How to tell if ammo is corrosive?

[brnmuenchow]

Incorrect:

Shoot a round and see if it is Berdan primed.

This will help:

Can OP tell us the headstamp so we can find country & year of origin?

New production Steel cased Berdan primed or Brass cased Boxer primed won't be corrosive, however most "Surplus" ammo will be corrosive. It would help to see the head stamp for sure.

As for dealing with corrosive ammo, don't let it sit... clean up after shooting and you wont have any issues.

Try this link:
http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/6372/a-case-for-corrosive-ammo/#.UDziGwIha-o.email

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The Army rule in the day of corrosive primers was, "Clean on the day of firing and every day for three days thereafter."

After range qualification with the M1, our company commander would have the cooks set up their immersion heaters in trash cans, and we'd clean our M1s in boiling, soapy water.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I just bought some surplus ammo, 7.62x54r. I asked the guy at the store if it was corrosive or not, and he said that he didn't know. I assume that it is, but I'm not certain. Is there a way you can tell?

Pull the bullet from one round and then get a flat piece of clean bare plate steel. Then fire the primer at the steel plate and let it stand for the night. If the next day it is rusty ... well you now know.

Deaf