Cleaning an AK rifle after firing corrosive ammunition

[CleverName]

I just fire off a mag of non corrosive after an afternoon of shooting Yugo. All salts are blasted away!

 

[Unka-Boo]

I just fire off a mag of non corrosive after an afternoon of shooting Yugo. All salts are blasted away!

Uhhh, no.

 

[CleverName]

Its worked so far. No problems with rust. I was nervous about it at first, and tried it with an old WASR. After firing several hundred rounds of yugo, I fired off a mag of Wolf. I put it in the safe and checked on it after a day, a week and a month. No signs of rust. Still a good idea to clean though. WHat I want to know is, how did China and Russia do it? Surely those millions of conscripts didnt carry around gallon jugs of water to rinse their rifles down with? What about the Marines in WW2? They fired corrosive in a tropical environment. I wish my Grandpa were still around to ask. Anyone know how they cleaned their M1s?

 

[Unka-Boo]

Its worked so far. No problems with rust. I was nervous about it at first, and tried it with an old WASR. After firing several hundred rounds of yugo, I fired off a mag of Wolf. I put it in the safe and checked on it after a day, a week and a month. No signs of rust. Still a good idea to clean though. WHat I want to know is, how did China and Russia do it? Surely those millions of conscripts didnt carry around gallon jugs of water to rinse their rifles down with? What about the Marines in WW2? They fired corrosive in a tropical environment. I wish my Grandpa were still around to ask. Anyone know how they cleaned their M1s?

M

Usgi bore cleaner was designed for corrosive ammo...that said, most Garands have been rebarreled..coincidence? If the russians never cleaned their mosins, there wouldnt be counter bored ones around...ever seen the condition of a chinese made mosin? Most are rusted out junk...

 

[yurik]

halmbarte, I do not really know what they have there. So, you think it is KClO2? Chlorate as opposed to chloride/chlorite? If it's the former it is quite alkali and stable. Soap is alkali as well. I do not see much reason there, but I am not a specialist

trainskgt, the best book, IMO, is by a British diplomat and historian Sir Rodric Braithwaite 'The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979-1989'

I was there in the beginning, different from the end.
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election. - Otto von Bismarck ...

 

[trainsktg]

'Corrosive' ammunition is KCl03, and the residue is KCl, a salt that is hydrophilic. 'Non-corrosive' primers use chemicals like lead styphnate and leave no salt residue.

The main advantage of the corrosive stuff if its inherit stability. I regularly shoot corrosive Nazi ammo from the 30s and it shoots fine and looks as clean as the day it was made, whereas my oldest non-corrosive ammo is from the late 60s (Lake City .30-06 and some Finn 8mm) and the stuff is being eaten from the inside out.

Yurik---thanks for the book idea. That'll be the next one on my list. (I was in the military the same time as you, but on the other side...I spent most of the 80s under the ice chasing Akulas and Typhoons.)

Keith

 

[SAR1846]

Except for my Mosin,I'd agree with this

So how about some Simple Green down the shoot?

I use dilute Simple Green for blackpowder cleanup & also corrosive. Works well for me!

 

[pogi]

Interesting.. I spent a little under 3 years in Afghanistan 25 years ahead of you, guys, and I never had to think about it. We cleaned our weapons whenever we had a chance: twice a day or once a month. All we had was called 'gun oil' in a tiny oiler.

But if you want to overthink it a bit more, any high TBN motor oil will do. TBN= total base number, takes care of KCl or whatever you believe it is. Will be cheaper than that Chanel number 9 you are using..

Chicks love #9, you should try it.

 

[cetme]

shooting non corrosive will not clean out the corrosive salts.remember theres a lot of crap blowing around inside the top cover and in the ..reciever,and near the gas block. some folks dont fool around..they stick the ak in a dishwasher with great results.i sold my psl due to the
corrosive only ammo available.what a pain to clean all the cracks crevices etc.i stick to non corrosive ammo in my aks so i dont have to worry about that anymore.maybe im just lazy...

 

[cetme]

yugo is decent ammo,definately more consistant than wolf or ullinosk..people who shoot pr swear by it.