I have an AK in 5.45 and I see a bunch of the good deals on the ammo are on mil surplus cans of around 1080 rounds and they are as is much of the eastern bloc surplus ammo, corrosive. I can find some good shoot able quantities of 5.45 here in town but if I wanted to keep a can of surplus ammo around for that "rainy" day or if I just want to shoot off a bunch of rounds at the range or if for what ever reason ammo could no longer be imported would you guys see it as some thing that would be worth buying and shooting. I hear Windex will clean up corrosive ammo well because it has the ammonia in it so or soapy water will do the job to clean up the corrosive particles from the gun and the AK is a pretty simple system to keep clean. So corrosive ammo, shoot it or leave it alone. My main ammo will be for right now non corrosive Silver Bear and Wolf when I can get them.
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To shoot corrosive ammo or not to? that is the question
- Thread starter bitter1
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Corrosive ammunition really isn't a problem, especially for an AK clone, if you clean the firearm well when you are finished shooting.
For an AK, I would be very tempted to hose it down with lots of warm water to flush the salts away before I started the cleaning. For pistols and SMGs, I've known people who put them in the dishwasher with some mild soap (generally not good for domestic bliss though if the wife/S.O. finds out).
For an AK, I would be very tempted to hose it down with lots of warm water to flush the salts away before I started the cleaning. For pistols and SMGs, I've known people who put them in the dishwasher with some mild soap (generally not good for domestic bliss though if the wife/S.O. finds out).
I got a bunch of Spanish-made Berdan-primed corrosive .45 ACP way back when.... By the time I got home from the range there were little streaks of red in the barrel of my S&W M1917....
Clean quickly. I wonder if the stuff they make for black-powder shooters would be useful. I seem to recall a product called Blacksolve that was supposed to inhibit corrosion till you could clean the weapon.
Clean quickly. I wonder if the stuff they make for black-powder shooters would be useful. I seem to recall a product called Blacksolve that was supposed to inhibit corrosion till you could clean the weapon.
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I shoot milsurp ammo out of my CZ-52 and Mosin Nagant without an issue. I just clean them up really well when I get home.
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Seems like the consensus is that you must clean your weapons. Not a new concept people. I cleaned my M4/SAW at least once every day, more cleanings were prudent while the E-9 or O-4+ were doing their rounds at my compound. Cleaning my weapon made me look productive so some other swinging dick got pulled for a "hey you... private, get over here" detail.
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6 million (that was back when Red Dawn came out) screamin Chinamen can't be wrong!
Hi,
It's not only that you clean your weapon, but you must clean it properly. It's the primer compound in East Bloc surplus ammo that causes the rusting. It needs to be flushed out with a water based cleaner for best results. then you can follow up with what ever your favorite bore cleaner.
Black powder solvents will work, as will Windex and plain hot soapy water. Most modern commercial bore cleaners will NOT remover the corrosive primer deposits.
dalee
Bruceter
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A (single)friend of mine would run his stainless steel Ruger old army black powder revolvers through the dishwasher to clean them. He said it worked fine.
Brucetr
The corrosive primer salts will only disolve in water, or water based cleaners. Hoppes #9 doesn't dissolve these salts.
I just warm up the tea kettle, and then pour boiling water down the barrel (with a funnel, if needed). Run a couple of patches through to dry the barrel, and then clean as normal. This was a standard military procedure for the No. 4 Enfield I use.
For an AK, this corrosive fouling will also be in your action, though, so pour another kettle of boiling water over that. Wipe dry, then clean as normal.
I suppose Windex works. I can't recall what results I ever got with it. Boiling water is proven and available.
I just warm up the tea kettle, and then pour boiling water down the barrel (with a funnel, if needed). Run a couple of patches through to dry the barrel, and then clean as normal. This was a standard military procedure for the No. 4 Enfield I use.
For an AK, this corrosive fouling will also be in your action, though, so pour another kettle of boiling water over that. Wipe dry, then clean as normal.
I suppose Windex works. I can't recall what results I ever got with it. Boiling water is proven and available.
Old CW4
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I say shoot it, I do. Corrosive ammo is the reason the Soviets and Chinese learned to chrome plate their bores years before we did. The US stopped manufacture of corrosive ammo in the early 50s when mercury fulminate primers (corrosive) were replaced by lead staphnate primers (non corrosive) which we still use today.
However, we had vast stores of the corrosive ammo in all calibers, so did the Sovs and Chinese and they kept making it for years after we stopped. A surprising amount of it is still around today. I will shoot it because it's cheap, however, as another poster said, you must use water or a specialized cleaner to neutralize the residue. Windex, BTW, is water, ammonia, and alcohol. It should work but I'm not crazy about the ammonia on steel. Common bore cleaners will not stop the corrosion and you can wind up with a pitted bore over time unless you clean with water or something containing water.
I usually heat a small bowl of water to boiling then add a bit of dishwashing detergent so it both neutralizes the corrosive components and dissolves some of the carbon fouling at the same time. I wet the bore with the water/soap solution, then scrub a bit with a bronze bore brush, then dry with flannel patches, and finally lightly oil.
Never a problem in 60 or more years. Hell, I have an Honorable Discharge from the Army dated 28Feb52 as an Infantry PFC (was too much of a young wise ass to make any rank in those days} and I shot before I went in in 1950. BTW, did better the second time around from 57 to almost 82. Anyway, have shot tons of corrosive ammo over a lot of years and still do.
However, we had vast stores of the corrosive ammo in all calibers, so did the Sovs and Chinese and they kept making it for years after we stopped. A surprising amount of it is still around today. I will shoot it because it's cheap, however, as another poster said, you must use water or a specialized cleaner to neutralize the residue. Windex, BTW, is water, ammonia, and alcohol. It should work but I'm not crazy about the ammonia on steel. Common bore cleaners will not stop the corrosion and you can wind up with a pitted bore over time unless you clean with water or something containing water.
I usually heat a small bowl of water to boiling then add a bit of dishwashing detergent so it both neutralizes the corrosive components and dissolves some of the carbon fouling at the same time. I wet the bore with the water/soap solution, then scrub a bit with a bronze bore brush, then dry with flannel patches, and finally lightly oil.
Never a problem in 60 or more years. Hell, I have an Honorable Discharge from the Army dated 28Feb52 as an Infantry PFC (was too much of a young wise ass to make any rank in those days} and I shot before I went in in 1950. BTW, did better the second time around from 57 to almost 82. Anyway, have shot tons of corrosive ammo over a lot of years and still do.
1066vik
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dawn dish soap in hot water works well for black powder.
there also used to be a product called "Sweet's 7.62" that was pretty good - but only worth the cost if you needed some in the field where you didn't have access to hot water & dish soap. (like when shooting several hours from home)
there also used to be a product called "Sweet's 7.62" that was pretty good - but only worth the cost if you needed some in the field where you didn't have access to hot water & dish soap. (like when shooting several hours from home)
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If you can find some good ole WWII surplus GI bore cleaner, it works just fine.
I don't know the current situation, but it was quite common at gun shows a few years ago. Otherwise, water-based solutions, followed by a prompt oiling, are the way to go.
Oh, I almost forgot, use rubber gloves with the GI bore cleaner, or at least wash your hands thoroughly before going to the latrine. Don't ask me how I know.
I don't know the current situation, but it was quite common at gun shows a few years ago. Otherwise, water-based solutions, followed by a prompt oiling, are the way to go.
Oh, I almost forgot, use rubber gloves with the GI bore cleaner, or at least wash your hands thoroughly before going to the latrine. Don't ask me how I know.