Corrosive ammo ?

[WCW]

So what's the story with corrosive ammo ? My local gun dealer said I should clean my Nagant ASAP after shooting it. If these rifles were made to shoot corrosive ammo what did they do back in the day while out in the field ?

I'm just looking for a little insight as far as how much time I have before I really need to clean it. My dealer suggested spraying it down with breakfree at the range right after firing it until I got home.

[Ronco]

I've been told to pour hot water through the barrel (at the range) and/or windex. No lie. The guy that told me this said the ammonia in the windex will break down the salts in the corrosive ammo. He said petroleum based products don't dissolve the salts. Then he said to clean it as soon as you get home.

Can anyone confirm if this is good advice?

[WCW]

No kidding. Hot water might be a little tough to come buy on the range.

[WCW]

I would of thought that water would speed up oxidation. I was amazed at how dirty it was after only 20 rounds.

[What Just Happened?]

Well, what you want is something to remove the corrosive salts from the barrel. I've heard that Windex doesn't really have any ammonia in it, and that it's just the soap and water that does a good job.

Anyway, yeah, just rinse out the corrosive salts with something.

[Beelzy]

The hot water recipe is for Black powder IIRC. That's where the salt stuff
comes into play.

Just make sure to clean and oil (at the range is best) the barrel bore,
breach/bolt face and chamber area. Then really clean the weapon as soon
as possible. Just don't pull the shoot it one day and clean next year routine.

Corrosive ammo is so-called due to the primer mix,(Berdan primed stuff mostly)being the corrosive component.

[WCW]

Thanks guys.

[Sampachi]

The salts are a preservative in the powder and the primer. Hot water is the standard way to go: http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu13.htm

As to how long you can go... well, really depends on the ammunition. I remember reading a post by a gent back in the humid South East that noticed bright orange rust within 3 or 4 hours of returning to the range! Can't recall if he was using Chinese or Czech 7.62x54R but it was older ComBloc ammo.

[sloguy]

long time ago they would urinate down the barrels to neutralize the corrosive salts.

for your purposes, hot water,or windex should be fine. obviously oil after washing with water or windex.

[WCW]

Sampachi,

Thanks for the link. I'm kind of wondering if I should re-clean tomorrow using water ?

[Sampachi]

Sampachi,

Thanks for the link. I'm kind of wondering if I should re-clean tomorrow using water ?

Just a light cleaning should do it.

[WCW]

I cleaned it well today but I didn't use any water.

[Seesm]

Do the hot water clean as it seems that is a good way to go then a std cleaning... How much cheaper is corrosive ammo as it sounds like a PITA...

[gunboat]

The salts are from the priming compound -- Plain water is the best neutralizer -- Old GI method was a a bucket of soapy hot water, place muzzle in bucket and use your patched cleaning rod as a pump to get water all the way up the barrel. rinse with hot water - it evaporates faster - dry and oil the bore -- Should be done within a few hours of use but not immediately -- save a lot of effort and use non-corrosive primers --

[AJD]

M-Pro 7 will also work as well. But if you don't have that hot soapy water is always good as well.