Bought my first Arsenal AK about 2 weeks ago, wanted to do some good firearm hygene and this is what I discovered when I removed the muzzle brake. I cleaned it up the best I could with bore cleaner, and CLP etc.. Any similar experiences?
AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
http://mail.aol.com/34290-411/aol-6/en- ... l&partId=1
Bought my first Arsenal AK about 2 weeks ago, wanted to do some good firearm hygene and this is what I discovered when I removed the muzzle brake. I cleaned it up the best I could with bore cleaner, and CLP etc.. Any similar experiences?
Preventitive maintenance, (besides avoiding cheap ammo). Any reccomended cleaning products?
Bought my first Arsenal AK about 2 weeks ago, wanted to do some good firearm hygene and this is what I discovered when I removed the muzzle brake. I cleaned it up the best I could with bore cleaner, and CLP etc.. Any similar experiences?
"Lead Follow or Get out of the Way!"
-
OakRidgeStars
- VGOF Gold Supporter

- Posts: 14108
- Joined: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:13:20
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Link no workee....
What ammo are you using?. How many rounds have you put through it?
What ammo are you using?. How many rounds have you put through it?
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
http://mail.aol.com/34290-411/aol-6/en- ... l&partId=1
Hope link above works...I haven't shot anything through it yet, this was the mess left behind. I have some Remington and Black Hills ammo ready to cycle this weekend.
Hope link above works...I haven't shot anything through it yet, this was the mess left behind. I have some Remington and Black Hills ammo ready to cycle this weekend.
"Lead Follow or Get out of the Way!"
-
OakRidgeStars
- VGOF Gold Supporter

- Posts: 14108
- Joined: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:13:20
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Can't view the pictures on AOL, probably because we can't login to your account like you are.
It's probably some leftover assembly goo that was in the barrel or receiver. CLP and a wire brush (.30 cal size) should do the trick. If not, then a good dose of solvent followed by a re-lube should get you straight.
It's probably some leftover assembly goo that was in the barrel or receiver. CLP and a wire brush (.30 cal size) should do the trick. If not, then a good dose of solvent followed by a re-lube should get you straight.
- Jakeiscrazy
- VGOF Silver Supporter

- Posts: 3519
- Joined: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:06:02
- Location: Chesterfield, VA
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Corrosive ammo causes rust and the gun must be cleaned the day of(some even say before leaving the range). Dirty ammo just cause more lead and carbon buildup. Anything else is likely What OakRigde said.
PS: Try using this from your image hosting http://imageshack.us/
PS: Try using this from your image hosting http://imageshack.us/
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
-Winston Churchill
-Winston Churchill
-
OakRidgeStars
- VGOF Gold Supporter

- Posts: 14108
- Joined: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:13:20
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Yep, that's pretty nasty stuff. You'll need to remove the muzzle nut and soak it in solvent for a few minutes, then scrub off the gunk.
Don't forget to wipe it down with lube to prevent the solvent from reacting with the metal.
Don't forget to wipe it down with lube to prevent the solvent from reacting with the metal.
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Looks like carbon crap to me. Pretty much every gun I have looks like that after it's had a silencer on it for a bit.
Just be sure to be gentle when cleaning around your muzzle crown.
Just be sure to be gentle when cleaning around your muzzle crown.
- VBshooter
- VGOF Silver Supporter

- Posts: 3851
- Joined: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:14:27
- Location: Virginia Beach
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Try this stuff if nothing else works...Its a bad ass solvent and it stinks like Holy Hell but it will remove just about anything,,http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/ ... 62_Solvent I used it in my .44 Magnum when I shot lead or cheaper copper ammo and it was the only product that would get the bore clean as I wanted it...
"Not to worry, I got this !!! " "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Captain John Parker- jrswanson1
- Sharp Shooter

- Posts: 752
- Joined: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:23:03
- Location: Woodbridge
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Arsenal + Hoppes #9 = stripped paint. Most US made solvents will take the paint off of the Russian rifles. Best thing to use to clean out the brake is a 20 gauge shotgun brush.
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Arsenals are Bulgarian. I haven't heard of finish getting stripped off of Saigas...jrswanson1 wrote:Arsenal + Hoppes #9 = stripped paint. Most US made solvents will take the paint off of the Russian rifles.
- jrswanson1
- Sharp Shooter

- Posts: 752
- Joined: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:23:03
- Location: Woodbridge
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
My Saiga's paint is coming off due to Hoppes and brake cleaner. Try it some time.Diomed wrote:Arsenals are Bulgarian. I haven't heard of finish getting stripped off of Saigas...jrswanson1 wrote:Arsenal + Hoppes #9 = stripped paint. Most US made solvents will take the paint off of the Russian rifles.
- gunderwood
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

- Posts: 7189
- Joined: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:28:34
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
I'd bet it's just the fault of the brake cleaner alone.jrswanson1 wrote:My Saiga's paint is coming off due to Hoppes and brake cleaner. Try it some time.Diomed wrote:Arsenals are Bulgarian. I haven't heard of finish getting stripped off of Saigas...jrswanson1 wrote:Arsenal + Hoppes #9 = stripped paint. Most US made solvents will take the paint off of the Russian rifles.
sudo modprobe commonsense
FATAL: Module commonsense not found.
FATAL: Module commonsense not found.
- gunderwood
- VGOF Platinum Supporter

- Posts: 7189
- Joined: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:28:34
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Sweet's is good stuff, lots of ammonia IIRC.VBshooter wrote:Try this stuff if nothing else works...Its a bad ass solvent and it stinks like Holy Hell but it will remove just about anything,,http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/ ... 62_Solvent I used it in my .44 Magnum when I shot lead or cheaper copper ammo and it was the only product that would get the bore clean as I wanted it...
sudo modprobe commonsense
FATAL: Module commonsense not found.
FATAL: Module commonsense not found.
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Neither of my Saigas has the original finish anymore, so it wouldn't be much of a test. I think gunderwood's got it, brake cleaner is some harsh, harsh stuff.jrswanson1 wrote:My Saiga's paint is coming off due to Hoppes and brake cleaner. Try it some time.
The OEM finish on Arsenals is junk though. I've seen reports of it coming off with rubbing alcohol; mine only needed rubbing!
- Jakeiscrazy
- VGOF Silver Supporter

- Posts: 3519
- Joined: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:06:02
- Location: Chesterfield, VA
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
So what did you refinish it with? Parkerizing?Diomed wrote:Neither of my Saigas has the original finish anymore, so it wouldn't be much of a test. I think gunderwood's got it, brake cleaner is some harsh, harsh stuff.jrswanson1 wrote:My Saiga's paint is coming off due to Hoppes and brake cleaner. Try it some time.
The OEM finish on Arsenals is junk though. I've seen reports of it coming off with rubbing alcohol; mine only needed rubbing!
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
-Winston Churchill
-Winston Churchill
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
One is done in moly resin, I'm not sure what the other one got. I think it's one of the -coats over park. Have to ask the guy that did it.Jakeiscrazy wrote:So what did you refinish it with? Parkerizing?
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
I know somebody here said windex squirted down the barrel after firing at the range made it a lot easier to clean when you got home the next day as it negated to corrosion. That's preventative though and doesn't help with your current problem. "goo gone"? I keep brake cleaner away from my guns. Maybe dental tools after you "warm the barrel up" some, like cleaning a grill?
"The deeper sorrow cleaves into your soul the greater it's capacity to contain joy" -DeSade
when in doubt set it on fire.
when in doubt set it on fire.
Re: AMMO: Dirty or corrosive or both?
Painted guns?? Okay, I've painted AR's with krylon for the fun of it. I've seen brake cleaner/carb cleaner make the paint look funny but so far it's not removed the camo krylon.
We have a FAL that was cheaply painted and even regular bore cleaner (or just handling/wiping it was making the cheap black paint come off it. We stripped it down to parts/pieces, set all the springs/plastic parts aside, wiped it down with alcohol 2 or 3 times after using carb. cleaner to remove the remaining paint and then painted it with ceramic header paint (flat black). We went through the baking process recommened on the can (should have waited till the wife was out shopping all day) and put it all back together with lube. Nothing seems to affect the ceramic header paint when properly baked. Not carb. cleaner, not brake cleaner, not Hoppe's #9, not even shooting hundreds of rounds of .308 through it.
Sooner or later I'll do my 11-87 SP and maybe even my old Combat Commander.
We have a FAL that was cheaply painted and even regular bore cleaner (or just handling/wiping it was making the cheap black paint come off it. We stripped it down to parts/pieces, set all the springs/plastic parts aside, wiped it down with alcohol 2 or 3 times after using carb. cleaner to remove the remaining paint and then painted it with ceramic header paint (flat black). We went through the baking process recommened on the can (should have waited till the wife was out shopping all day) and put it all back together with lube. Nothing seems to affect the ceramic header paint when properly baked. Not carb. cleaner, not brake cleaner, not Hoppe's #9, not even shooting hundreds of rounds of .308 through it.
Sooner or later I'll do my 11-87 SP and maybe even my old Combat Commander.

