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7.62X39 rounds

scrubberguyscrubberguy Member Posts: 219 ✭✭✭
edited January 2008 in Ask the Experts
At a recent family get together my nephews blazed off a bunch of 7.62X39 ammo I had purchased. That's what it was bought for entertainment.

Being above average nephews they actually came by my place a month or so later with about 400 rounds 7.62X39 ammo for me as a replacement for what they fired off.

My question: is this stuff corrosive?

It appears to be standard ball ammo with a copper case or wash on it. The only I.D. on it is a head stamp 351 on top and 73 on the bottom.

As a guess I think the 73 is a manufactures date? as for the rest got no clue.

The ammmo was brought to me in an unmarked ammo can so no help there.

Any ideas how to I.D. this stuff[?]
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Comments

  • redhead71redhead71 Member Posts: 2,337 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    CHINA MADE, 351 IS THE ARSONAL 73 YEAR MADE. MORE THAN LIKLY VERY CORROSIVE
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Likely IS corrosive- but, so what? The SKS was intended to shoot corrosive primed ammo. Just clean it properly, and enjoy it.
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  • flyingtorpedoflyingtorpedo Member Posts: 1,301 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The price is right too! [;)]
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  • 5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Scrubberguy redhead has it right on. Yes it is corrosive. And 11b6r has it right too. You can shoot it, you just got the scrub everything that gets hit with hot gases very well. Inside barrel, operating rod, tube, etc.
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  • Wehrmacht_45Wehrmacht_45 Member Posts: 3,377
    edited November -1
    A little windex added to a regular cleaning routine is all you need. I have shot over 50k of corrosive rounds through my FN49, Mausers, and Mosin Nagants, and Enfields without ever having issues. I just cant be lazy and let them sit after hitting the range.
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  • scrubberguyscrubberguy Member Posts: 219 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys!

    With a little luck might get the nephews to do some cleaning to?[8D]
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  • justright58justright58 Member Posts: 333 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use amonia on a patch, then a brass brush then water on the patch then Breakfree thoroughly. Have shot a lot of 7.62x39 and probably 10k rounds of old 8mm Mauser using this method over 30 years and still have clean bores.
    Good Luck.
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  • rambo rebelrambo rebel Member Posts: 4,028
    edited November -1
    factory 351 made lead core ball from 91-93 so you have steelcore ball which is a keeper unless you have some stashed. while clasified as armor piercing it is not by armor standards. it will however penetrate what comercially made stuff will not. my best guess is it has about 25-35% greater penetrating capabilities that regular 762x39 stuff on the market today.

    R
    R
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Corrosive primers contain a salt compound. Ever leave a shaker of salt on the kitchen table in a humid environment? It gets clogged and water condenses on the top. Same thing happens in your rifle bore eventually causing pitting and rusting if left uncleaned.

    Salt is a very neutral compound. Very stable and unreactive, though it does retain water fairly well (hygroscopic). That said, it CANNOT be NEUTRALIZED (as if it were and acid or base) it can ONLY be dissolved and therefore washed away. So HOT WATER with a little soap perhaps is BEST. Windex and ammonia only work as they have WATER in them. ! Pour a pint or two down the bore, some on the piston, gas system, etc. wipe off the bolt face, and dry. Clean as normal, then oil and you are done. Period.

    What DOES Windex or Ammonia do? Well they are useful for removing copper fouling so if you want to use them go for it, but otherwise, it is hardly necessary to play with foul smelling compounds that can mess up wood and perhaps metal finishes when water works fine.

    So go for it- just make sure some part of your cleaning routine has some water in it.
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