Author Topic: cleaning up surplus ammo... (Read 479 times)

kevin.303 · « **on:** April 03, 2005, 08:17:37 AM »

bought some surplus 6.5x55 ammo at a gunshow this morning. actually it's the ammo loaded specificlly for a the M41B sniper rifle, but it should work fine in my Ljungman. it's tarnished heavily and some rounds have some light surface corrosin, so i want to know whats the best way to clean this up. i hope it works well in my AG42, not a lot of ammo does. but if it does i'll buy 200 rounds of it in 3 weeks

Shorty · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2005, 12:31:00 PM »

I have heard it said (disclaimer!) that tumblers will never bang together cartridges hard enough to set off primers. 'Sounds right, but I'd set it up outdoors! :wink:

Flash · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2005, 12:58:10 PM »

Tumblers might pulverize the powder and make it ignite and burn much quicker. :eek:

1911crazy · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2005, 01:31:36 PM »

Well I have a stainless steel wheel on my bench grinder and I had some 41b ammo that was lightly corroded and i ran it very lightly on the wire wheel to clean it up. Just go slow and don't get it hot. BigBill

jh45gun · « **Reply #4 on:** April 03, 2005, 04:15:24 PM »

Yea about that powder I have heard the same that the powder may break into smaller pieces and that changes the burning rate which can change the pressure. The stuff that is just tarnished may be ok but I would not shoot the corroded stuff it may have weakend the case. Why take a chance if you do not have to.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2005, 05:11:16 PM »

well, i had the chance to go to the range this afternoon and i shot off 30 of the 40 rounds i bought. most of it hit the paper , which is better than a lot of the 6.5 i've put through this thing. it still groups like a shotgun, all over the place. everytime i shoot this thing i come mad and swearing that i'm gonna sell it! :lol: i did see a few things to consider at the show. one was a sportered Lee Metford or Lee Enfield No.1 Mk 1 for $100. i couldn't get a real close look at it but it was wearing cut down military wood, had no charger bridge and an intact cutoff. the only thing stamped on the wrist was BSA co, no indication of model. the other item was a 6.5 Krag that was in need of some TLC, the bluing was mostly gone and it was missing the piece that held the magazine shut. bore didn't look bad, wanted $175 for it but i can probably talk him down. my gunsmith friend was also looking at it and he has a few of them himself, said it's a simple repair. one of these will become my fall deer gun. next show is in 3 weeks, will be a tough time deciding.

jh45gun · « **Reply #6 on:** April 03, 2005, 05:34:02 PM »

Whats the scoop Kevin is the crown bad or is the barrel worn out?? Any gun that I ever got that shot bad I got rid of it heck if you cannot hit what your aiming at why keep it. I would dump it for something accurate.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 03, 2005, 05:56:35 PM »

for one, i'm not a really great shot, only way to fix that is lots of practice. ant the ammo i was using was milspec, but it wasn't made specifilly for the Ljungman. i'll try handloads next and if that doesn't work, then maybe it'll get the boot. which is too bad because i really like it.of the 20 rounds i fired at paper, 13 hit the paper 3 where in the 5 ring,2 in the 6 ring, 4 in the 7 ring, 2 in the 8 and 2 in the 9.i have to try the Remingto facotry loads. worked really accurate the first time i used it, but it was out of stock in the local stores for the longest time. as for cleaning the ammo i used some Brasso silverwear polish. it took of the light corrosion and some of the tarnish.

i also don't want to get rid of it because i got a really good price on it and i'd regret it in the future. i only saw one Ljungman today. the bluing was none existent, the stock was cracked and looked awful, and the bolt face and reciever walls where bright green with corrosion. and the guy was firm for $200. :roll:

1911crazy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 03, 2005, 06:45:58 PM »

kevin.303; First have you removed the stock from the reciever? I would check the fit of the stock first, Mikey has seen a lot of bad fitting stocks with inaccurate rifles. Then have you tried 6,5 Sellier and Bellot ammo? I heard the 6,5 FNM "target" ammo is accurate in the AG42B also. And check the crown and the last few inches of the rifling in the bore too. You could try a recrown or counter boring it too if the recrowning doesn't work if the rifling/bore or worn from the cleaning rod. The bottomline is it maybe something easy to correct it and i would never sell it if it was me these are very hard to find here. I waited a longtime to get mine. BigBill

kevin.303 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2005, 12:03:14 PM »

they're fairly common up here with prices ranging between $250-$375. haven't tried S & B ( can't find it) or Winchester yet. i hope handloads work. it worked fine for the guy i bough it off of, i think i just need some more practice. yes i have removed the stock before. maybe i'll try and find some of the regular Swede milsurp ammo, not the specialized stuff.