Russian 7.62x39 HP " Corrosive ? " Help

[S. Brady]

I just bought 1000 rounds of the bulk Russian 7.62.39. It was sopposed to be "Non-corrosive" but the box had the following markings "7,62x39-8HP Corrosive L.C.B." The cases have a "99" headstamp. Is this stuff Corrosive? Thanks


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Give me Liberty or give me Death !!

[dadduck]

You should recieve a bunch of opionions on your question and I can only share mine with you. I treat all mil-sur or foreign ammo as corrosive in this respect. After a session I run a patch (one time) thru the bore with solution of 50% household ammonia and water to stop any corrosive action from beginning in the bore and throat. Then I disassemble the weapon,clean it and store it away. This procedure has worked for me for many years with ammo that I know to be corrosive and is working with ammo of which I am not certain about. Hope this helps you. Freedom or Death Dadduck

[Ay-K]

To be safe I would treat it as at least mildly corrosive and I doubt it is fully corrosive because of it bein new mfrd. The Russians have made great strides in providing less corrosive and non-corrosive ammo to the American shooters in recent years. Credit to them and our demanding ways.

I have this stuff also I intend to shoot this immediately and for stockpiling I have the excellent Wolf/Tula brand. It's just pennies more.

[Packrat]

Did the bulk Russian give the plant? The markings sound like the markings that Ulyanovsk Machinery Plant puts on their case. I'll bet they screwed up in printing the English and left off the "Non". With a "99" headstamp, I would seriously doubt that it's corrosive.

However, clean your guns after use regardless -- there is no advantage to dirty guns. If you feel like spending a cartridge to test it, pull the bullet, empty the powder, and fire the primer at a degreased, polished steel plate at about 6" from the gun muzzle. If the primer is corrosive, it will start to rust within 24 hours. If the primer is not corrosive, it is very unlikely that the powder is.

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Packrat

[S. Brady]

Thanks for all the help. See Reno, See Reno Run? Ha Ha. Now that the fit has hit the shan, she is making tracks.

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Give me Liberty or give me Death !!

Check the primers all of the Russian ammo I have seen that is labeled non-corrosive has gold/brass colored primers. The corrosive ammo has silver colored primers.
The way to test it is to get a piece of steel grind/sand two shinning spots on it. Pull the bullet and powder cover one spot and fire at the other from 2" to 3" inches away. Then take the piece of steel and set it on the bathroom floor next to the shower. In two or three days you will see rust on the spot you fired at. If both spots look the same it is not.