The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Curios and Relics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 8, 2017, 08:33 PM   #1
samsmix
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2006
Location: Montana (Montucky?)
Posts: 1,273
Corrosive Ammo Question.

I own a 91/30 that was fired with corrosive ammo last August, and never cleaned since.

My question is this: am I looking at a total loss, or does it sometimes work out okay with a good cleaning?
__________________
You'll probably never NEED a gun. I hope you never do. But IF you do, you will need it worse than anything you've ever needed in your life.

IF we're not supposed to eat animals,
howcome God made 'em outta meat?
samsmix is offline  
Old February 8, 2017, 09:02 PM   #2
Chris_B
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2007
Posts: 3,101
Regardless, clean it. Then inspect it. You'll have your answer then I think.
Chris_B is offline  
Old February 9, 2017, 12:06 AM   #3
samsmix
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 29, 2006
Location: Montana (Montucky?)
Posts: 1,273
I'll do that and report back.
__________________
You'll probably never NEED a gun. I hope you never do. But IF you do, you will need it worse than anything you've ever needed in your life.

IF we're not supposed to eat animals,
howcome God made 'em outta meat?
samsmix is offline  
Old February 9, 2017, 08:34 AM   #4
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
Maybe, maybe not.

I think the 91/30s all had chromed bores, so you should be at least somewhat OK.

The inside of the receiver, the bolt face, etc. may be another story.

I hope you've learned a lesson.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 9, 2017, 08:42 AM   #5
mete
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 14, 2004
Location: NY State
Posts: 6,575
I came across a rifle that had been fired with corrosive ammo, leaving a 1/16" layer of rust on the bore !!
I thought I better clean it least someone fire it in that condition. It took quite a long time but got the rust out though the bore was pitted.
Sad story but could have been avoided.
__________________
And Watson , bring your revolver !
mete is offline  
Old February 10, 2017, 11:12 AM   #6
Armed_Chicagoan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 18, 2013
Location: Albany Park, Chicago
Posts: 776
After shooting corrosive ammo I always pour some water down the barrel and over the bolt before leaving the range or immediately after getting home, it washes the corrosive salts away. This is important to do before you use your regular gun cleaner, because regular cleaners don't remove the salts.

Hot water is better. Even something like glass cleaner will work in a pinch.
Armed_Chicagoan is offline  
Old February 10, 2017, 01:19 PM   #7
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
How humid has it been in Montana? The primer salts still need some moisture to start the rusting process.
Whether or not your rifle is ruined will depend on if and how rusty it is.
"...think the 91/30s all had chromed bores..." Nope.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old February 10, 2017, 01:25 PM   #8
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
"Am I looking at a total loss?"
Well, what are you looking AT?
Have you cleaned it yet?
If not, why?
If so, what does it look like inside?
Jim Watson is offline  
Old February 10, 2017, 02:36 PM   #9
mdcmn7
Member
 
Join Date: January 19, 2013
Posts: 46
I think it also depends on what you are using it for

There was some corrosion in the barrel of my 91/30 which I was able to clean off. Some mild putting was left behind. Not sure if it was from Ammo, improper storage or what

The rifle still shoots and functions fine

It's not a show or bench rest gun, but most Mosins are not


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
mdcmn7 is offline  
Old February 11, 2017, 03:28 PM   #10
SIGSHR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2005
Posts: 4,700
I have seen few milsurps with good to excellent bores, big difference between what soldiers do in garrison with the NCO looking over them and what they do in combat. I have a 1943 Walther made P-38, bore is rough, shoots fine. Biggest problem with pitted bores is leading, also you may find your bore is a little oversized.
SIGSHR is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 12:33 AM   #11
dakota.potts
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 25, 2013
Location: Keystone Heights, Florida
Posts: 3,084
OP has had 3 days to clean his gun. So what did it look like, OP?
__________________
Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus)
Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others
You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.
dakota.potts is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 07:43 AM   #12
mdcmn7
Member
 
Join Date: January 19, 2013
Posts: 46
Maybe his NCO isn't looking out for him


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
mdcmn7 is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 10:29 AM   #13
g.willikers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2008
Posts: 10,442
Don't give up on it quite yet, especially if the action is working.
There's plenty of rifles around with less than perfect bores that shoot real good.
I once bought an old one with a very rusted bore.
The guy who sold it to me said it shot just fine.
Against my better judgement, but trusting him, I did the deal.
It turned out he wasn't fibbing; it was very accurate in spite of barrel rust and pitting.
Sometimes you can't tell a book by its cover.
__________________
Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez:
“Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”
g.willikers is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 04:29 PM   #14
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
Through WWII and for a period afterwards, almost all military ammo used corrosive primers. And sometimes, the user of a military rifle didn't get around to cleaning the weapon, being too dead at the time to worry about small details.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 05:59 PM   #15
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,486
I read that the Garand has a stainless gas cylinder because while you can shoot the rust out of a neglected barrel, a rusty gas cylinder will keep an automatic from shooting.

Ed Harris said that a somewhat rough barrel may shoot well at a particular "condition" with fouling smoothing over the pits. If you thoroughly clean it, it will take some shooting to get back to that "condition" and shoot as well.
Jim Watson is offline  
Old February 12, 2017, 11:05 PM   #16
Gunplummer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 11, 2010
Location: South East Pa.
Posts: 3,364
I can second that. I had a 6.5 barrel that was so bad I could not get a patch through it in one piece. I used a drill, solvent , and a stainless steel brush on it until I could get a patch through. I have it to this day and it shoots great @ 100 yard range. Never tried it on a longer range. I do not overly clean the barrel.
Gunplummer is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06729 seconds with 8 queries