Corrosive ammo

Question
I have just bought recently a CZ-52 in excellent almost unfired condition.The surplus ammo is very cheap,got 360 rds for $40.00.I have asked alot of advice on how to clean your weapon after shooting corrosive ammo and have gotten many different ways.I have asked you questions in the past and always got good answers.What do you think is the best way to clean your firearm after shooting corrosive ammo?Thanks in advance,Keith.

Answer
Hi Keith,

The key factor concerning corrosive primers is the that although extremely reliable in most/all weather conditions and therefor made for popular primers in military ammo, they produce a metallic oxide that when exposed to moisture will form hydroxides. Bad news for gun barrel steel indeed.

Due the cabalist in this mix being "salt" it is vulnerable to water and water based products. That being said most of the ready made O.T.C. cleaning products that are available to remove these effects in black powder firearms will adequately remove the harmful byproducts left from the use of corrosive primers.

Hoppe's #9 plus is but one example of such a product and one which will accomplish the task as described above. Run a half dozen or so patches with #9 (or a like product of your choice) down the barrel and also clean any other areas with same that were exposed to the primer residue. Dry these areas using clean dry patches and proceed to the next step.

Now........ what I do is to go about cleaning the rifle just like I do all of my other rifle cleaning chores after shooting ammo with  non-corrosive primers. Finish that with a oil/preservative of your choice as the final step and you should be good to go.

I won't detail my "normal" (read non-corrosive) cleaning method/s since that is not really the basis of the question and I'm assuming that you too have a procedure in place that you are already using with success.

Thank you for the question Keith.

Sid Lark