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Steel core ammo

model1892
I have fired steel mil ammo in my CZ-52. It has a copper jacket and works fine. It is very common for that pistol. Question, why not use steel core ammo for most if not, all hand guns? My theory is that steel is lower density so that for the same shape it would have less mass. This would be bad for a rifle shooting a long distance. But, it should be good for a hand gun with a short barrel. The bullit should accelerate faster and exit at a higher velocity. Steel should also be cheaper. Why not more steel core ammo?
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  • model1892
    A friend of mine invited me over the other day and told me he had some ammo he was going to give me. The ammo was given to him and he doesn't want it because he doesn't own a rifle that shoots 7.62x39mm. I was given about 75 rounds of chinese steel core ammo on stripper clips, I know they are chinese because I did a search on the numbers that are stamped on the casing. The condition of the ammo is in pretty descent shape, there seems to be some corrosion and age on the ammo but the ammo is suppose to be non-corrosive. What can I do to clean this ammo up a little bit and prevent it from being in worser shape.
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  • Nwcid
    Well first off corrosive does has do with the type of primers used in the round.

    The rounds are made out of steel or brass. BOTH get corrosion if stored improperly.

    To clean it use a little gun oil and a nylon cleaning brush. If that does not work lightly try some 0000 steel wool.
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  • rufe-snow
    It's probably the ex Chinese military ammo, if it's on the 10 round stripper clips. To the best of my knowledge, it was all corrosive. It came with a copper washed steel cartridge case.

    To clean the cartridges, I would just use the green pads, of the 3M company, Scotch Bright, thats sold in the supers. If you intend to shoot it, I wouldn't be leaving any type of lube on the cartridge cases.
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  • model1892
    I never thought about using some steel wool. The ammo that I was given are three different kinds. One cartridge has a copper look to it with headstamps 31 and 79. The other copper look with headstamps 34 and 72. I also had a few cartridges that are dark green with headstamps 31 and 73. They have a red primer around the bullet head.
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  • heavyiron
    Hi,

    The ammo that you describe is steel cased with either a lacquer coating or copper gilded.

    If the cases are corroded, I would through them away. Steel can corrode by pitting and even if the surfaces were cleaned, there could still be a pit that penetrates through the case. Case failure could result in tearing a case in half and leaving a portion in the chamber or an unsafe pressure condition or venting the gas back into your face.

    Heavyiron
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  • tsavo303
    i would be careful scrubbing them not to remove any laquer coating
    I also would not use oil.
    just wipe them down, and store clean and dry
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  • model1892
    I held the ammo very closely under a bright light and there is some pitting on certain bullets and it looks as if the coating is wearing off.
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  • leeblackman
    Put it thru a tumbler with some clean corncob media for a few hours, it will clean it right up.
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  • l-girl
    Not sure I would recommend putting loaded ammo in a tumbler for any length of time.

    The tumbling action could break up some of the powder, particularly if it is extruded, and make it burn faster than it was intended to. This could create higher pressures than are safe.
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  • TRAP55
    quote:The tumbling action could break up some of the powder, particularly if it is extruded, and make it burn faster than it was intended to. This could create higher pressures than are safe.
    It can and will, I learned that lesson the hard way, and would have lost an eye if I wasn't wearing shooting glasses.
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  • jonk
    I've shot some pretty ratty looking ammo in my day. The question is, is it just cosmetic? If you can buff it off with scotch bright or steel wool and see no pitting, you should be good to go. Otherwise I'd toss it or pull down for components. Heck, sell it on gb or do a giveaway. I know I'd pay a few bucks just to get the bullets.

    If it is corrosive- and I'd assume it is- just begin your cleaning process by pouring a pint of hot soapy water down the bore, wipe off the gas piston, pour some through the gas tube on the handgaurd, dry, and clean as normal. Adds maybe 5 min to a cleanup routine.
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