Dirty, dirty, dirty...

[Standard Velocity]

Dirty Russian ammo.

Today I finally made it out to shoot my new foul weather rifle. I bought a Tikka T3 stainless light to use in rainy weather.

I’ve never taken the time to break in a barrel before but decided I’d give it a try this time. I ordered a couple of boxes of cheap Russian ammo and some JB Bore Paste. I followed the JB instructions to polish the bore then took it out to shoot.

The supposed break-in procedure is to clean after every round for ten rounds, then after every three rounds for twenty if I’m not mistaken. I use Pro-Shot copper and powder solvent, brush, patch, Balistol, patch. This makes for a long slow day of cleaning.

I got everything set up and ready to go. After the first shot the first patch looked like the fine grey pluff mud. I thought for a moment I had left the bore paste in the barrel it was so dirty.

Shot after shot, patch after patch all afternoon with muddy powder residue. It was not especially difficult to remove and there wasn’t much copper fouling but I’ve never seen such dirty ammunition.

Here are some of the patches ranging from grey mud to “almost got it clean.” Have any of you used Barnaul ammunition before? Have you seen any particular powder foul this badly?

 

[sestoppelman]

Steel cased Russian ammo is pretty crappy cheap stuff. I wouldn't personally use it in any nice rifle I own. Per the break in. Its a feel good measure with no way to prove if it does any good or not. Probably wont hurt anything, though the junky ammo is probably worse on the gun than anything else.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

My friend always tells me to shoot cheap Russian ammo in cheap Russian rifles.
That being said I only buy steel cases ammo in 7.62x39 for AKs and SKSs.

 

[ZG47]

I suspect that the burning rate is a bit slow for that projectile weight in that case. They may have run out of their preferred smokeless propellant and used the next best bulk powder on site, at the time. More of an issue with self-loading rifles than repeaters.

I believe that we had a similar issue here in New Zealand about fifteen years back with some of the remanufactured ammunition from Ordnance Developments Limited. They had removed military bullets from 6.5x55 SE cases and reloaded those cases with sporting projectiles that created less barrel friction than the original projectiles would have (and appeared to have reused the original propellant, going by the barrel fouling).

If you want to know about real barrel fouling, I have read about a batch of .30 cal ammunition which was sent to the Pacific Theatre in WWII, that could only be used in Browning Model 1919s and Johnson LMGs due to its black powder like fouling.

 

[spike.t]

Only 223 in AR type rifles... didn't notice any difference

 

[Standard Velocity]

Steel cased Russian ammo is pretty crappy cheap stuff. I wouldn't personally use it in any nice rifle I own. Per the break in. Its a feel good measure with no way to prove if it does any good or not. Probably wont hurt anything, though the junky ammo is probably worse on the gun than anything else.

The voodoo of barrel break-in may or may not work. It’s a hunting rifle not benchrest so it’s unlikely to really matter. I buy most rifles used so it’s generally not an option. Nothing wrong with the exercise and it’s a quick way to familiarize yourself with a new gun.

I don’t generally buy cheap Russian ammo but don’t see how it could damage a bolt action. The fouling is easily removed and the bolt can be disassembled and cleaned.

I’ve wondered about the mild steel cases scratching the chamber or not expanding enough to hold gas away from the bolt but haven’t heard of this happening. I could see the powder mucking up the gas ports in a semiauto though.

 

[Edster]

Only Russian ammo I have ever used is 223. I only got it because it was cheap and my daughter runs thru a 30 round mag faster then a machine gun. Never really followed any Barrel break in. Typically with a new gun I will slow shoot. Fire a few rounds, and the let it sit and cool. I will clean after every range visit. Seems to work for me

 

[Chago]

Yes as others have said. That would never touch any of my hunting or custom rifles. But yes in my AR's where I wanna do some plinking it's fine. I just make sure I do a nice cleaning of the barrel and action before storing it again. The chrome lined barrels on most AR are very durable and the crappy ammo won't do much damage to it. But again make sure to clean and not let it sit.

 

[Nyati]

Many years ago I bought .22LR steel russian ammo for practice.

And yes, it was really dirty.

 

[Opposite Pole]

I shot this crap through my gun once and never will again. It is filthy.

 

[Bonk]

Two of the most controversial gun topics rolled into one thread. Cool.

People either swear by barrel break-in or they think it's voodoo. I think it's voodoo.

People either love or hate steel cased ammo. I'm like most folks. I occasionally shoot in ARs and AKs but never in my hunting rifles.

 

[mikecatt13]

While most Russian ammo says "non-corrosive" that's not always true. I once read soap/water mixture heavy on the dish soap neutralizes it. If I use it I run a couple patches if that before my other solvents. Certainly doesn't hurt when followed by solvent and oil

 

[Newboomer]

It is nasty crap and if it's shellac coated steel case the shellac will melt after rapid fire and glue the case into the chamber in a bolt gun. Had that happen and tore a piece of the rim off the cartridge trying to extract it and had to drive it out with a rod..

 

[Standard Velocity]

While most Russian ammo says "non-corrosive" that's not always true. I once read soap/water mixture heavy on the dish soap neutralizes it. If I use it I run a couple patches if that before my other solvents. Certainly doesn't hurt when followed by solvent and oil

I didn’t know anyone still made corrosive ammo. I’ve not even considered that newly manufactured ammo would be corrosive. Guess it’s good I was following the break-in routine that required a ridiculous amount of cleaning.

 

[Standard Velocity]

It is nasty crap and if it's shellac coated steel case the shellac will melt after rapid fire and glue the case into the chamber in a bolt gun. Had that happen and tore a piece of the rim off the cartridge trying to extract it and had to drive it out with a rod..

This stuff has no shellac but that’s good to know. That does make sense that could happen.

 

[mikecatt13]

I didn’t know anyone still made corrosive ammo. I’ve not even considered that newly manufactured ammo would be corrosive. Guess it’s good I was following the break-in routine that required a ridiculous amount of cleaning.

From what I understand, it's certainly not as corrosive as the really bad stuff from the past, I believe that stemmed from corrosive primers, which is why most Russian ammo has on the box "non-corrosive boxer primed". But some folks say their cheap powders have mildly corrosive qualities. I cant confirm as I've used the soap/water thing for so long.

So either that works or there isnt any worry about corrosion, I errored on the safe side so cant confirm which is true lol

 

[Standard Velocity]

I think Hoppes is water based and will clean chemically corrosive residues. If I’m not mistaken, some cheap primers have used abrasive minerals that are the equivalent of launching sand down the barrel.

Maybe I’ll stick with CoreLokt and Federal blue box for the cheap stuff.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Most weapons that are designed to fire steel cased ammo have chrome lined bores and chambers, many of them have huge extractors, and they (auto loaders) are normally over gassed, often throwing the spent casings 10-15 feet.
I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

 

[CBH Australia]

I shot this crap through my gun once and never will again. It is filthy.

Thanks, I was going to question the ammo. I heave seen it available reasonably priced online (South East coast? ) I can reload what I need and I don’t mind doing it.

Only Russian ammo I have ever used is 223. I only got it because it was cheap and my daughter runs thru a 30 round mag faster then a machine gun.

You should be proud of that! Stop ur whinging, at least she has an interest in your interest!
Some one once told me that kids that hunt and fish don’t deal and steal.

 

[ZG47]

Thanks, I was going to question the ammo. I heave seen it available reasonably priced online (South East coast? ) I can reload what I need and I don’t mind doing it.


You should be proud of that! Stop ur whinging, at least she has an interest in your interest!
Some one once told me that kids that hunt and fish don’t deal and steal.

When you decide to slow her down, start her on thoroughly cleaning and lightly oiling the rifle after use; then train her to run a lightly oiled rag through the barrel and dry out the chamber plus remove oil from magazine and feeding surfaces before she shoots it. Kill two birds with one stone!