Corrosive Ammo

remman · 11-03-2009, 10:44 AM

What is a good rule of thumb for determining whether or not any given ammunition is corrosive? Is there certain types of metal that are or certain types of ammo that are? I'm looking at possibly buying a Mosin Nagant and the cheapest ammo (I'm in college, so I have to look for the cheapest, no questions asked) is surplus from various countries. How can i know if it is corrosive or not?

M14man · 11-03-2009, 11:32 AM

Foreign military ammo from the 70's and earlier is almost always corrosive. After that it is guess work. Just clean with hot water, then dry and oil it up after each use. It is a good habit to always clean as above. I clean my guns after use even if the ammo is non corrosive.

Twitch2120 · 11-03-2009, 12:48 PM

if you want a definative yea or nay you can take a fired case, fill it with water then empty it. now let it sit out for a few days. play a game of find the rust. if its rusty, corosive. if not then it probably isnt.

now as for my rule of thumb. if its mil surp ammo. consider it corosive. boiling water down the bore then clean as per usual. do it as close to immediatly after shooting as possible. you can start rusting literally in a matter of hours in moist climates.

Big Dog · 11-03-2009, 02:33 PM

My basic rule is:
If it is from Eastern Europe or China - it is corrosive.
If it is military surplus and boxer primed, it is corrosive (except for Swiss GP11!)
If it dates from before the Vietnam War, it is corrosive.

Not always true, but it'll keep me out of trouble - CLEAN that gun!

twtalbot · 11-03-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

My basic rule is:
If it is from Eastern Europe or China - it is corrosive.
If it is military surplus and boxer primed, it is corrosive (except for Swiss GP11!)
If it dates from before the Vietnam War, it is corrosive.

Not always true, but it'll keep me out of trouble - CLEAN that gun!

Right, if it's old, military, or Eastern European/Asian and not originally meant for export to the west, assume it's corrosive.

gandog56 · 11-03-2009, 05:51 PM

My basic rule is if it is Berdan primed, treat it as corrosive. It isn't always right, but works good enough.

remman · 11-16-2009, 02:30 PM

I'm in Indiana, and it gets pretty humid during the summer...how would i store the corrosive stuff??? and how long could i store it before it started to corrode?

Twitch2120 · 11-16-2009, 03:22 PM

the bullets? they wont as long as you dont dunk them in water. the corrosive part is the priming salts that are released by the primer when its struck. the gun is the only part you need to worry about rusting and that is fixed by any number of methods. my only advice to you is this. dont shoot corrosive stuff unless you have time to clean it right after. or atleast get some windex or boiling water down the tube to neutralize/dissolve the salts. that should buy you a few more days before a full cleaning is in order. just consider the cleaning as part of the shooting.

remman · 11-16-2009, 03:26 PM

when you say clean the rifle, are you talking a full field strip and clean, or just a barrel cleaning, ie-solvents, etc. down the bore?

Twitch2120 · 11-16-2009, 03:42 PM

just cleaning the bore and whatever surfaces are exposed to the round or the salts. in the case of bolt actions just get the bore, chamber and bolt face. as long as you touch those you should be good to go.

11-03-2009, 10:44 AM	#1
remman Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 91	Corrosive Ammo What is a good rule of thumb for determining whether or not any given ammunition is corrosive? Is there certain types of metal that are or certain types of ammo that are? I'm looking at possibly buying a Mosin Nagant and the cheapest ammo (I'm in college, so I have to look for the cheapest, no questions asked) is surplus from various countries. How can i know if it is corrosive or not?

11-03-2009, 12:48 PM	#3
Twitch2120 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucker, GA Posts: 351	if you want a definative yea or nay you can take a fired case, fill it with water then empty it. now let it sit out for a few days. play a game of find the rust. if its rusty, corosive. if not then it probably isnt. now as for my rule of thumb. if its mil surp ammo. consider it corosive. boiling water down the bore then clean as per usual. do it as close to immediatly after shooting as possible. you can start rusting literally in a matter of hours in moist climates. __________________ The right to bear arms is WAY less ludicrous than the right to arm bears!

11-03-2009, 02:33 PM	#4
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,906	My basic rule is: If it is from Eastern Europe or China - it is corrosive. If it is military surplus and boxer primed, it is corrosive (except for Swiss GP11!) If it dates from before the Vietnam War, it is corrosive. Not always true, but it'll keep me out of trouble - CLEAN that gun! __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

11-03-2009, 05:51 PM	#6
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 11,784	My basic rule is if it is Berdan primed, treat it as corrosive. It isn't always right, but works good enough. __________________ People think I'm paranoid because I own guns. If I own guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?

11-16-2009, 03:22 PM	#8
Twitch2120 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucker, GA Posts: 351	the bullets? they wont as long as you dont dunk them in water. the corrosive part is the priming salts that are released by the primer when its struck. the gun is the only part you need to worry about rusting and that is fixed by any number of methods. my only advice to you is this. dont shoot corrosive stuff unless you have time to clean it right after. or atleast get some windex or boiling water down the tube to neutralize/dissolve the salts. that should buy you a few more days before a full cleaning is in order. just consider the cleaning as part of the shooting. __________________ The right to bear arms is WAY less ludicrous than the right to arm bears!

11-03-2009, 11:32 AM	#2
M14man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLA Posts: 1,162 Images: 10	Foreign military ammo from the 70's and earlier is almost always corrosive. After that it is guess work. Just clean with hot water, then dry and oil it up after each use. It is a good habit to always clean as above. I clean my guns after use even if the ammo is non corrosive.

11-16-2009, 02:30 PM	#7
remman Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 91	I'm in Indiana, and it gets pretty humid during the summer...how would i store the corrosive stuff??? and how long could i store it before it started to corrode?

11-16-2009, 03:26 PM	#9
remman Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 91	when you say clean the rifle, are you talking a full field strip and clean, or just a barrel cleaning, ie-solvents, etc. down the bore?

11-16-2009, 03:42 PM	#10
Twitch2120 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucker, GA Posts: 351	just cleaning the bore and whatever surfaces are exposed to the round or the salts. in the case of bolt actions just get the bore, chamber and bolt face. as long as you touch those you should be good to go. __________________ The right to bear arms is WAY less ludicrous than the right to arm bears!