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  1. #1
    Legacy Member 728shooter's Avatar
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    Corrosive Ammo

    I don't know if this has ever been addressed before on this forum but I think it may be worth bringing up again if so. We have all used at one time or another corrosive ammo and are aware of the procedures for cleaning our firearms afterwards. A friend of mine has a process that he claims greatly reduces the corrosive damage that may be done when finished firing at the range which I cannot find fault with. I hereby ask for input as to its validity...

    Whenever we shoot our Enfields, Mosins or whatever, using mil-surp ammo (corrosive), he always finishes with 4-5 rounds of known non-corrosive ammo before "packing up". He claims that the 35K pressure of non-corrosive ammo down the barrel will pretty much blow out 99% (or more) of whatever corrosive compounds are left in in the barrel. He still cleans his firearms afterwards but doesn't worry if he can't get to them in a "timely manner". It sounds logical but has anyone ever heard that this procedure is worthwhile?

    Thanks, --728shooter
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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    I cannot see how firing a non-corrosive round after using corrosive ammo negates the salts produced by the corrosive primers as it is acting on the barrel steel straight away at a molecular level so once the process has started with the salts the only real way is boiling the barrel. Imagine say if you are a salt molecule acting on the steel then someone fires a non-corrosive round as the initial blow-by gases are only miliseconds long before obturation it wont dislodge you, then along comes the projectile and squashes you down followed by a good baking of hot gases. Leaving the barrel for a "Timely manner" may well be a fopar with the salts acting quite happily on the barrel.

    Sorry I beg to differ on the method, I still think getting boiling water down the tube as quick as possible with a good cleaning & oiling is the way to go.
    Better still keep the corrosive ammo don't shoot it as it can be collectible (Depending on who made it P.O.F is not one of them) just use modern rounds with modern primers/powders that way you are assured no rust will be formed by salts.
    As usual I stand to be corrected in my summation I just would not use corrosive ammo..........................

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    The corrosive salts are forced into the pores of the steel during firing by heat and pressure. You do what you want and so can he. I won't be using corrosive at all, if I did, I'd be cleaning by prescribed methods.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member Bruce_in_Oz's Avatar
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    Boiling water is cheaper than a few rounds of "non-corrosive" ammo and a LOT cheaper than a trip to the gun-plumber for a new barrel.

    Just use a "proper" funnel and keep the water off the woodwork. And don't rush it.

    When the water runs "clear" from the muzzle, let the now-heated barrel dry off and then apply the preservative oil of choice.

    A couple of days later, run DRY patches through the bore and inspect, then re-oil / apply "preservative".

    That procedure worked OK for "The Empire" for quite a while. The basic principles apply to ALL small-arms systems.

    "Modern" ammo is MUCH less corrosive than what was on general issue for a century or more, but, even modern toys using fresh modern ammo need to be cleaned and inspected after use.

    If you live somewhere like Florida or coastal Queensland, you can hear the rust forming on a freshly de-oiled surface. If you live in Death Valley of the Atacama Plain, not so much, but...........

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    Contributing Member rcathey's Avatar
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    Back in college I had a buddy that prescribed to this method.
    Few weeks after he bought a Mosin from me and took it shooting, the Kentucky humidity and corrosive salts got together and made a rust baby allll through that barrel.
    Nice powdery bright red stuff he was able to scrub out, fortunately.
    He swore up and down that the corrosive thing was blown out of proportion...before that incident anyway.

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    Advisory Panel browningautorifle's Avatar
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    I've seen the rust salts form in an afternoon after shooting...one round mixed into your lot will do it too.
    Regards, Jim

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    Legacy Member 728shooter's Avatar
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    Thanks to all for your replies. Understand that a "proper cleaning" is necessary after shooting corrosive ammo and any short-cuts may prove to be less than satisfactory. Which brings up another question that this topic leads to...

    We have all seen pristine mil-surp rifles in our travels, shiny barrels and all, most having been fed a steady diet of corrosive ammo from day-1, most having seen the rigors of battle probably more than once in their life-cycle. Obviously, during the heat and pressures of battle, there were times when many infantrymen had little opportunity to stop what they were doing to clean their rifles (especially by pouring hot water down the throats). I would imagine that most battle-tested rifles went for days (if not weeks, or longer...) before there was a place or time to "properly" clean their rifles. And yet we still see many, of not most, mil-surp rifles with very shiny, clean and almost pristine original barrels. I guess what I'm getting at is, is the corrosive ammo so caustic that it causes "...I've seen the rust salts form in an afternoon after shooting..." right before your eyes? If this were so, wouldn't every army in the early 20th century have had piles of 1,000's of rifles with rusted-out barrels after every battle or conflict?

    Sorry to be so apprehensive on this but my "analytical logic" is having a hard time accepting the degree of concern mentioned here. Don't get me wrong, I still firmly believe that a proper cleaning is necessary after using corrosive ammo, its just that the "catastrophic consequences" mentioned by some here regarding the use of corrosive ammo just doesn't add up.

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    Advisory Panel Parashooter's Avatar
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    The previous post misses the fact that only a small percentage of rifles issued to troops are actually fired in combat. Most go to cooks, clerks, drivers, engineers, and all the other folks who have to have one "just in case" but normally don't use them except in training and qualification - with plenty of time and supplies for effective cleaning.

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    On the big "two-way rifle ranges", there would be armourers and crusty sergeant majors closely scrutinizing weapons maintenance on a daily basis. This scrutiny would also apply to every piece of kit from field cookers to heavy artillery.

    Even when I did my training on the L1A1, weapons cleaning was carried out, in the field or in barracks, fired or not, as part of daily ritual; morning and evening. It fell into the same category as shaving, polishing / protecting boots, touching up the tactical make-up, etc.

    When I was a LOT younger, I shot No1 Mklll* rifles competitively with the RAAF Air Training Corps (Cadets). The rifles with which we were issued, ranged in vintage from WW1 to just post WW2 and the Mk7 ammo was of similar antiquity. The rifle bores were spotless when we drew them from the armoury and would not be accepted back unless our instructors AND the technical storeman were completely satisfied. That those rifles would be hauled out and given another thorough clean a few days later by an assortment of storemen and "volunteers", was of no account.

    When they were subsequently returned to the armoury after this second cleaning, they may not have seen the light of day for another six months. Thus PROPER cleaning and oiling was essential.

    We only EVER shot with Oz, Brit or occasionally, Paki, CORROSIVELY primed ammo. Your taxes at work and play!

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    Contributing Member CINDERS's Avatar
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    Fact was in WWI the attrition rate for 303's from battle damage was measured in days as were the men, WWII I think was a few weeks but like BIO says and I can relate as well to our range rifles were fetted over in the cadets and whoa betide the chap who's 4 x 2 came out dirty after they tried to return it to the armory after range practice the QM was most displeased.

    Thing is in all reality in today's world there is no real need to shoot the stuff not only will you get spurious results from old aged ammo but contending with the corrosive primers.
    What some do here is pull the pill and renew all the explosive components powder/primer reload it and carry on.
    But if you wish to shoot it thats fine just remember the cleaning regime and also cordite burns allot hotter than our smokeless powders so you will eventually toast the throat which does not aid accuracy somewhere in E B Reynolds book they go through sustained fire with a rifle and its a few thousands of rounds before the barrel was shot out.

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