Cleaning Up Corrosive

[Terry G]

Many experienced shooter's throw up their hands in horror when they find out that I shoot corrosive ammunition through a lot of my guns. I'm not about to pass up 8MM ammuntion at 6 cents a round just because of a couple of extra steps. Same with .303 and 9MM Makarov. 7.62 X 39 is more of a pain in the AK's and SKS's, but for an afternoon's shooting, I don't mind. People seem to forget that ALL ammunition used in WWI, WWII, and most of it used in Korea was corrosive ammunition. Weapons didn't instantly rust solid or acquire sewer pipe bores from the use of it. I'm sure plenty of rifles went for extended periods without being cleaned with no ill effects. Out of all my reading about WWI and WWII, I don't remember corrosion damage from the ammunition being mentioned as a problem. I DO clean up the same day I shoot, but for an experiment I shot my 6.5MM Italian carbine with WWII very corrosive ammunition and let it set for four day's. A very light coat of rust that was gone with one patch of GI bore cleaner was all that was there. I have my own secret mix that I use to clean up with. It's two ounces of sudsing ammonia, one capful liquid detergent, and a quart of hot water. A flexible plastic tube is placed in the chamber with a funnel attached to the other end. The cleaning solution is poured slowly through the bore and the corrosive salts are gone. Swab the bore dry and then clean as normal. The GI bore cleaner is even easier. I picked up a dozen of those 8 oz. cans for $4.00 at a military and gun show. With this stuff you just soak a swab in it and wash out the barrel. Run a bore brush through it a couple of times, swab again with a wet patch, then a dry patch and your done. If your not going to fire the rifle or pistol for a while you can leave the bore wet. The GI stuff will protect the bore. I generaly do a regular clean up even when using the GI stuff, but I doubt it's really necessary. Of course, weapons with gas tubes need to be disassembled and those parts subjected to the corrosive "gas" need to be cleaned also. But what the heck, that should be done even using non-corrosive ammunition.

[Magnum88C]

Yeah, corrosive ammo is MUCH less corrosive than blackpowder. Honestly, just clean arms fired with corrosively primed ammo just like blackpowder (which you do) and you're fine. The ammonia isn't necessary for dissolving the primer salts, but it does help remove copper fouling very well.

I like to use Hoppe's #9 Plus, which is formulated to dissolve the salts left behind like blackpowder, and works great for corrosive mil-surp ammo. In fact, I keep my Mosin oilers filled on one side (the side with the H, for Hoppe's) with #9 Plus, and the otehr with Breakfree.

I think the people who have a heart attack over shooting corrosive ammo are those that:
1.) Think the thing will rust to nothing before their eyes,
2.) are the same guys that won't clean their gun for weeks/months after shooting it.

[RIKA]

Windex with 5% ammonia followed by Shooters Choice does the job for me. I've been shooting corrosive ammo without a problem for a couple of years. Love that cheap ammo. :)

RIKA

[BoltTurner]

Here's how I do it.

Take regular household ammonia, dilute it 2/1 and put it in a bottle (spray bottles are nice).

After you are done firing and while still at the range moisten a patch and run it down the bore and back a couple of times. This will neutralize and dissolve the corrosive salts from the primers and start in on the copper and powder fouling with a vengeance.

Let stand for a minute or so and then run a new, dry patch down the bore and you are pretty much done.

Then just clean as normal.

[g22toter]

I've never heard of using windex or household ammonia diluted down. I've always cleaned my turk mauser like I clean my BP rifles and pistol. Boiling hot water a good brush and soap for my BPs. I found that a piece of 3/8 copper tubing about 12" long with a short piece of 3/8" rubber hose and a very small necked funnel slips right into the mauser chamber. Just add hot water and start cleaning with something for lead foul.

[Magnum88C]

The thing with ammonia is that it not only gets the salts, but it really helps strip the copper fouling as well.

[g22toter]

How long should I let the ammonia do it's thing before starting to scrub? I ask this because I have some pistols that have copper residue on the rifling lands that I cant get out?

[Magnum88C]

I'd leave it for a minute or two, then scrub. If there's a lot of buildup, it'll take several applications. Just when you're done, lube the metal, otherwise you'll be able to watch it rust.

[g22toter]

Well since I shoot corrosive in my mauser what do you guys think about running some bore butter through it afterwards instead of an oil patch. I do this on my BP rifles and pistols and they seem easier to clean and don't foul as quickly?

[Terry G]

I use bore butter on my black powder guns, too, but I don't see the need in cartridge guns. After all, only the primer compound is corrosive, not the powder. Do the soapy water/ammonia thing and clean with a good solvent and oil properly and your rifle will be fine. I have some C&R's that are fifty plus years old and never been fired with anything BUT corrosive ammunition. Clean it right, and no worries.

[Magnum88C]

Never used bore butter myself, so i can't say. But my guns (including the BP guns) are no worse for wear because of it.