Corrosive vs Non Corrosive

[Scorpiusdeus]

What is the difference between these two types of ammo? What affect will it have on my rifle if I shoot corrosive ammo in it?

[smle-man]

no effect at all as long as you clean the bore, chamber and bolt face with a water based cleaner. If you fail to do that in a couple of weeks you will have a pitted bore and bolt face. If it is a gas operated weapon you will need to completely clean the gas system also.

[duenor]

it is also best to clean all those surfaces 2-3 times psread over a day each. this was recommended back when corrosive was the norm and it is still best now. i know what i am talking about - i suppose if you do a REALLY good job the first time you dont need to do the other two times but i personally do.

[EOD3]

Corrosive ammo is not really corrosive, the "gunk" left in the rifle has an affinity for water which means it absorbs moisture from the air. After you finish firing the rifle, absorption begins immediately. Rust will begin to form very quickly. Some people, including myself, clean their rifle(s) at the range. I use windex as a cleaning solvent at the range and then clean them again with normal cleaning stuff when I get home.

IMHO, if you wait more than a day or so (unless you live in a desert) to clean your rifle, it'll make a fine doorstop. YMMV

[Max-the-Silent]

Corrosive ammo is not really corrosive, the "gunk" left in the rifle has an affinity for water which means it absorbs moisture from the air. After you finish firing the rifle, absorption begins immediately. Rust will begin to form very quickly. Some people, including myself, clean their rifle(s) at the range. I use windex as a cleaning solvent at the range and then clean them again with normal cleaning stuff when I get home.

IMHO, if you wait more than a day or so (unless you live in a desert) to clean your rifle, it'll make a fine doorstop. YMMV

BINGO! the key to avoiding problems w/ corrosive ammo is to spray down the piece immediately after use. Windex is good, and the spray-on Black Powder cleaners are gtg as well. Get the piece home. clean like your life depends on it ...if you think about it, it does...and then give 'em a once over the next day. As another poster stated, you have to clean the gas system as well.

[Firearms4life]

I think the money saved from buying corrosive ammo is well worth the time used to clean your rifle.

[Mark One]

no effect at all as long as you clean the bore, chamber and bolt face with a water based cleaner. If you fail to do that in a couple of weeks you will have a pitted bore and bolt face. If it is a gas operated weapon you will need to completely clean the gas system also.

I have seen rifles pitted with rust within hours of using Corrosive ammo and not cleaning properly.

For my Milsurp rifles I follow these steps:

After cleaning I take my cleaning rod and a patch dipped in Windex and run it through the bore.
I then follow that with a couple dry patches
Then one last patch with gun oil for the ride home. (I also wipe some windex in the receiver and bolt face and then wipe it off with a oil soaked rag or patch)
Once home I completely disassemble the rifle and boil some water.
Once the water is boiled I pour it down the bore and all around the reciever, I also pour some over the bolt and anywhere the "gunk" would come in contact with metal.
I then clean as normal and reassemble
Check in the next day to make sure no rust has formed.

[smle-man]

Don't forget the chamber! I've seen rifles with mirror bores but pitted chambers from not paying attention to this part when cleaning corrosive residue.

[Beelzy]

Make sure whatever method one uses, to pay extra attention to the bolt
face, chamber, and barrel crown. The corrosion seems to attack those areas
the worst.

[EBR Works]

For my Milsurp rifles I follow these steps:

After shooting I take my cleaning rod and a patch dipped in Windex and run it through the bore.
I then follow that with a couple dry patches
Then one last patch with gun oil for the ride home. (I also wipe some windex in the receiver and bolt face and then wipe it off with a oil soaked rag or patch)
Once home I completely disassemble the rifle and boil some water.
Once the water is boiled I pour it down the bore and all around the reciever, I also pour some over the bolt and anywhere the "gunk" would come in contact with metal.
I then clean as normal and reassemble
Check in the next day to make sure no rust has formed.

Exactly what I do. Never any issues with corrosion.

[big al]

been shooting xm193 american eagle and s&b, are this corrosive or not? it does'nt say anything on the box.

[Wyatt]

no they are not. Commercial ammo is not "corrosive"

"corrosive" ammo is corrosive because of the primers that were used. They left/leave a salt deposit wherever the spent gasses contact.

Like stated previously a water based solution, or water itself is used to wash away the salts. Boiling water was used in the field. I personally use windex as it is easy to transport.

Let barrel cool down a bit.
Spray solution into chamber and bore
patch out
repeat and oil

not that big a deal really BUT I would never use corrosive ammo in a gas operated gun...too much trouble.

[big al]

thanks.