I have purchased from Korean milsurp ammo that is classed as mildly corrosive. I know how we used to clean our rifles in basic, but does anyone have any suggestions to surplant stripping them and washing them in hot, soapy water. Kudude

When I have used corrosive ammo in one of my rifles, I treat it as if I had been using blackpowder. For me, that means hot water, and Ballistol, then pouring boiling water down the bbl. to achieve the final rinse. The heat causes the bbl. to dry quickly and I follow up with a couple of dry patches, then straight Ballistol before putting her away. I've been using this procedure for over 30 yrs. and have bbls. that show no ill effects. For me, making the decision to knowingly fire corrosive ammo. means I accept the little bit of extra effort to properly clean the bbl.
Your results may vary.
Cheers,
Don

After shooting corrosive ammo I clean with Windex, 6 or 8 wet patches, and then patch dry. Then I go ahead and clean again in a "conventional" manner.

How about plain old "bore cleaner" (#9 ) and a brush like we did in the Army?

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
How about plain old "bore cleaner" (#9 ) and a brush like we did in the Army?

From what I understand, petroleum based cleaners won't dissolve corrosive primer salt. I guess "plain old bore cleaner" would wash the salts out? It probably comes down to six of one and a half dozen of the other.

From experience, I would trust only hot soapy water, but have never tried Windex.

Also, if you reload that brass, after sizing you need to remove the ram from your press, the decapping pin from your die and wash those and the shell holder in soapy water.

In a humid environment like FL the bore needs cleaning soon after shooting. Running an oily patch through the bore will NOT inhibit rust until the next day.

Several of my friends wet a couple patches w/ ammonia; swab, and and then follow up w/ a patch of break free.

Ron

Use water. I can not understand why the idea bothers folks. I made a gizmo out of a piece of copper tubing and an old washing machine supply line. I hook it to the wash sink in the garage. The copper tube jams in the chamber and makes a tight seal. I turn on the hot water and flush the bore for however long it takes me to stow my shooting gear. This thoroughly flushed the bore and dissolves all salty stuff. The barrel gets warmed up and dries quickly after I run a patch. Clean as normal with solvents after and oil. Easy.

PS, "mildly corrosive" is like mildly pregnant. Don't be fooled it is as corrosive any ever was.

I assume the corrosive stuff from military ammo--either theirs or ours is a Chlorate. Ammonia will tie this stuff up quicker than you can kiss a duck. (Ammonium chloride)I swab down the bore with plain old sudsy amonia household cleaner, let er sit a bit then dry and oil every thing. I shoot the daylights out of an old "Moseen Nagon" with the cheep surplus stuff that comes in 440 round cans. This stuff sometimes leaks around primers and will do a number on the bolt face also. I have had it rust things up overnight so I am quick apply the sudsy now and do the rest later when I have time. I also have a plastic flush tube set up in the laundry sink. You would be surprised to see the junk that flushes out of a bore after you give it the sudsy treatment. Don't know how rifles could last any time in battle conditions shootin that stuff after seing what it can do just overnight.

What your trying to do is FLUSH away the salts, they alone do not harm the barrel but they suck up moisture from the air, that's what does it.
I've been using old surplus ammo in old surplus rifles quite a while now, I tried all the various methods. Some are a waste of time.
If you run enough patches of good old #9 through, you've washed out all the salts.
Remember Hoppes really hasn't changed in the 100 something years it's been around and back then it was all corrosive.
With that said...... I still use the hot water first method. Why? It's cheaper then solvents, gets the bore nice and hot so it helps the solvents cut through the fouling faster. A cup or two is all you really need. First step when I get home (I usually have 4 different rifles with that I run old corrosive ammo through) is put a pot of water on the stove to boil. I have a small plastic funnel I heated and recurved so it fits in the breach nice and snug. I then pour about two cups down each one and set them on the table. When done with the boiling water I start with the first rifle, run a couple dry patches, some times they are already dry but I still do it. Then I clean as usual with #9 (or solvent of choice) then oil.
The procedure I've been doing for over 2 years without a problem.