hksw - do you use the boresnake with the tube still attached to the gun?
Here is my situation. For some reason, my entire gas system likes to rust all to hell with in a couple days if I don't clean it just about every day. I am using noncorrosive Portugese and Austrailian surplus. I do consider all surplus to be suspect anymore, and as such I clean with ammonia based cleaner when I use it. But I have also noticed this with my handloads, which I know are noncorrosive. To give you an idea, I cleaned it up last night and there was rust on the gas plug this morning.
So I have resolved myself to cleaning it every time as best I can. The gas tube on it doesn't seem to be made to come off every time you clean it like the one on the AK or SKS does, so I want to find a way to clean it with the tube still on the gun. I am thinking about maybe trying a .44, .45, or .41 caliber cleaning brush on a section of cleaning rod. I don't want to take it off every time as that seems like it will put unnecessary wear on the parts of the gas system.
Also, is there any type of lubricant that I can use on the inside of the gas tube. I read somewhere that the piston should not be oiled, so I haven't been oiling it. But this rusting crap with the inside of the gas block, gas plug, tube, and regulator is beginning to tick me off. I am really starting to like the FAL now that I have it working right and am leaning toward keeping it, but it is a PITA where this is concerned.
Can anyone help me out with this?
Black Snowman - I always worry about that type of thing too, especially now that my brother has started reloading for his SKS. I make him keep his powder somewhere else and triple check before I start loading. I only use Unique for handguns and Win 748 for rifles (although I will need a replacement as 748 is hard to get). One powder for each. That way I don't have to worry about six types of powder getting all mixed around and confusing me. Add in that Unique is a flake powder and 748 is a ball powder and you would also see the difference if you somehow did manage to fill your casings with the wrong one. I check every powdered case to insure against overcharging them before I finish loading them, so I would notice it.
I try to work at least two failsafes into my reloading procedures to protect me from any lapses in judgement or attention and simplifying what powders I have around helps me with that.