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Cleaning corroded ammo...

8K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  leadcons 
#1 ·
Hi All:

Long time member, seldom poster...

I ordered a case of Port from ClassicArms.US and unfortunately, of the rounds check so far nearly 60% has some level of corrosion.

If they do not help in some way, I am stuck with this ammo.

Is it ok to clean the corrosion and if so, what would be the best method.

Thanks!

Tom
 
#4 ·
From another post I made RE: DAG

"I got 500 round of the corroded Dag in a trade recently. I hit it with a Copper "Chore-Boy" (like steel-wool, but you know.... copper) scrubber and it cleans the corrosion right off with no damage and scratching to the brass like a green brillo pad would give. After that there's just some discoloration to the brass. I took a couple of the worst, and hit it with Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner (the best brass polish known to man), and the discoloration comes right off as well.

That being said, I don't use the Lysol on rounds I'm planning on actually shooting, as it's my understanding the ammonia would weaken the brass.... I just wanted to know what was underneath, and it looked good. Out of 500 rounds I had 6 that were a "no-go" by my standards.

Semper Fi."


The Copper scrubbers worked great!
 
#5 ·
I used a worn Scotchbrite pad to clean the corroded rounds in the batch of '88 MEN I got last year. No problem firing them. Of course, there were only 25 rounds needing cleaning out of the 500 loose in the ammo can. MUCH better deal than what we've got nowadays.
 
#6 ·
I have some 5.56 Guat. that was pretty badly corroded. Now what I did is frowned upon by most people, ( and rightfully so if you think about what you are doing ), I put the nastiest looking 60 or so into the brass vibratory tumbler, with fresh walnut shell and a little Nu-Finish. Let 'em clean for about 20 min. ( I figured I had nothin' to lose ) Be dog-goned if they didn't turn out to bad !

Pulled apart half of 'em and "inspected" the powder...looked fine....tossed the other half back into the tumbler and left it run over night. Pulled them apart the next day.....powder looked and "felt" the same.. ( not dusty)

This seemed to have worked for the Guat. That doesn't mean that it will work for the Port. I figured the little time spent in the "tumbler" would be like the loose ammo riding around in a truck for hours.

If you do this, I would suggest you be more through in your "inspections". Better safe then sorry!
If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then DON'T do it.
 
#7 ·
It doesn't have to shine to be "clean."

Assuming that the corrosion hasn't affected the integrity of the case.

If it were me.......I'd clean off the crud that would prevent chambering. Shoot it. Then, I'd tumble (or use a liquid cleaner) the empty brass. And finally, re-load it.

Aloha, Mark

PS........I would NOT tumble loaded ammo (especially surplus ammo) for long periods of time. There are many warnings in re-loading. KNOW where YOU draw the line.
 
#8 ·
Update on this issue...

I contacted Classic Arms about this issue. The percentage of corroded ammo being nearly 60% had me concerned due to the cost.

CA has been more than fantastic. They immediately recognized my concern. I had ordered a case but they only had 4 battle packs left. So they offered those and a credit to my CC. Shipped at no cost and shipping back the corroded stuff is on their dime as well. They stayed in contact the whole time. The replacement BP's are sealed and vacuum is intact.

Classic Arms in my opinion is a Class Act!

Tom
 
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