" Corrosive Bullets "

[SoCal50Lover]

What makes a " Corrosive Bullet " Corrosive? And, How can you tell IF a bullet is corrosive?

[smokingloon]

Do you mean the primer?

[SoCal50Lover]

Honestly I have no idea what I mean. I have seen the term corrosive bullets used. I would like to know what makes a bullet corrosive.

[gunboat]

If you are calling a cartridge a "bullet", it is the priming compound that makes the cartridge corrosive -- Many moons ago they were also mercuric, which would destroy the brass, made it brittle -- Primers and commercial loaded ammo would be labeled "NMNC" for non-mercuric non-corrosive --

[SoCal50Lover]

Yes I meant cartridge. Thanks. Now I get it.

[ohsmily]

Yes I meant cartridge. Thanks. Now I get it.

Good.

Anyway, some old ammunition is made with corrosive primers. It causes corrosion quickly and easily so you have to clean the barrel and gas system if necessary with soapy water.

[JohnBrian]

Lots of Eastern Bloc surplus ammo is corrosive, such as 7.62x25 and 7.62x54R.

[Guns R Tools]

Some vendors say "Mildly Corrosive" on surplus stuff, still corrosive.

[M1A Rifleman]

Its not the bullets, its the primer in smokless powder ammunition. Black powder is also corrosive to steel.

As for the primers, there are (were) two corrosive types of primers that used to be used. One was potassium chloride (chlorite), and the other was fulminate of mercury (mecuric), which also attacked the brass case weakening it, and making it unsafe to reload. When fired, the priming compound oxidizes into a salt and coats the barrel and other parts. When not properly cleaned, the moisture in the air will cause rust.

PS: Hoppies and other bore cleaners do not remove these "salts" from corrosive priming. Curently, hot soapy water is the best solution to clean.

[gunboat]

Actually, only water is needed -- Hot soapy water was a GI range cleaning method that was used for years, may still be used -- The hot water dries quickly, the soap leaves a temporary protective film ---

[yellowfin]

I'm told there was/is also a preservative agent in the powder, particularly in Soviet ammo because they wanted it to last long when distributed far and wide. Any truth to that?

[proudamerican831]

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