.303 ammo--Is this corrosive?

[Invisible Swordsman]

I was given a box of surplus .303 ammo to try out, but I want to know if it's corrosive before shooting it. I was hoping maybe someone here had some experience with it.

It's packed in a grey cardboard box, 32 cartidges. The box is sealed with 1" brown paper tape marked as follows:

32
CARTRIDGES
.303 INCH
Mk7

C.I.A. (P)
________
P.O.F.

The manufacture date is May 1967. Thanks for any info you may have.

 

[DougW]

POF is corrosive, but that is not a real problem. Make up a bottle of ammonia/water 50/50, and rinse the barrel out (use a funnel) right after shooting, then clean properly as you would normally. Be aware of hang fires (click-----bangs) with the POF. Not the best choice, but shootable. Shoot it and enjoy the Enfield.

 

[84B20]

I've been told one can pour boiling water down the barrel and that would clean it also. Of course, follow it by a proper cleaning and lube with something like Break Free CLP.

 

[DMK]

I've been told one can pour boiling water down the barrel and that would clean it also.

Sort of overkill. Soapy hot tap water will work fine as will Windex in a warm barrel.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Any cleaner containing water will get rid of the corrosive primer residue, which is a salt. Although it's repeated ad nauseum on the web, ammonia does nothing to remove or "neutralize" the salt. This is an Internet myth.

You need to flush the salt residue out with water. Windex with ammonia DOES work, but that's because it's mostly water. I've used Windex, windshield wiper fluid, and USGI Rifle Bore Cleaner to good effect.

Note that ammonia will help dissolve copper fouling left behind by the bullets, so it's not worthless in this application.