Corrosive primer clean up.

[mod60rimfire]

I have gotten a saiga rifle in 5.45 and well most of the ammo is corrosive surplus.

This is what I have planned for clean up. Can someone check if I am right?
1. Spray hot(from sun) soapy water down barrel and gas tube
2. run a few patches(dry patches, and then solvent patches)
3. Spray brake cleaner on affected parts
4. run oil patches
5. oil
6. ???
7. PROFIT?

 

[2low]

Lol, nice SP remark. It seems like you've got a good hold of what needs to be done. A cheaper and much easier route would be to just use windex (or anything with ammonia) instead of soapy water and brake cleaner.

I use wal-mart off brand windex (less than $5 for a large jug) on my mauser and mosins. It's quick, effectice, cheap and easy. The ammonia in it neutralizes thd corrosive salts from the primers and doesn't damage any of the components on the bolt, chamber, bore, etc.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Ballistol is a good product to use when using hot water clean up. After the water cleaning use the Ballistol as it emulsifies with water.

The ammonia in it neutralizes thd corrosive salts from the primers

Water, plain old H2O is what cuts the corrosive salts, the hotter the better. Ammonia can remove bluing if not careful.

A lot of people use a Windex type product and it does work, it has a very low amount of ammonia

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I've always just used windex (or the store brand) as I tend to not have hot water on hand if I'm out in the woods (but a small bottle of windex is easy to pack). madcratebuilder is entirely correct though, it's really the H2O that's necessary to remove the salts. You just have to figure out what method works best from you. From what you describe, you've easily got the corrosive salts covered.

 

[finnfan]

I second the Ballistol suggestion. Mix one part Ballistol to four or five parts water and use for all your corrosive ammo needs!

 

[JustinJ]

I'd be careful about the brake cleaner as it may remove some of the finish. Ecspecially those of Arsenal rifles. After breaking down I first spray everything with an ammonia based window cleaner and then give a good scrub with a toothbrush where possible. I then run a brush followed by a few patches. Then i hose everything down with water, dry as much as possible with rags or paper towels and then either let sit until all dry or use a heat gun. Next i spray everything down with a moisture displacing oil based product. Last i finish off the barrel with an Otis soaked patch and then a few more until they come out clean. After about 500 rounds though i'll also do a good barrel cleaning with a dedicated copper solvent. My procedure is probably a bit more in depth than necessary but i prefer to err on the side of caution.

 

[wally]

A cheaper and much easier route would be to just use windex (or anything with ammonia) instead of soapy water and brake cleaner.

Don't get much cheaper than soapy water, hot soapy water is even better. The brake cleaner is superfluous.

I usually just flush the bore, bolt & carrier, and gas tube with hot water from a garden hose, let dry in the sun and then clean normally. Around here it usually means its bone dry and too hot to touch in about ten minutes

If I've shot it a lot, 300+ rounds I'll run a patch through with Hoppes followed by a bore brush and then the garden hose water treatment. A 12-guage mop and brush work well for the gas tube.