- Mar 3, 2013
- 829
So what steps do you take to clean your weapon after shooting corrosive ammo.. and what product brands do you use...Looking for some new ideas
Corrosive Ammo
- Thread starter Laddertowr
- Start date
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Machodoc
Old Guy
Let the games begin!
We go down this road every few months, so I'm going to start by saying that "Windex with Ammonia-D" doesn't contain any ammonia, and if you try to piss down the barrel of a Mosin, chances are that you're gonna miss!
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=143111&highlight=Windex
Get a bottle of ammonia from the grocery store and make up a dilute solution to take to the range with you, mix up some Ballistol according to their website's instructions, or do a Google search for a recipe for "Ed's Red".
I just use a dilute ammonia wipe-through at the range, then clean the firearm as soon as I get home, starting with a flush using boiling water (you can get sets of flexible funnels at Walmart that work well for flushing rifle barrels).
All of the above, and other methods, seem to work. I've never seen anything near being a scientific report on which one works best. The closest that I've seen to that is that the military cleaner that the USA used to use back when all of our own ammo had corrosive primers used ammonia as perhaps the most relevant ingredient. If you ever come across a can of WWII military bore scrubber, you'll be able to tell that as soon as you open it. But you're removing a corrosive salt, so flushing the bore with plain water, followed by normal cleaning and oiling, is probably going to get results that are virtually the same as any method that's more exotic. Using boiling (or very hot) water just makes the water evaporate a little faster.
We go down this road every few months, so I'm going to start by saying that "Windex with Ammonia-D" doesn't contain any ammonia, and if you try to piss down the barrel of a Mosin, chances are that you're gonna miss!
http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=143111&highlight=Windex
Get a bottle of ammonia from the grocery store and make up a dilute solution to take to the range with you, mix up some Ballistol according to their website's instructions, or do a Google search for a recipe for "Ed's Red".
I just use a dilute ammonia wipe-through at the range, then clean the firearm as soon as I get home, starting with a flush using boiling water (you can get sets of flexible funnels at Walmart that work well for flushing rifle barrels).
All of the above, and other methods, seem to work. I've never seen anything near being a scientific report on which one works best. The closest that I've seen to that is that the military cleaner that the USA used to use back when all of our own ammo had corrosive primers used ammonia as perhaps the most relevant ingredient. If you ever come across a can of WWII military bore scrubber, you'll be able to tell that as soon as you open it. But you're removing a corrosive salt, so flushing the bore with plain water, followed by normal cleaning and oiling, is probably going to get results that are virtually the same as any method that's more exotic. Using boiling (or very hot) water just makes the water evaporate a little faster.
Machodoc
Old Guy
Topher - I'm not sure that soapy water is necessary. Although it would probably be too small an amount to matter, the soap could, in theory, leave some residue that would break down the oil that you use later. The ammonia neutralizes the corrosive salts. Try to get plain (not "sudsy") ammonia, if you can find it. Plain hot water after that is probably all you need (and would be much better, by itself, than nothing at all).
clandestine
AR-15 Savant
I guess I am used to black powder.
I do agree with you that if soap is used it must be rinsed completely.
Your point is valid.
Chris
Pretoria78
URX Fan
Water & Ballistol mix for me.
tsmith1499
Poor C&R Collector
Abulg1972
Ultimate Member
This is a nice article, but here's something I don't understand:
"If you are cheap [i.e., don't want to use Balistol and water] you can use Windex to flush Corrosive Salts from a Firearm. . . . Windex does NOT work better than Water Alone."
Then:
"If you are super cheap then just Water works ok[.]"
If Windex does not work better than water alone, they why not be "super cheap"?
I take a bottle of plain Windex to the range with me and spray down the bore and all over the bolt (after removal of course) at the range, and then I thoroughly clean the rifle when I get home (no later than that evening) with a powder solvent (my favorite cleaner is Gunzilla - if you haven't tried it, you should). I've never had any corrosion issues.
Abulg1972
Ultimate Member
By the way, this is a good article. http://www.empirearms.com/clean.htm
clandestine
AR-15 Savant
Windex works no better than water so its pointless for buying for this purpose. If you are not looking to buy stuff like ballistol then use water.
You seem to be the only person who doesn't get it considering how many thousands of people who have read my piece.
You seem to be the only person who doesn't get it considering how many thousands of people who have read my piece.
iH8DemLibz
When All Else Fails.
You could pee down the barrel, but then urine for one, stinky, clean up session. 
Abulg1972
Ultimate Member
Clandestine - No need to be snarky with me. I wasn't being snarky with you or criticizing your article. I get it, trust me. I was asking you a question, which I'll lay out a little better below. You say "if you're cheap, use Windex". You then say that Windex doesn't work better than water. You then say, "if you're really cheap" just use Water. Your article implies that your preference is as follows: (i) water/balistol if you're willing to spend a little money; (ii) Windex if you're cheap; and (iii) water if "you're really cheap". My question was this - if you believe that Windex works no better than water, then why not just suggest either the water/balistol mix or water and leave out any mention of Windex. I was just curious if you'd suggest leaving out Windex altogether.
Bullfrog
Ultimate Member
If you read the 'nice article', try paying attention to this part: "The Ballistol Mixture cleans the Corrosive Salts with the Water and leaves a nice protective finish of Ballistol Oil once the Water evaporates"
Suppose something comes up when you get home from the range and you don't get to break out the gunzilla immediately? Kids need lunch, diaper needs changed, dog messed on the kitchen floor... you lock up your guns and deal with the emergency... much later you realize you rinsed out your firearm with plain water and left it sitting overnight.
Ballistol is cheap, it works, and has other uses as well.
iH8DemLibz
When All Else Fails.
Good, God.
Everyone acts like corrosive ammunition is made with real black powder or something.
Enjoy the gun, shoot the gun, and clean the gun when you can.
Corrosive ammo ain't gunna hurt jack.
It's not hygroscopic.
Geeze!
Everyone acts like corrosive ammunition is made with real black powder or something.
Enjoy the gun, shoot the gun, and clean the gun when you can.
Corrosive ammo ain't gunna hurt jack.
It's not hygroscopic.
Geeze!
Abulg1972
Ultimate Member
Please, don't spin my words. I wasn't suggesting or arguing that the Ballistol/water mixture idea isn't the best option or that Ballistol isn't otherwise useful. I was simply pointing out/asking that it seems most people think that Windex is no better than water, so wouldn't it make sense to just take Windex out of the equation.
They key is removing the salts. However you can do that is fine.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Combloc
Stop Negassing me!!!!!
Correct. Don't overthink it. I've been shooting corrosive ammo in firearms worth $5K plus for years with no ill effects and I just use plain ol' Hoppes #9. Back in the 80's when I bought my first AK, I had no idea that the surplus Chinese ammo was corrosive. I shot thousands upon thousands of rounds of the stuff through that rifle and used what I still use today...Hoppes #9. 26 years later and no crazy cleaning techniques ever employed and here is what the rifles guts and bore look like today:
The bore is chromed but nothing else is. Don't overthink it guys....it's NOT rocket science!!
The bore is chromed but nothing else is. Don't overthink it guys....it's NOT rocket science!!
Mooseman
R.I.P.- Hooligan #4
Just piss down the barrel.
Bullfrog
Ultimate Member
Gotcha. In reading your post:
it seemed as if you were implying there was no point in using anything but water. (ie, why not be super cheap all the time?)
I like using the mix just in case because I know stuff happens when you don't expect it.
240 towles
master of puppets
I use boiling water, then hoppes #9, then regular cleaning, with a layer of remoil on at the end. I then check occasionally for any surface rust on things like muzzlebreaks [the psl is bad for that].
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