cleaning corrosive primer ammo

[clodbuster]

I'm thinking of getting a CZ 52 and am wondering what cleanup proceedure is for corrosive primed ammo as all surplus seems to be.  Also what is the best surplus ammo and best current production?

[Wynn]

The CZ 52 strips down in seconds. I just wash out the barrel with hot water in the kitchen sink, dry it and then clean as usual. Hot water flushes the salts left behind by the primers.

[Mikey]

clodbuster:  Wynn is absolutely 100% correct on the takedown and cleanup.  I would also pay attention to the bolt face and the inside of the slide when you clean up after corrosive ammo.

However you mention of surplus corrosive ammo raises concerns posted previously aboout the use of surplus ammo in the CZ52 and some disastrous results were reported.  I believe the Austrian surplus and possibly Chinese surplus are a bit too hot and there are others.  You may pay less for surplus ammo but it may turn out not to be your best buy.....  New ammo is available.  Ron Reed of Reed's Ammo and one of our sponsors makes 13 different loads in the 7.62x25mm round and Sellier and Bellot make new stuff that is readily availble.  There is no need to shoot older surplus that may be corrosive.  HTH.  Mikey.

[NRAJOE]

I have fired nothing but S&B in my CZ52...

But my 6 of my C&R rifles and another handgun that I use corrosive ammo in I swab the bores/chambers/bolt face etc with Windex with Ammonia D....then dry, then clean as a regular gun with Hoppes....oil...etc.

All is good...

[Mikey]

NRAJOE - that Windex is great stuff, isn't it.  Mikey.

[bscman]

NRAJOE - that Windex is great stuff, isn't it.  Mikey.

Yup!
The ammonia in windex will neutralize the corrosive salts. Carry a bottle with you and shoot some down the barrel, let it sit for a bit, and clean as normal.

A few times I've cleaned after corrosive ammo and just used Hoppes. If you clean it well, you shouldn't have a problem.

The big problem with the corrossive stuff is moisture. If you shoot corrosive ammo, the firearm gets wet, and you don't clean it soon it'll go to crap in a hurry. The salts dilute into the moisture and attack the metal. You need something to nuetralize AND thoroughly clean all residue out.

[clodbuster]

thanks alot guys.  I had some inkling that the corrosive was very hard to remove.  Dont know where I got that.

[Wynn]

NRAJOE - that Windex is great stuff, isn't it.  Mikey.

Yup!
The ammonia in windex will neutralize the corrosive salts. Carry a bottle with you and shoot some down the barrel, let it sit for a bit, and clean as normal.

A few times I've cleaned after corrosive ammo and just used Hoppes. If you clean it well, you shouldn't have a problem.

The big problem with the corrossive stuff is moisture. If you shoot corrosive ammo, the firearm gets wet, and you don't clean it soon it'll go to crap in a hurry. The salts dilute into the moisture and attack the metal. You need something to nuetralize AND thoroughly clean all residue out.

The ammonia does absolutely nothing to neutralize the salts left behind by firing corrosive primers. It is the water in the Windex that dissolves and flushes out the salts. The tiny amount of ammonia in it may prevent copper build up.