Waterlogged Magazines

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Babarsac

Babarsac

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Got a bunch of rain last night and I left the bag with almost all my metal magazines on the basement floor. :banghead:

Now they are all completely soaked an I was wondering what the best way is to clean them and at the same time not use a type of cleanser that would interfere with their operation. I'm thinking of just wrapping them in towels and putting them over the heating vent.

Any ideas?
 
Why not just disassemble them and dry with a towel?

If you're *really* worried, disassemble, spray down with some WD-40, then wipe down.

It's just water, ya know. :)
 
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Most of these are Makarov and CZ-82 magazines but I guess it would be a good opportunity to learn how to take them apart. I was also under the impression that WD-40 could interfere with a primer trying to go off (according to my roommate).
 
WD-40 will displace the water. You don't have to leave the mags positively soaked with it risking penetrating into the primers.
Seriously wiping them down with a dry soft absorbent cloth will do fine.
 
Use compressed air FIRST, to get them *mostly* dry, then spray down with WD40 or CLP or some other light oil, to displace the remaining moisture. This is my procedure when cleaning up guns after shooting in the rain.

Since magazines are generally designed to run dry though, I'd recommend disassembling them and removing the excess oil before actually using them.
 
One of the few cases where Water Displacer - 40 could be used to a good end on a firearm part.

As others have said, just make sure you wipe clean or blow dry with canned air/a compressor.
 
Right. As others said, you don't leave the WD-40 on the mags. Use it after air (if you want to use air) to displace the remaining water, then wipe the WD-40 off. A little film of WD isn't going to ruin primers.
 
I'd chuck the ammo unless they're just for plinking. If they're all metal, I'd soak them all in gasoline and burn them ;^), er I mean to get the moisture out then clean and lube every one of them lightly. Remove any rust with Flitz then very light oil. You don't have to use gasoline, try a silicone spray if you have that.
 
you could drop them in some hot water or put them on a space heater or on top of the oven warm them up then blast it with compressed air to make sure everything evaporates off then spray them down with rem oil or clp or something. i have had stuff rained on pretty bad because i left it on a windowsill in the rain by accident and it cleaned up fine after i let it dry and oiled it a couple of discolored spots though.
 
You could also bake them in the oven. Not at 350 or whatever, but at a much lower temperature...just warm enough to dry them out. Blowing them out with air and then WD-40ing them and blowing them once more to distribute the WD-40 would also be fine.
 
Luckily none were loaded so no ammo lost.
Click to expand...

Wet ammo does not equal ruined ammo. Unless you've completely submerged them for a period of time (we're talking days, at least) you're really not in any danger of damage.

Finished cartridges are simply not perishable items. They are manufactured in such a way that any potential openings are extremely tightly sealed - by a primer on one end, and a projectile on the other. Unless they're so poorly made that the bullets are wiggling around in the case mouth and the primer is missing entirely, you're not gonna get water in there without a long, long soak.

Even if the mags were loaded, and the ammo was soaked - wipe it off, load it back up, and go on your way. If you're really, really worried, just use it as range ammo. That way, if there is one round that had a teensy bit of water invasion, you're only short one hole on paper.
 
compressed air contains moisture.
Click to expand...
Yes and no.

All air contains moisture, as said above. If you have a compressor, after using for a little bit, open up the drain cock and see how much water comes out. Now, if you let this water build up and never drain your compressor, then you may be blowing water through your hoses, but if you drain it like you are supposed to, or if it's a compressed air can, it's probably a bit drier than the ambient air.
 
Just dry em. At least you didn't screw up as bad as I did last night. Dropped my carry gun...with it's holster...in the toilet :banghead: at least I know crimson trace lasers really are waterproof.
 
the best answer is disassemble and wiping with a dry cloth, oven would be next best but keep the temp low
 
A light spraying of air followed by spray of something with petroleum base followed by disassembly and a good wipedown is my method of water displacement on all my firearms and such.

Double Tap Drew You can now call it "your little stinker":D.
 
Boiling water will kill any rust that is starting, then disassemble and use the WD-40.

Jim
 
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