Corrosive Ammo Considerations
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over some corrosive ammo considerations today. Corrosive ammunition has been employed by shooters for decades and still sees use today in a variety of firearms. We are going to delve into what this type of ammunition is, why it is corrosive in the first place, and other relevant information. Without further ado, let’s talk about corrosive ammo considerations.
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What is Corrosive Ammo?
Put plainly, corrosive ammo is ammunition which is corrosive in nature. During the firing process, ammunition of this type deposits corrosive salts into the action and bore of the firearm. If these salts are left unchecked, a firearm can experience corrosion in these sensitive areas. This corrosion can erode and compromise the integrity of a firearm if not addressed. Additionally, once corrosion starts, it will spread to other parts of the metal if it is not cleaned promptly.
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How Does Corrosive Ammo Work?
So, how does corrosive ammo work? Loadings of this type utilize primers which contain potassium chlorate. These primers are typically of the Berdan variety and can be found on either brass or steel case loadings. Of course, this is not to say that all Berdan primers are corrosive in nature as plenty of non-corrosive loadings exist with primers of this type. The salts produced by primers containing potassium chlorate will begin to corrode steel and metals when exposed to air. This is because potassium chlorate absorbs moisture from the air, leading to corrosion.
What Ammo Can Be Corrosive?
Shooters should be aware that corrosive ammunition can typically be found in the form of pistol or rifle ammo. Typically, one can expect to find military calibers in the form of corrosive ammunition. This is to say that one can find calibers such as 9mm, 7.62×25 Tokarev, 7.62×39, 7.62x54r, and .303 British in corrosive loadings. Simply put, one will be able to find pistol and rifle loadings in the form of corrosive ammunition.
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Where Does Corrosive Ammo Come From?
Corrosive ammunition is commonly available in the form of military surplus ammo. Loadings of this type are typically of European origin and can be decades old. Most of the corrosive military surplus ammunition on the market is going to be from the Cold War era with some older examples still being available. Ammunition of this type was produced by countries such as Russia, former Yugoslavia, Romania, former Czechoslovakia, Turkey, and England to name a few. Of course, not all military surplus ammo offerings are going to be corrosive. Notably, surplus GP11 ammunition from Switzerland utilizes non-corrosive Berdan primers.
In addition to military surplus ammunition, there are also modern production corrosive loadings which can be found on the market today. These loadings typically come from ex-Warsaw pact countries and are often manufactured to Cold War military specifications. One will be hard-pressed to find domestically produced corrosive ammunition as nearly every American ammo manufacturer uses non-corrosive Boxer primers.
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How Do You Clean After Shooting Corrosive Ammo?
Cleaning firearms after shooting corrosive ammunition is incredibly important. If one does not promptly address the corrosive salts deposited in their firearm, one runs the risk of damaging their firearm. When it comes to cleaning, one must essentially dissolve and displace the corrosive salts deposited in their firearm. There is no single way to accomplish this task, meaning that shooters have various resources and methods for combatting corrosion. One of the easiest and most expedient ways to defeat corrosive salts would be to utilize water. Water naturally dissolves salts and will handily remove corrosive salts from a firearm. Some shooters simply utilize a garden hose while others utilize warm, soapy water. Either of these water-based methods work well and should be followed up with a CLP type solution. Additionally, metal components should be dried and excess water should be removed to further combat rust.
Shooters have also utilized cleaning compounds which contain ammonia to combat the corrosive salts deposited by corrosive ammunition. Cleaning compounds designed for firearms and diluted cleaners such as Windex have often been utilized by shooters for this purpose. Solvent solutions with ammonia tend to be particularly effective at eliminating corrosive salts and removing copper fouling from bores. One should take care to dilute cleaners with high ammonia levels or utilize specific cleaning products designed for firearms. Too much ammonia can potentially harm bores and finishes if used improperly. It is also a good practice to follow up with some warm water when utilizing high ammonia level cleaning solutions. Doing so effectively flushes out the ammonia solution along with the fouling and other media it removed from the bore and action. Additionally, water will ensure that potentially damaging levels of ammonia are removed from the firearm. As with water, one should follow up with a CLP type solution to further protect their firearm after this lengthy cleaning.
Of course, these are just some of the cleaning methods one can employ when cleaning their firearm after shooting corrosive ammo. Regardless of the cleaning method utilized, one should be thorough and ensure that they address all possible areas which may have been exposed to corrosive salts. Some shooters will place all their focus on the bore and action and neglect other potential areas for corrosion. For example, in an AK type rifle, one should also inspect and clean the fire control group and gas tube/gas block area to stave off corrosion. If an overlooked area is not addressed, corrosion can spread and be an issue down the road.
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How Can You Tell if Ammo is Corrosive?
Modern production corrosive ammo offerings tend to be clearly marked on their packaging. Verbiage will either state that the loadings are corrosive or feature corrosive primers. Military surplus loadings generally do not feature any explicit information regarding their status as corrosive or not. Most military surplus ammo offerings include the designation for the specific loading in question. This makes it easy for an end user to research their specific loading to determine whether or not it is corrosive. When in doubt, one should err on the side of caution and research their loading.
Why Do People Shoot Corrosive Ammo?
Many shooters utilize corrosive ammo for a variety of reasons. For many, they simply wish to take advantage of cheaper ammunition. Due to the corrosive nature of ammunition of this type, it is typically found cheaper than non-corrosive loadings in the same caliber. For many, the prospect of cheap ammunition and longer, more frequent range days is reason enough to shoot corrosive ammunition. Additionally, some shooters will utilize corrosive ammunition out of necessity. This is to say that some shooters, specifically those who enjoy Soviet calibers such as 5.45×39, 7.62×39, and 7.62x54r can often find ammo of this type. These calibers are often subjected to sanctions and other import restrictions, making it harder to find ammunition at times. Of course, some calibers such as 7.62×39 are easier to find than others such as 5.45×39. Nonetheless, some shooters shoot corrosive ammunition out of necessity if they cannot find suitable loadings.
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What is Corrosive Ammo Used For?
There are many potential use cases for corrosive ammunition. Many shooters utilize corrosive ammunition for training and practice purposes. Shooters take advantage of the economical nature of these loadings, especially in bulk form, to ensure they have a large quantity of affordable ammo for training. With cheap ammo, one can acquire more ammunition and shoot more often, making corrosive ammo well-suited for training and practice. These same factors make the ammo of this type ideal for recreational, general-purpose shooting as well. Additionally, ammo of this type is also great for storage and stockpiling. Corrosive loadings can often be had in bulk ammo form, especially when in military surplus form. Military surplus loadings in particular are built to last and often come in sealed containers which protect them from the elements. In short, from stocking up on ammo to honing one’s skills and recreational shooting, corrosive ammunition gets the job done.
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Conclusion
All in all, corrosive ammunition may not be as prevalent as non-corrosive loadings are in the United States, but it still comes up from time to time. Because of this, it is important to understand the many considerations associated with ammunition of this type. While corrosive ammunition requires a dedicated and lengthy cleaning process, many shooters utilize ammo of this type due to its utility and affordability. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of ammunition for sale. Our inventory spans popular calibers and gauges such as 9mm, 5.56, 12 gauge, and .22 Long Rifle to name a few. While an overwhelming majority of our inventory is comprised of non-corrosive ammunition, we do stock corrosive ammunition from time to time. Regardless of whether you want to buy bulk ammo or individual boxes of ammunition, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
One Response
A complete story on corrosive ammo. I had the misfortune of obtaining several boxes of US Army 45 Cal ammo. These have the corrosive primers and some will fire correctly others will just pop requiring additional time to clear the chamber and clean the gun. I wish I could find a person that could rid these corrosive primers and reload these rounds.