Corrosive Ammo Question.

S

samsmix

New member
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?
 
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.
 
I came across a rifle that had been fired with corrosive ammo, leaving a 1/16" layer of rust on the bore !! :eek:
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
"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?
 
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


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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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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