Re: Cleaning after Corrosive-Ammo
First of all, you're using ComBloc ammo in a ComBloc firearm. Odds are good they employ chrome in the bore/chamber and are relatively impervious to corrosive priming. My advice would be to do some research into Russian Firearm manufacturer sites (like Izmash, or Izhevsk; see
Valery Shilen), and see what cleaning regimen they recommend.
As a frontloader shooter, I am very familiar with cleaning with hot water. I simply use hot tap water, Dawn, and a boremop; placing the priming nipple end of the barrel underwater in a plastic gallon bucket and slowly running the rod/mop up and down inside the bore like a piston. If Dawn won't get it, it's earned the right to stay. Refresh the water/Dawn frequently, and when it doesn't get dirty anymore, the bore's done. Rinse/dry it as best you can. When done, I go over everything with a hair dryer until it's all quite warm to the touch. Any moisture left should evaporate on its own in ten-twenty more minutes on its own, so go fix yourself a sandwich. Since I shoot mostly patched ball, copper cleaning is not usually an issue. If it were, I would do the previous, followed by a conventional cleaning.
I recently pulled my muzzle loader out of several years' storage, expecting the worst. Instead, I opened the hard case to a view of a pristine, immaculate sidelock percussion rifle. Now I know I don't have any Good Gremlins around so I gave it all some thought.
The last muzzle loader cleaning step I always perform is to apply a thorough layer of Bore Butter to everything inside and out.
Based on this episode, I would definitely give it a A+ as a rifle storage preservative coating, wood and all.
Greg
PS Excerpt from the Izmash service and training manual of the Dragunov rifle:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> 2.7. Cleaning and lubrication
2.7.1. The rifle should be cleaned in the following cases:
a. when preparing the rifle for firing;
b. after firing with live and blank ammunition, immediately after finishing the fire;
c. after guard duty or field exercises without firing, just on return to the barracks;
d. in combat situation and prolonged tactical exercises, daily during lulls of the fight and during the intervals in the exercises;
e. if the sniper rifle is not in use, at least once a week.
2.7.2. Lubricate the sniper rifle after cleaning. Apply lubricant only to the well-cleaned and dry surfaces of the metal immediately after cleaning to avoid the adverse effect of moisture on the metal.
2.7.3. For cleaning and lubricating the rifle following materials are used:
liquid rifle oil for cleaning the rifle and lubricating its parts and mechanism, when the ambient temperature is within +50 grad. C to -50 grad. C;
rifle oil for lubricating the barrel bore, the rifle parts and mechanisms after their cleaning, the said oil is used when the ambient temperature exceeds +5 grad C;
RCHS solution for scouring out the barrel bore and other parts affected by the powder gases.
Note - The RCHS solution is prepared in a subunit. The composition of the solution is as follows:
drinking water - 1 L;
ammonium carbonate - 200 g;
potassium bichromate - 3-5 g.
The RCHS solution is prepared in the amount required for scouring the weapon in the course of 24 hours. Small amount of the RCHS solution may be stored in tightly plugged glass vessels, away from heaters (in a dark place) for not more than 7 days.
It is prohibited to fill the oilers with the РЧС solution.
waste or special paper KB-22 for wiping, scouring and lubricating the sniper rifle;
tow free from boon only for scouring the barrel bore out.
2.7.4. To clean the sniper rifle, proceed as follows:
a. Prepare materials for cleaning and lubrication;
b. Disassemble the sniper rifle;
c. Prepare accessories for use during cleaning;
d. Scour out the barrel bore.
To scour out the barrel bore with liquid rifle oil put the tow on the scourer end and place the tow fibres along the scourer rod; soak the tow in liquid rifle oil. Insert the cleaning rod with the scourer and the tow into the barrel bore and secure the container cover on the flash eliminator. Holding the rifle with one hand smoothly move the scourer with the tow forward along the entire length of the barrel bore several times. Remove the cleaning rod, change the tow, soak it in liquid rifle oil and, adhering to the above procedure, scour the bore several times. Then thoroughly wipe the barrel bore with the clean dry tow, then with a clean waste cloth. To clean the barrel bore with the РЧС solution, use the brush soaked in the solution; then wipe the barrel bore with tow. Proceed with cleaning the bore with the RCHS solution to completely remove the fouling. Having cleaned the rifled portion of the bore, clean the cartridge chamber.
e. Clean the gas chamber and the gas tube with the help of the cleaning rod or a wooden stick, wrapped with waste cloth around, washed with liquid rifle oil or the РЧС solution; wipe the gas chamber and the gas tube dry after they have been cleaned; wipe the barrel bore with waste cloth once more and inspect it to see that no tow, waste cloth, rags or foreign matter are left therein;
f. Clean the receiver, the bolt and the gas piston with waste cloth soaked in liquid rifle oil or the РЧС solution, then wipe them dry;
g. Wipe dry the rest metal parts with waste cloth;
h. Wipe the wooden parts with dry waste cloth.
2.7.5. Lubricate the sniper rifle as follows:
a. Lubricate the barrel bore with the help of the scourer and the waste cloth, soaked in lubricant; lubricate the cartridge chamber;
b. Lubricate all the remaining metal parts and mechanisms with oiled waste cloth;
c. Apply a thin layer of lubricant, as excessive lubrication tends to increase soiling of the rifle parts and may result in stoppages during firing;
d. Do not lubricate wooden parts.
2.7.6. Assemble the rifle and check the functioning of its parts and mechanisms.
2.7.7. Wipe the external surfaces of the optical sight with clean waste cloth. Remove the cap of the reticle illuminating set and wipe the cell, the body and the cap. Should the surfaces of the objective and eyepiece lenses be soiled, wipe them with cloth. Never wipe the lenses and glasses with a waste cloth, already used for wiping other parts of the sight. Do not lubricate them or touch with fingers. It is prohibited to strip the sight.
2.8. Storage and transportation of rifle
2.8.1. The rifle should be always kept unloaded, the optical sight and the magazine should be detached, the knife bayonet removed, the hammer released from the cocking cam, the rifle set at safe, the sight slide set at the division "n".
2.8.2. In barracks and in camp keep the rifle in arm racks, keep the optical sight covered, keep magazines, a carrier for the sight and magazines, the knife bayonet in scabbard, a bag for the SPTA, the sling for carrying the small arms and accessories in a special section of the same arm rack. The carrier for the optical sight and the magazines, the slip cover and the sling should be clean and dry.
2.8.3. In case of a temporary stay in some building keep the rifle in a dry place, away from a door, stoves and heaters. In combat situation hold the rifle with the hands.
2.8.4. In field exercises and on march, carry the rifle in the "slung" position. The sling should be so adjusted as to prevent the rifle from striking against the hard objects of the accoutrements. The rifle is carried with one magazine attached. The rest magazines are in the carrier.
2.8.5. When travelling by trucks or armoured personnel carriers hold the rifle between the knees, in the vertical position, and when travelling by tanks hold the rifle with the hands, taking care to protect from striking against the armour.
2.8.6. When transported by railway or by water, place the rifle on a special arm rack. If the carriage or the ship is not furnished with arm racks, hold the rifle with the hands or put it on the shelf, in doing so make sure that it will not drop or be damaged.
2.8.7. To prevent the barrel from building or rupture, never plug the bore with anything.
2.8.8. Prevent the optical sight from dropping, protect it from sharp blows and jolts, and prevent moisture and dust from getting inside the optics. Keep the optical sight protected with the cover in dry heated premises; if the sight is attached to the rifle, but fire is not delivered, protect the sight with its slip cover. Wipe thoroughly wet sights with dry waste cloth, and dry the slip covers. It is prohibited to keep the sights near stoves and bonfire.
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While you're on the Shilen site, take a look around. The Spetznaz are currently evaluating a sniper rifle built around the 9.3x63 cartridge, very similar to the slightly faster .35 Whelen.
