildly pregnant'. The primer was most likely the usual British chlorate one of the '50s (before they moved to Eleyprime for .303s about 1961)

[krinko]

Any of the modern copper fouling solvents, "Sweet's 7.62" ** or even the one put out by Hoppe's, contain a lot of water to carry the ammonia they use to dissolve copper and will remove salts---if you don't want to go with water.

Hoppe's new formula removed an original ingredient related to benzene, which apparently caused cancer in most cancers. So for the sake of a tumor-free life, we are stuck with a less effective solvent.
I know the box says No9 will remove corrosive salts, but I wouldn't bet a bright bore on it.
-----krinko

**My Fave.

[TerryS]

This was an awful lot of bandwidth used because somebody didn't clean their weapon. Shoot it - clean it. The primer comp, powder etc. don't come in to it.

[ohdannyboy303]

This was an awful lot of bandwidth used because somebody didn't clean their weapon. Shoot it - clean it. The primer comp, powder etc. don't come in to it.

if you are refering to me, i cleaned it after shooting while i was still at the range. i did my job, Outers did not do its job.