Corrosion stress cracking

TheCanuckCowboy · November 18, 2019, 08:49 PM

Hello people I’m a new user and this is my very first post! I’m glad I finally signed up as I have always used this forum as a valuable source of information. Anyway to get to the point I ave a question I hope someone can answer, I have a Remington 700 stainless in .223 that seemed to close hard on some factory ammo, so I got reading online and one person said to colour the head of the round in sharpie and close the bolt on it to see if it was rubbing...Long story short the rifle is fine, but I was worried now about the effects of sharpie markers on my stainless rifle chamber. I am currently attending college for marine mechanic and have read about stress corrosion cracking.. the chloride in the sharpie can cause stainless steel to fail and now I’m stressing that I have weakened my rifle. I probably sound paranoid but I love my guns! Thanks in advance for any help!

rickyrick · November 18, 2019, 09:12 PM

I think that you are ok if you clean your rifle, even if only occasionally.

ligonierbill · November 18, 2019, 09:34 PM

No worries. Stress corrosion cracking requires a corrosive environment, not just a little surface contamination like a sharpie. Think sea water.

TheCanuckCowboy · November 18, 2019, 09:37 PM

Thank you guys for your reply’s sets my mind at ease. The more I tried to find info on the internet the more confused I got! Haha

Bill DeShivs · November 18, 2019, 11:12 PM

WD 40 on a q tip will remove the Sharpie. So will alcohol.

Bill DeShivs · November 19, 2019, 12:48 AM

By the way- guns are a lot tougher than you think they are.

TheCanuckCowboy · November 19, 2019, 07:13 AM

Thanks Bill DeShivs, I did clean it with solvent and oiled. But it was two days before I could get around to cleaning, and that’s why I thought it may have had time to damage it. Glad to know that it’s ok though!

Rapidrob · November 19, 2019, 10:27 AM

As stated above, you'll be fine. The small amount of ink left will do not harm.
Now that you have cleaned the rifle, your good to go and it gives you piece of mind.

T. O'Heir · November 19, 2019, 02:16 PM

Sharpie markers won't bother your rifle in any way.
"...info on the internet..." The Internet is a powerful research tool but you must pay close attention to the source. Wikipedia, YouTube and the like are not good sources of reliable info.

November 18, 2019, 08:49 PM	#1
TheCanuckCowboy Junior Member Join Date: November 17, 2019 Posts: 11	Corrosion stress cracking Hello people I’m a new user and this is my very first post! I’m glad I finally signed up as I have always used this forum as a valuable source of information. Anyway to get to the point I ave a question I hope someone can answer, I have a Remington 700 stainless in .223 that seemed to close hard on some factory ammo, so I got reading online and one person said to colour the head of the round in sharpie and close the bolt on it to see if it was rubbing...Long story short the rifle is fine, but I was worried now about the effects of sharpie markers on my stainless rifle chamber. I am currently attending college for marine mechanic and have read about stress corrosion cracking.. the chloride in the sharpie can cause stainless steel to fail and now I’m stressing that I have weakened my rifle. I probably sound paranoid but I love my guns! Thanks in advance for any help!

November 18, 2019, 09:12 PM	#2
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I think that you are ok if you clean your rifle, even if only occasionally. Last edited by rickyrick; November 18, 2019 at 09:40 PM.

November 18, 2019, 11:12 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	WD 40 on a q tip will remove the Sharpie. So will alcohol. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 19, 2019, 12:48 AM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	By the way- guns are a lot tougher than you think they are. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 19, 2019, 10:27 AM	#8
Rapidrob Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 49	As stated above, you'll be fine. The small amount of ink left will do not harm. Now that you have cleaned the rifle, your good to go and it gives you piece of mind. __________________ President NM MILSURPS Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

November 18, 2019, 09:34 PM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	No worries. Stress corrosion cracking requires a corrosive environment, not just a little surface contamination like a sharpie. Think sea water.

November 18, 2019, 09:37 PM	#4
TheCanuckCowboy Junior Member Join Date: November 17, 2019 Posts: 11	Thank you guys for your reply’s sets my mind at ease. The more I tried to find info on the internet the more confused I got! Haha

November 19, 2019, 07:13 AM	#7
TheCanuckCowboy Junior Member Join Date: November 17, 2019 Posts: 11	Thanks Bill DeShivs, I did clean it with solvent and oiled. But it was two days before I could get around to cleaning, and that’s why I thought it may have had time to damage it. Glad to know that it’s ok though!

November 19, 2019, 02:16 PM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Sharpie markers won't bother your rifle in any way. "...info on the internet..." The Internet is a powerful research tool but you must pay close attention to the source. Wikipedia, YouTube and the like are not good sources of reliable info. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!