moisture problem???

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CJCmajor

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so i CCW my 642 as much as possible. But while i am at work, it sits in the holster which is then placed in my dresser. i have recently been noticing some green spots appearing on the brass and where the brass contacts the firearm.... i.e. cylinder, extractor...etc.

i have tried everything to prevent this. my usual cleaning routine is hoppes 9 then dry, oil frame, cylinders and barrel then wipe dry with a paper towel and a dry patch through cylinders and barrel.

i dont know what i am doing wrong. within a few days the green spots are back. the last time i cleaned the gun, i even let it sit out over night to 'air dry' in an attempt to prevent any other moisture.

so what do you all think?
 
Leather will turn brass green, esp leather ammo pouches or belt loops. One of the reasons for nickle plated brass is to eliminate this in ammo that's being carried in leather holsters. I believe the leather releases an ammonia gas that chemically attacks the brass which is a zinc and copper alloy.

I'd suspect its the storage in a leather holster, esp one that's probably absorbed some perspiration from carrying, is causing your green spots. Try removing the pistol from the holster and storing it separate from any other leathers. Changing to an ammo with nickle plated cases should also eliminate the problem. Most of the current "personal defense" loads are loaded in nickle plated cases.
 
Check your holster for any nickel plated brass fasteners/retainers.

For some reason a holster with brass in some form in it's construction has a tendency to generate corrosion (the green stuff) more rapidly.
 
Maybe you are not drying all the Hoppes #9 out you think you are.

Hoppes #9 is a very mild copper solvent, and will attack brass just as well as it attacks jacket fouling in the bore.

But regardless of that, it is not a good idea to store a gun in it's holster.
Better to leave it out where air can circulate around it.

CCW holsters especially get sweat soaked over time, and the salt never goes away, so it attracts moisture to the holster & gun.

rc
 
(1 Stop leaving the gun in the holster. Leather which is tanned with chromic acid will attack metal. (most leather you buy today is chrome tanned) A holster is for carrying only, not for storage. Better quality oil tanned leather won't do this. The moisture from sweat and the tanning chemicals used are doing this. Don't store it in a gun rug either. Store in open dry air, like in a drawer with a rubber or plastic mat under it. Any material which can absorb moisture from the air that is in contact with your gun will corrode your gun. These are things they didn't teach you in school. (2 Look for a new holster. Give your old one to somebody you don't like.
 
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Any quality holster worth it's salt (no pun intended) will be made from vegetable tanned leather so it can be wet molded to the gun.

Chrome tanned leather cannot be wet molded, but may be found in cheap non-molded fits-everything holsters.

Vegetable tanned & oiled leather is harmless to the gun, but is not impervious to absorbing sweat.

But like Drail & I said, don't store it in any holster, whatever it is made from.

rc
 
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