Stainless Steel Barrel and Corrosive Ammo

[RWMC]

I'm considering purchasing a stainless steel Savage Axis rifle in .308 Winchester. There is some older Czech-made .308 surplus ammo on the market that is corrosive. Will firing corrosive ammo through a stainless steel barrel require the same thorough cleaning as it does when fired through a carbon steel barrel? I have fired corrosive 8x57 ammo through my k98 for years, and am aware of what it takes to keep the bore looking good. I'm just curious if I will have to do as much up-keep on a stainless steel rifle. Thanks for your replies.

 

[dprice3844444]

corrosive ammo will require the same cleaning procedures no matter what barrel type.try to find non corrosive. just google 7.62 x 51 surplus ammo and see what pops up.check the m14 forum for info on 308 types that are good

just google"surplus 762 x 51 ammo"

 

[mgregg85]

A stainless barrel would likely suffer less than a carbon steel barrel but stainless steel is just that, stain less, not stain proof.

Chrome lining seems to be the most common protection provided in rifles that will see a lifetime of corrosive ammo and infrequent cleanings.

 

[briansmithwins]

Even hardchrome will suffer from corrosive ammo and negligent cleaning. Hardchrome isn't affected by the salts in corrosive primers but it has micro cracks. Those expose the steel, which rusts and expands, peeling loose the hardchrome from underneath, exposing more steel...



BSW

 

[BCRider]

Yep, stain'less isn't stain'proof. (I like that line mgregg ) You still want to swab it out and treat it like your other Mauser after shooting corrosive.

I don't know what your procedure is but to clean my Mosin Nagants, the only guns I have that shoot corrosive surplus, it takes me about a whopping whole 5 to 7 minutes even if I'm just taking my time. If I were in a rush I likely could do it in 3 to 4 minutes.

 

[Trevorusn]

Yep, stain'less isn't stain'proof. (I like that line mgregg ) You still want to swab it out and treat it like your other Mauser after shooting corrosive.

I don't know what your procedure is but to clean my Mosin Nagants, the only guns I have that shoot corrosive surplus, it takes me about a whopping whole 5 to 7 minutes even if I'm just taking my time. If I were in a rush I likely could do it in 3 to 4 minutes.

A thorough cleaning in 5-7 min.??? Is Windex a part of this???

 

[Jim Watson]

Yes. Wet clean even stainless.
The corrosive agent in such ammunition is a residue of potassium chloride.
Chloride cracking and pitting is a particular attack on stainless steels.

 

[xfyrfiter]

The corrosive stuff, just use boiling hot h2o, it will cut even black powder residue and will leave the barrel dry just wipe down with a little oil after.

 

[BCRider]

A thorough cleaning in 5-7 min.??? Is Windex a part of this???

It is actually. But to dispense some hot water and a drop of dish wash detergent into the water to aid in breaking down the fouling and dip the wet patches in that would add at most another 30 seconds.

Two or three wet patches until they come out with no or nearly no color that wasn't there when it went in. A dry patch, an oil patch and another dry. Done in 5 to 7.

 

[Shadow 7D]

The important part of Windex is
WATER

the soap helps and some swear the ammonia gets the copper out, but yeah it's the water that's important.

 

[Trevorusn]

The important part of Windex is
WATER

the soap helps and some swear the ammonia gets the copper out, but yeah it's the water that's important.

The nitrates left by the primer are water-soluble, but ammonia also dilutes these remaining particles just as well, and its easier to bring a bottle of Windex to where I shoot then lugging a tub of boiling water around. The copper deposits...well, I'm still trying to see what will clear them out of my Mosin-Nagant's bore...

 

[briansmithwins]

You guys realize the Windex doesn't have any ammonia in it? It's water with soap and alcohol plus coloring and perfume.

BSW

 

[MythBuster]

I never could understand all the fear about shooting corrosive ammo. I have several rifles including a Garand that have fired thousands of rounds of corrosive ammo and my bores are just fine.

Also I don't understand all the BS about cleaning. All it takes is about two minutes of cleaning right after you stop shooting.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Because if you do it wrong you'll eat your bore out
2. most modern cleaning products DON'T remove the salt and they weren't trained to use water...

3. water will ruin your gun, or at least that's what they were told back when the started shooting...

so, it leads to paranoia
I've cleaned M4 in solvent tanks, I've cleaned them in the shower
they all passed the Q-tip and white glove inspection, hell glocks are dishwasher safe.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.deltaindustrial.com/MSDS/Cleaners/Office Cleaners/Windex.pdf

 

[Trevorusn]

So whatever the case, a few sprits of Windex followed by normal bore cleaning should do the job just fine.

 

[BCRider]

That's the thing. With a bolt action it's so easy to do that I can't see why the shooter would even consider NOT doing it. Along with the idea that even stainless can't be ignored without risk.

Now for gas operated semi autos where the gun needs to be stripped down a lot more I can see the annoyance factor being higher. Take an SKS for example.