7.62x54 Corrosive Vs. Non-corossive Ammo

[Sarge242]

I see that there is a pretty good difference in price between corrosive and non-corrosive ammo in the 7.62x54 round. Is it safe for me to shoot the corossive ammo with my M44? My main concern is that I don't want to ruin my barrel. I always clean my guns when I get home from the range and want to know if it is OK to shoot corossive ammo or is it going to destroy my barrel? Are there any cleaning solutions to use that work better than others after shooting corrosive ammo.

[BubbaDX]

Here is a link to a guide for cleaning your Mosin Nagant after shooting.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6932

[desdem12]

Ammo was made for these fine weapons. Just make sure and clean after shooting and everything will be fine.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Nothing wrong with the surplus ammo, just pour a quart of boiling water down the bore before regular cleaning with solvent and you are good to go.

[tjtM38]

The Mosin Nagant is the first series of guns that I have owned and routinely shot the surplus corrosive-primed ammo. After my experience with shooting and maintaining these weapons, I have absolutely no reservations about shooting surplus ammo. I have two M44's and routinely shoot corrosive-primed surplus ammo in them. Both still have good bores and no corrosion. If you clean properly, the ammo won't be an issue.

[accessbob]

The thing most people get hung up about is thinking they have to clean immediately after shooting. Nothing wrong with doing so but you can wait until you're hone quite fine. And it isn't so corrosive that a day or two would make that much difference. Just don't leave them uncleaned for extended periods of time.

I always clean mine after coming home and don't let it go more than several hours but am not paranoid about it. The word "corrosive" has made more people obsessive at times.

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[BostonMike]

I just make sure I clean them the day I go shooting, and don't stress out about getting to it ASAP. I've gone as long as 24 hours before cleaning one and the bore is still a mirror shine.

Corrosive is all I shoot


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[Repawn]

I used to shoot corrosive - I don't any longer. I like my reloads more and the brass never sticks in the bore. When I shot corrosive I always ran a bore snake through the gun when I was done - then would clean when I got home.

[tjtM38]

The word "corrosive" has made more people obsessive at times.

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I agree. That is why I always refer to the surplus ammo as corrosive-primed. It is only the priming that has potentially corrosive effect; not the propellant. If you don't shoot in a humid environment, you can be safe in waiting until you get home to do your complete cleaning. However, if you let the gun sit for a while in a humid environment, you are asking for a rust bucket bore. I usually do some cleaning on the range and follow up with rust prevention at home.

[accessbob]

The word "corrosive" has made more people obsessive at times.

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I agree. That is why I always refer to the surplus ammo as corrosive-primed. It is only the priming that has potentially corrosive effect; not the propellant. If you don't shoot in a humid environment, you can be safe in waiting until you get home to do your complete cleaning. However, if you let the gun sit for a while in a humid environment, you are asking for a rust bucket bore. I usually do some cleaning on the range and follow up with rust prevention at home.

Funny how many, many of these survived combat without becoming rust bucket bores and were not likely cleaned every day, even in a humid environment. Or I guess the combatants just told the enemy to stop firing while they cleaned their rifle so it wouldn't corrode. That's why I think people are way too obsessive.

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[tjtM38]

Unlike the combat soldier in WWII, I don't drag my gun through the snow and rain, bury it in a foxhole in the mud, or otherwise feel the need to avoid cleaning it properly after use. It wasn't issued to me by the Soviet state and nobody is shooting at me. I have the means and desire to preserve the weapons as pieces of history. Therefore, I will clean the rifles and make sure there is no hint of corrosion. You can do what you want with yours.

[accessbob]

Unlike the combat soldier in WWII, I don't drag my gun through the snow and rain, bury it in a foxhole in the mud, or otherwise feel the need to avoid cleaning it properly after use. It wasn't issued to me by the Soviet state and nobody is shooting at me. I have the means and desire to preserve the weapons as pieces of history. Therefore, I will clean the rifles and make sure there is no hint of corrosion. You can do what you want with yours.

I didn't say not to clean them. Just don't obsess as it's not going to hurt to wait to get home. It doesn't occur that fast.

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[Junk Yard Dog]

The word "corrosive" has made more people obsessive at times.

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I agree. That is why I always refer to the surplus ammo as corrosive-primed. It is only the priming that has potentially corrosive effect; not the propellant. If you don't shoot in a humid environment, you can be safe in waiting until you get home to do your complete cleaning. However, if you let the gun sit for a while in a humid environment, you are asking for a rust bucket bore. I usually do some cleaning on the range and follow up with rust prevention at home.

Funny how many, many of these survived combat without becoming rust bucket bores and were not likely cleaned every day, even in a humid environment. Or I guess the combatants just told the enemy to stop firing while they cleaned their rifle so it wouldn't corrode. That's why I think people are way too obsessive.

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Tens of thousands of rifles were scrapped during and after the war due to corrosion and other damage, they did not survive combat without becoming rust bucket bores. The milsurps we see are the ones that survived, and many of the Mosins show the effects of rust in their bores, it's called a dark bore and is a common enough sight in varying degrees of darkness in many rifles of all the wars combatant nations. It was not always possible to clean a weapon while in hourly contact with the enemy, and dark bores are the result of that. You however are not being shelled or shot at, you life is unlikely to end in the next 20 minutes, you have time to clean your piece of history properly.

[accessbob]

You however are not being shelled or shot at, you life is unlikely to end in the next 20 minutes, you have time to clean your piece of history properly.

And I do, but again, corrosion does not start immediately upon firing and can wait until you get home. The corrosive properties are not "highly corrosive" but if you want to make people paranoid then go ahead. But I will not repeat the same unless you can prove that a salt created by the primer ignition eats metal at an alarming rate. Even in humid environments salts do not cause damage right away. It isn't like this is an acid placed on it. It is a salt and one thing it needs is TIME.




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[accessbob]

And I will get out of your hair now. I know I won't be popular so I will stay away from this forum now. Bye.

[tjtM38]

And I will get out of your hair now. I know I won't be popular so I will stay away from this forum now. Bye.

No reason to go away pissed off about this. We are having a discussion that has been one of the more controversial subjects on this forum. Everyone has their ways and methods of cleaning these weapons and there are a thousand techniques about how to do it. I have disagreed with several on this forum who are set in their methods and don't believe any others work. It didn't drive me away from the forum or the spirited conversation; quite the contrary. There are too many good reasons to stay here and learn from others while maintaining your own opinions. The spirit of preservation is here; it is not personal.

[Flyin Brian]

In my opinion- one of the saddest things i see as a collector is people telling others not to shoot surplus ammo. I have seen plenty of new Mosin owners stress over this issue and refuse to shoot surplus because "some guy at big 5 told me it would ruin my rifle".

If it wasn't for surplus ammo being so cheap, i would have never gotten interested in shooting because it would have been too expensive... of course I rarely shoot surplus anymore because I reload but i do keep quite a bit on hand for when i take a n00b to the range for a fun day of shooting.

Im not saying anyone in this thread said not to shoot surplus, I'm just stating my opinion, and yes I have waited up to 2 days to clean the bore but i usually clean within a few hours.

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[accessbob]

I just figured my "heresy" would get me banned.

[tjtM38]

I just figured my "heresy" would get me banned.

I'm not an adminstrator, but as I see it, you haven't broken any rules. You have only expressed an opinion. Don't ban yourself from the forum for no good reason.

[optikalillushun]

Some people get so obsessed with corrosive primed ammo they make it seem u have to clean ur rifle after every shot or the gun will be ruined forever and totally junk. I only shot my MN twice, with corrosive primed ammo and i waited a few hours after i got home to clean it. Guess i ruined it, well turns out it was fine.

I dont make it a practice to clean my rifle everytime i use them, if i know im going shooting again soon. Only one i do is my MN because of the ammo but i dont freak out and spend 2 hours scrubbing it while im on the bush.