Surplus Ammunition Questions

[Paul7]

I wonder if such corrosion from this ammo is even more of a non-issue here in the dry Southwest. My son had a German 8mm Mauser he didn't use to clean right after corrosive ammo (try to tell a teen what to do), and it never rusted.

 

[DustyGmt]

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.

I've heard of people using a Ballistol/H20 dilution before and alot of reviewers of the ballistol product make an emphasis on the fact that it is water soluble. I read about this in the past but I guess I forgot, why is it favorable to dilute the ballistol as opposed to using it straight from the tube? I also have seen it sold in tall open mouthed cans, I assume so it can be poured into a mixture. I've just forgotten why.

I know that a shop nearby sells alot of it to BP/Muzzleloader guys. There was a thread a while back where a guy salvaged thousands of dollars worth of rusty tools and equipment that was ravaged by seawater flooding, put a bunch of his tools and equipment into rubbermaid tubs filled with a water ballistol solution.

 

[swg1]

Heh-heh, to be honest, I've never given a thought as to why I dilute it other than I find it stinks in undiluted form. Probably the instructions on the can? It is water soluble oil after all. Too thick and messy straight.

Straight warm or hot water works for cleaning, but tends to flash rust and the ballistol prevents that.