Surplus 30-06..are they usually corrosive???

[saturno_v]

Once in a while the gun shops and gun shows where I go have batches of cheap surplus 30-06 often already packaged in Garand clips.

The military ammo for the 30-06 is usually corrosive?? When I ask the seller often claim that he doesn't know.

I would not mind using them for my Mauser sporter or my Remington semi-auto.

 

[NCsmitty]

Chances are, most if not all '06 surplus is corrosive primed, especially if in Garand clips. For the sake of your firearms, flush with hot water after shooting and then clean as usual. Why take chances.

NCsmitty

 

[jws527]

Depends upon when and where it was made. Generally speaking, US-made ammo produced after the mid 1950s uses non-corrosive primers.

By then, the Garand and the .30-06 were being phased from front line service, so I don't know much non-corrosive .30-06 you'll actually come across.

That said, it is perfectly safe to shoot if take the time and care to clean the rifle properly after shooting. I shoot corrosive primed ammunition out of my milsurp bolt guns all the time without issue. The cleaning process is simply a matter of running clean, fresh water over and through the parts exposed to cartridge gases - it's a bit more complex in a Garand thanks to the gas system, but it's still manageable.

 

[NCsmitty]

Some 70's '06 ammo was boxer primed so can be broken down for components or replace the primer if Korean. I understand the Greek '06 is non-corrosive and boxer primed.
I think Midway has some surplus '06 ammo right now.

NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

As noted, it depends on which arsenal loaded it when.

Here is a list for U.S. stuff:
http://www.ashlandlakegunclub.org/docs/CorrosivePrimerRedux.pdf

rc

 

[TehK1w1]

I've always figured that it was safest to treat all surplus as corrosive, with the exception of 7.5 swiss as no corrosive ammo was ever manufactured in that caliber (to the best of my knowledge)

 

[WardenWolf]

I don't think there was ever any corrosive 5.56 or .223 either. Even if there was some, the odds of it making its way to the US are slim. There's also very little corrosive .308, as the round did not gain widespread acceptance until after World War II.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I don't know any dates...but I have read that the 30-06 lagged way behind in getting non-corrosive primers.

 

[USSR]

By 1953, almost all U.S. produced .30-06 military ammo was noncorrosive.

Don

 

[Threeband]

The CMP's description of the Greek HXP they're selling:

NLU 407-CAN - 192 rounds. M2 Ball. Greek .30-06 ammunition HXP (Pyrkal) manufacture. Bullet may attract magnet. Boxer primed. Non-corrosive. Packaged in 8 round enbloc clips in bandoleers in sealed "SPAM" can. Headstamp varies HXP62-HXP80.

http://www.thecmp.org/ammosales.htm

 

[sharkhunter2018]

I do know that the Korean stuff marked "KA" is corrosive. Korean stuff marked "PS" is not.

If Lake City, Korean "PS" marked and Greek were corrosive, both of my Garands would have seized up long ago.

 

[robsc]

DO NOT USE military surplus ammo in your Remington semi auto rifle. The ammo is loaded to higher pressure than the Remington rifle is designed for. The bolt will slam back so hard that the internal receiver parts could be damaged. May crack the front stock wood on the bottom center from the edge toward the front. Empty case may stay in the chamber and not eject possibly damaging the extractor.

 

[USSR]

DO NOT USE military surplus ammo in your Remington semi auto rifle. The ammo is loaded to higher pressure than the Remington rifle is designed for. The bolt will slam back so hard that the internal receiver parts could be damaged. May crack the front stock wood on the bottom center from the edge toward the front. Empty case may stay in the chamber and not eject possibly damaging the extractor.

That is not true. Both military and commercial .30-06 have the same pressure specs (50,000 CUP or 60,000 PSI).

Don

 

[Ridgerunner665]

+1...not true.

The pressure specs on the 30-06 are the same...no matter if its marked 30-06 or 7.62x63...same round, same pressure.

 

[1KPerDay]

If anything military .30 ball is "softer" than modern .30-06 stuff. Hence the common recommendation not to use factory .30-06 in garands without an adjustable gas valve.