on any ammo I may think is corrosive I use the windex route! better safe than sorry IHO!
There are some common misconceptions in this thread.
Ammonia doesn't neutralize salts. Water (and other solvents, like the alcohol in Hoppe's) dissolves the salts and carries them out of the barrel. Ammonia does work on copper deposits in your barrel, which is why products specifically meant for cleaning centerfire rifle barrels (Butch's Bore Shine, Hoppe's Benchrest, etc) all smell like death.
When I shoot corrosive ammo I just run a Hoppe's-soaked Boresnake through the barrel a few times and then wipe down the bolt face and the inside of the receiver with Hoppe's and a rag. That takes care of the salts until I can do a proper cleaning with a copper solvent like Butch's.
The "Berdan = corrosive" thing has already been addressed. For the record, all surplus 7.5x55 Swiss ammo made after 1911 is non-corrosive but Berdan primed.
E: I don't know if Gun Scrubber works on corrosive salts or not; I've always thought of it as a degreaser and carbon deposit destroyer.
There are some common misconceptions in this thread.
Ammonia doesn't neutralize salts. Water (and other solvents, like the alcohol in Hoppe's) dissolves the salts and carries them out of the barrel. Ammonia does work on copper deposits in your barrel, which is why products specifically meant for cleaning centerfire rifle barrels (Butch's Bore Shine, Hoppe's Benchrest, etc) all smell like death.
When I shoot corrosive ammo I just run a Hoppe's-soaked Boresnake through the barrel a few times and then wipe down the bolt face and the inside of the receiver with Hoppe's and a rag. That takes care of the salts until I can do a proper cleaning with a copper solvent like Butch's.
The "Berdan = corrosive" thing has already been addressed. For the record, all surplus 7.5x55 Swiss ammo made after 1911 is non-corrosive but Berdan primed.
E: I don't know if Gun Scrubber works on corrosive salts or not; I've always thought of it as a degreaser and carbon deposit destroyer.
I just want to add that I think ammonia does a great job on cleaning the carbon fouling, as opposed to plain water. That's why I use a little Windex down the bore at the range, prior to a real cleaning at home.Ammonia doesn't neutralize salts. Water (and other solvents, like the alcohol in Hoppe's) dissolves the salts and carries them out of the barrel. Ammonia does work on copper deposits in your barrel, which is why products specifically meant for cleaning centerfire rifle barrels (Butch's Bore Shine, Hoppe's Benchrest, etc) all smell like death.
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