7.62 x 54r Ammo, Corrosive

[bikertrash2001]

Hey guys, I got some good ol' surplus ammo for my Mosin and the LGS said it wasn't corrosive but I've read that it all pretty much is. It's copper washed with a steel core bullet and has the headstamp 52 on top and 80 on bottom. It's also berdan primed with red lacquer sealer on the mouth and primer.

 

So would you reckon it is corrosive?

[Garufa]

It is corrosive. 

[austin7.62]

Yeah, it's corrosive like Garufa said. No big deal though!

[Mike.357]

corrosive for sure.

[bikertrash2001]

I was hedging my bet towards yes and spent some quality time with the Hoppes right after shooting it to make sure. Thanks guys.

[austin7.62]

You really don't have to spend much extra time cleaning it. Just a couple shots of windex or some hot soapy water down the pipe and you're gtg!

[DWARREN123]

Probably corrosive and I would treat it as such. Not a big deal. Non-corrosive will cost quite a bit more.

[tartanphantom]

If it came out of a vintage spam can, I can guarantee that it has corrosive primers.

Like everyone else says, no problem-- just clean it ASAP after shooting. I use boiling water down the barrel followed by Hoppe's #9. I swab the breech and bolt with Hoppe's as well.

At least with your Mosin, you don't have to worry about cleaning a gas piston/cylinder. The Mosin is pretty easy to clean.

[bikertrash2001]

I've cleaned it both times now after I shot it. If they weren't corrosive, I might get lazy with the cleaning. Like my poor 22's.

 

Hopefully it doesn't make too weird that I like cleaning my guns.

[tartanphantom]

For me, it's a therapeutic post-range ritual. There's nothing quite like a day at the range, followed by a laid back evening cleaning guns while watching a ballgame. I quite enjoy it-- especially in the fall when football is on.

 

Funny thing is, I despise doing dishes or laundry (I do them anyway), but I've never viewed firearms cleaning as a "chore".

Go figure.

Edited May 2, 2013 by tartanphantom

[Guest TN.Frank]

Windex with Ammonia D will cut through the corrosive salts and clean them out of your barrel and be sure to wipe the bolt face down with a patch with some of it on it too.
The corrosive part of the ammo is the primer, you can pull a bullet and dump the powder then fire the empty ctg. at a iron plate and let it sit out for a few days. If it rusts up where the primer gases hit then it's for sure corrosive but like I said, it's not a big deal if you just clean with some Windex after shooting OR you can use Ballistol, it's made to cut corrosive salts as well.

[peejman]

Windex with Ammonia D will cut through the corrosive salts and clean them out of your barrel and be sure to wipe the bolt face down with a patch with some of it on it too.
The corrosive part of the ammo is the primer, you can pull a bullet and dump the powder then fire the empty ctg. at a iron plate and let it sit out for a few days. If it rusts up where the primer gases hit then it's for sure corrosive but like I said, it's not a big deal if you just clean with some Windex after shooting OR you can use Ballistol, it's made to cut corrosive salts as well.

 

 

Yep.  Get a little squirt bottle of Windex and keep it in your range bag.