I purchased what I believe is some South African 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 today. My first question is are they corrosive? The 2nd question is some boxes of the 5.56 say M1A3 and some say M1A4. What is the difference? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Surplus Ammunition Questions
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jonnyc
Member
Non-corrosive, but not sure of the difference between A3 and A4. Could be something minor like a primer crimp, or significant like a bullet weight difference.
Archie
Member
Since about 1950 or before, ammo of any nation is more than likely non-corrosive. Even if that sort of ammunition is found, a proper bore cleaning will remove the offensive bits.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
M1A3 is a South African designation. I read that it is the same as M193 NATO ball ammo. I don’t know about M1A4.
I do know the South African ammo that I have shot in 5.56 and 7.62 was very good ammo and was not corrosive.
I do know the South African ammo that I have shot in 5.56 and 7.62 was very good ammo and was not corrosive.
JCooperfan1911
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This is patently wrong.
Many nations used corrosive primers for years in many different ammunition. Russia, Yugoslavia, various Eastern European, African, and Asian nations have made it since 1950. Assuming the ammo is not corrosive just because it is newer made is an excellent way to destroy a weapon.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
This^^^^^^
Soviet bloc countries used corrosive priming into at least the 80s, and possibly beyond, because of extended shelf life compared to non-corrosive blends (and I am sure there were other factors as well, such as costs). I picked up some white box 7.62 x 39 made in the 90s that would not pass the nail test. When in doubt, assume corrosive. Here's another thread: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...roduced-ammo-considered-non-corrosive.843028/
alsaqr
Member
Some US military .30 caliber ammunition made after 1950 has corrosive primers. .
USGI Ammo Primer Guide (Corrosive vs Non-Corrosive) **For Reference Use** (ammogarand.com)
The South African M1A4 ammunition is good stuff. Bought a big bunch many years ago.
USGI Ammo Primer Guide (Corrosive vs Non-Corrosive) **For Reference Use** (ammogarand.com)
The South African M1A4 ammunition is good stuff. Bought a big bunch many years ago.
Archie
Member
You must have missed the part about cleaning. Corrosive primers are NOT corrosive in themselves. No discussion, no buts, those primers will not of their own damage anything. What happens is those primers leave deposits in the bore under the chemical definition of 'salts'; not table salt by the way. This deposit attracts and holds water, which causes rust.
Cleaning the bore (the Armed Forces require each day, for three days) removes all those salts.
Your failure to read is quite dangerous.
Does the corrosive only get in the bores, or can it be found in the action itself?
The corrosive residue will go wherever it can. If it leaks past the case it will contaminate the chamber and bolt face. If it's a semi-auto it will contaminate the gas action. Even the residue carbon from extracting a shell can contaminate surfaces around the action. I refuse to shoot corrosive ammo because I don't always have a chance to clean immediately after shooting, but I will at least take a minute to run an oiled bore snake through the barrel.
FROGO207
Member
I had some mid 80's Chinese 7.62X39 that was corrosive. Have been told by others that all the Chinese is as well so I just clean things as though it always is.
I've heard hot water down the barrel will take care of it.
Terry G
Member
I have been shooting 8MM corrosive ammunition in Czech and Yugoslavian bolt actions for years. I bought thousands of rounds of it at some ridiculously low price like 5 or 6 cents a round. I clean after shooting with old GI Bore cleaner which stops the salt corrosion. The I clean the normal way. I have old spam cans of 7.62X39 MM that I treat as corrosive but I'm not 100 % sure it is. Same deal with AK's and SKS's. GI bore cleaner, You can use hot water to stop the corrosion also. Just make sure you dry and lubricate afterwards. Some use detergent and and hot water. You really don't have to fear corrosive ammunition. Remember that everyone was using corrosive ammunition in WWII.
Commader47
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Clean your weapon after you shoot it. .
hanno
Member
1909 King’s Military Regulations, Part 1, paragraph 101
“An effective means of cleaning the bore whether firing has taken place or not, is found in the use of boiling water. Before boiling water is used superficial fouling and grease should be removed. About five or six pints should be poured through the bore from the breech, using a funnel to prevent its entering the body or magazine. The rifle should then be throughly dried and bore oiled. Not only does the boiling water remove the fouling, but the expansion of the metal due to heat of the water loosens any rust there may be and makes it easily removable.”
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alsaqr
Member
Works well for me. i've fired about 150,000 rounds of corrosive US military ball and armor piercing ammunition. Wore out numerous rifle barrels but none corroded.
DustyGmt
Member
I see a somewhat common trend among folks on AR15.com who hop right in the tub with a bottle of dawn and clean their AR that way. I clean my glock barrel and AR bolt with dawn and hot water. Never do I get them so clean as when I use dawn dish soap. It takes less time too. After not seeing any ill effect I wouldn't be opposed to cleaning my rifle that way, 80% aluminum and plastic anyway. I just won't do it until I have a air compresser. With the glock barrel and BCG I can manually make sure everything is dry. Wouldnt want to do an entire gun that way without compressed air though.
Dawn is good stuff. I have never shot corrosive ammo, I know alot of folks who have though. I have always heard to clean right away and you will have no problems at all. I probably wouldn't buy it unless it was very cheap.
Dawn is good stuff. I have never shot corrosive ammo, I know alot of folks who have though. I have always heard to clean right away and you will have no problems at all. I probably wouldn't buy it unless it was very cheap.
rb288
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When shooting corrosive ammo, I take a spray bottle of 50%Windex, 50%water, and spray the receiver, bolt, barrel, the complete action, down as soon as I am done shooting.
The ammonia in the Winder neutralizes the corrosive salts and the water helps clean them out.
A good cleaning and oiling after I get home finishes the job.
After 25 years of shooting corrosive ammo in my Mosins, no problems, so far.
The ammonia in the Winder neutralizes the corrosive salts and the water helps clean them out.
A good cleaning and oiling after I get home finishes the job.
After 25 years of shooting corrosive ammo in my Mosins, no problems, so far.
Armednfree
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Some people do that, I never did. I've fired tons of corrosive ammo in my Mausers, Nagants and Enfields. Some of that ammo was original wartime German 8mm, which had few misfires. East German post war was particularly bad, like firing black powder, filthy.
I sop the bore, chamber, bolt and receiver with Hoppe's #9 before I leave the range. At home I'll sop them again and set them so the barrel is slightly down. Then after an hour or two I'll clean it as normal. A light wipe of 3-1 oil in the bore and the bolt and receiver and it's done.
swg1
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Since I shoot black powder in a lot of firearms, "corrosive ammo" doesn't strike fear into my heart. Clean with something water based to dissolve the salts in the fouling, dry it and oil it up. Good to go.
Diluted Ballistol, windex, straight water, they all work in a pinch.
Diluted Ballistol, windex, straight water, they all work in a pinch.
P5 Guy
Member
Hot water with a drop or two of liquid soap has removed all of the corrosive fouling from KA-73 M2 ball that went down range thru my 1903A3s. Never a spot of rust.
That Korean M2 has corrosive primers but shot straight for me.
That Korean M2 has corrosive primers but shot straight for me.
tark
Member
Have you pulled a bullet from each type to see if they weigh the same?
lsudave
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I've shot some corrosive stuff, for bolt actions it seems pretty easy to clean. I've done the 'funnel hot water down the barrel' thing, I have a setup for easy cleaning of various .30 cal guns.
Recently started shooting corrosive 7.62x25 and 9x23 pistol ammo, I got pretty anal about cleaning those handguns.
On the other hand, now that I think about it, when I first got started I shot about a case of Chinese Jing An 9x18 out of a pistol, and just cleaned "normally". That was a couple decades ago, and that gun never seemed to suffer afterwards.
Recently started shooting corrosive 7.62x25 and 9x23 pistol ammo, I got pretty anal about cleaning those handguns.
On the other hand, now that I think about it, when I first got started I shot about a case of Chinese Jing An 9x18 out of a pistol, and just cleaned "normally". That was a couple decades ago, and that gun never seemed to suffer afterwards.
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