Cleaning after corrosive ammo use.

[Cheesehead]

I just bought a 900 pack of 8mm mauser ammo from Midway for cheap. It is corrosive and I am looking for a quick, easy and effective cleaning method. I used the search function and found that hot soapy water is recommended. Could any one describe an effective method in detail? I have also heard Windex works. Thank You in advance.

Cheese

[John Traveler]

Prompt and thorough bore cleaning after firing corrosive-primed ammunition is mandatory if you wish to preserve the rifle bore. 

For the several generations that the U.S. military used corrosive-primed ammunition, the cleaning procedure was simple: use a "jag slotted" tip swab holder on your cleaning rod, and with the muzzle immersed in a container of hot, soapy water, clean from the breech end, working the cleaning rod like a piston to draw water into the bore and chamber.  Using bore and chamber brush, and swabs remove firing residue from the barrel and breech bolt.  Use clean swabs to dry the bore and chamber, then clean and oil while the barrel is warm.  Barracks and rifle range cleaning procedures required this repeated cleaning for 3 days after firing the weapon.

The preferred military cleaning method (in order of effectiveness) was: 1.  hot soapy water  2.  hot water  3.  cold water.  In the field, rifle bore cleaner (RBC) was used, as it contained a water emulsion to dissolve primer salts.

Windex and other water-containing solvents are also effective.  Remember to clean and oil normally to prevent after rust.

HTH
John

 

[Stan in SC]

What is corrosive is the hygroscopic residue from the military primer.All you need to do is use a squirt bottle of either ammonia/water in a 50/50 mix or plain old Windex.After shooting,preferably at the range when the rifle is still warm,squirt this down the bore from the breech end and wash the bore clear.Then squirt some on the bolt face and wipe it off.Nuttin to it,clean the weapon normally after you get home.

Stan

[S.S.]

Hot water and dish washing detergent.
I used windex once and it created a nice white frosting
in the bore. It took a stainless steel brush to get it out.
Priming mixtures vary from country to country and I guess
that mix did not like ammonia.

[Victor3]

See the "how to clean after using corrosive ammo" link...

http://www.empirearms.com/

It's what I do. Works good.

[simonkenton]

I do like the US Marines did in WW2. Remove the bolt, put the muzzle in a pot of hot soapy water, and run that cleaning patch up and down the bore a dozen times. Then clean in conventional fashion.
I tried the Empire Arms techniique. I like Empire Arms very much and have bought a few guns from them. Their gun cleaning technique, I don't like.
I cleaned my rifle with the ammonia and water mix, just like Empire Arms said, and finished it with oiled patches. A week later, I looked down the bore, and it looked fuzzy! I ran a clean patch down the bore and it was covered with red rust.
Another time I was trying that ammonia and water mix, and I spilled a few drops on the stock of a beautiful, $350 M39 SkY.
It ate the finish right off that stock.
Now I stick with the Marine's technique.

[S.S.]

Same with me SimonKenton.
Been cleaning them that way for several decades now with no problems.
Have tried other things, but come back to hot soapy water!

[Rum River]

What year was the switch made to non-corrosive priming?