[Slick]

I love corrosive ammo for its "storage stability? and functional consistency.. I?ve been shooting corrosive since the 1980?s as most people ?run away? from such ammunition in fear that it will ruin their weapon. This tends to make corrosive ammo MUCH cheaper than any of the non-corrosive varieties ? sometimes up to 50% cheaper.

Shooting corrosive ammo in a bolt-action requires but only a few extra moments of clean-up. When I shoot corrosive on a gas-operated semi-auto, I always do a complete tear-down and thoroughly clean the (gas system). The fact is, that I?m ?anal? about keeping my guns clean and perform thorough cleaning after ANY firing session, because I don?t always know when that weapon will be fired again. I?m certainly not complaining as I have a collection of ?C&R? type guns that could sit up to a year or three before another outing depending on what my ?fancy? is? That?s why I tend to like to only shoot maybe two guns on any given weekend as I spend the whole entire next week on cleaning chores. After a thorough (but not excessive) cleaning, I always go back after 4 or 5 days and re-clean the bore for that added measure of ?safe storage?. More guns are ruined by ?over-cleaning? than shooting and I realize that it takes time for solvents to ?do their thing?. Over-cleaning is why I tend to split my cleaning sessions up over a weeks time to ensure I've got everything as clean as possible with the least number of passes down the bore. These cleaning techniques have served me quite well over the years, so I think I?m doing it right.

So ? My point and question in this post is whether or not it is economical or advisable to fire corrosive ammunition in the 1919a4??? I?ve got to think that most ammunition from the era of this gun may have used corrosive priming.

Do any of you shoot corrosive ammo? How much more difficult is the cleaning procedure (if you do)?

THANKS for your input. I get to pick up my ORF 1919a4 in only 2 more days and want to order some cases of Sellier Bellot corrosive 7.62x51 to augment my ammo dump. It?s my belief the advent of ?poodle shooters? in use by the world?s military forces will cause the supplies of mil-surp 7.62x51 to eventually ?dry up?, so I want to ?stay current? on my inventory. Thanks again!

 

[slapshot]

i think that corrosive is actually a better idea in a 1919 than non corrosive since ammo is so much cheaper. these things really are a bullet hose.
once you see how fast 250 rounds goes you will laugh at the thought of shooting anything but cheap corrosive stuff. plus the barrel comes completely out of the gun so cleaning that is no problem. then just wipe down the rest of the reciever box and and bolt, etc, with ammonia and water mix (and the barrel first) you will be fine. the robustness of the guns design is also a reason to feel safer shooting corrosive and old and therefore "riskier ammo" if one goes kb, there is think steel all the way around except down, but that will be pointing towards the ground anyway.

 

[DOUBLE8]

I shoot almost exclusivly TURK corrosive ammo, and have shot TONS of it. Im not good at cleanin my guns like i should, it may be a month before it gets cleaned after dumping 7,000 rnds threw it. never have had a problem and i see it as foolish to think ooh i will only shoot $225 a case SA 308 in my 1919. I shoot F/A and do alot of it and corrosive or not, i like it cheap!

 

[Commander47]

I use a lot of corrosive ammo and have had no problem whatsoever. I bought a 5 sealed cases of 7.62 X 54R. Each case had 1,600 rounds and they only cost me 60.00 each. This was last year from J and G. It cost about 20.00 a case to ship though. Still got a good deal.

To make a long story longer. In a good weapon, and especially with a Chrome barrel. NO PROBLEM. A properly parked gun, and good cleaning with cause you no problem at all. I shoot corrosive in my PSL, my Dragunov and all my mosins. No problems.

If I can find NATO corrosive cheap, I'm going to stock up. I'm sure this 1919 will eat all I can push through it and with a good cleaning, should never have a problem.

One tip, water is the best way to clean up the salt. It is the salt in corrosive ammo that makes it that way. Simply dissasemble the weapon and hose it down really really good. Gas tubes, little parts....etc. Then clean as you normally would.

 

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

All I have ever used is Hoppes #9. It was developed when all ammo was corrosive. Remember ,USGI ammo was corrosive up into the 50's. My bores still look good after running corrosive ammo through them, so it must be doing it's job.

 

[Luke]

I use alot of corrosive ammo. People wonder how I could spend 2 plus hours cleaning two guns after a day of shooting. I always clean all my guns as though I used corrosive because we shoot each others weapons and I can never be totally sure if some was used in my weapons. I too have shot guns that I put back and have never shot till many years later.

 

[Gregg in Ohio]

Cleaning agent for corrosive ammo works great

GOOP hand cleaner...think of how it cleans your hands?? you should see the crud come out of barrels after shooting..unbeliveable..no more soap and water for me...try it ...gregg in ohio

 

[F-Troop]

I like Hoppe's no 9 too but didn't they change the formula to be less toxic? I also think that I remember that it was only a nitro solvent and ineffective on potassium chlorate primer residue that attracts water from the air and is therefore, corrosive.

One more thing, I am surprised that any milsurp 7.62x51 is corrosive. I assumed that since it was made after the mid 1960's that every NATO country had switched to NC.

Commander47 Can you identify which countries made corrosive 7.62 and where I can get some?

 

[041x]

When I first got my 1919 done I just wiped some cold bluing on the outside of the rsp and shoot off a 100 rounds of federal brand .308 ammo. I didn't clean it for a week and the inside of the rsp plate rusted up by the ejection port. So I think even using nocorrosive ammo you should clean your gun.

 

[Slick]

Thanks for all the great input!!! I?ll happily blaze away with all the corrosive 7.62x51 I can find!

I?ve been mixing my own bore cleaner the past couple of years since they out-lawed the VOC?s (volatile organic compounds) from the good bore solvents. I mix ?Ed?s Red? which is 1 qt DextronII tranny fluid, 1 qt mineral spirits, 1 qt Kerosene, and 1 qt of acetone. I leave out the anhydrous lanolin and add 5% clear ammonia. It looks like pink milk and cleans like no tomorrow. I use Militech1 as my ?final? metal preservative, and sometimes cook it on with a torch (just getting the metal nice and warm ? but not too hot to touch). It works for me so far, so I guess I?m going to get more corrosive Chezck ammo.

For those that don?t know, there?s TONS of corrosive 7.62x51 out there of which the best is Sellier & Bellot (IMHO). Most all of the commie countries made compatible ammo for our guns, and they made it WELL. So figure that most ammo from com-block counties that come from the 70?s ? 80?s is corrosive.

 

[041x]

Where can a guy get the corrosive 7.62x51 ammo?

 

[cfe738]

1. Put gun ass end down in big bucket
2. Pour windex down the barrel and all over all of the reciver parts, use all of the bottle.
3. Run a hose from your water heater and hose down your gun with the hottest water possible.
4. Use compressed air and blow out all possible water. If you live in AZ like me, just put it outside in the heat for 10-20 min's and trust me, all the water is gone.
5.Drain and dry bucket used in step 1
6. Put gun back in bucket and pour 30w oil all over the gun. Lots and lots in the recevier area. Cycle all moving parts.
7. Let oil drip out over the next several days. Wipe off excess oil.
8. put in safe, case, where ever you store and forget about it.

 

[Commander47]

I haven't had to get any in a while. Czech Silvertip is what I like and it is all corrosive, but exceedingly good ammo. I have never had any of this not fire, not be dependable and not clean up easily.

It's kind of fun opening one of those "Cans" the ammo comes in. It's packed like a rubiks cube. This stuff is also packed exceedingly well. If you don't open one of those cans it should last for decades.

 

[Mullet Man]

brake cleaner makes it a really nice and simple clean. it just makes the whole gun clean and all the dirt just drips off. the only thing is you dont want to get it on wood so i mostly use it on the 1919. and make sure to oil it up good before putting it away.