Bountyhunter

Is all berdan primed Nato ammo corrosive? I noticed that the stuff Natchez sells is.

XLCH

I do not think it is all corrosive but not sure.

Deadeye

Read this: http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=8

I always assume it's corrosive.

XLCH

Better safe then sorry.

Bountyhunter

I always clean my guns after shooting them, so it looks like I'll be ok. I just didn't realize that it was corrosive. I may have to stick with the Federal. It's under $15 a box at my local and at wally World.

Snuffy

If your shooting the ammo in your M1A need to stick with miltary spec pal easier on your rifle.

sheepdog

...I've seen ads on the net that specify Berdan non-corrosive...I guess you have to trust the seller...or contact the importer, maybe...

XLCH

Or clean it real good each time you shoot that stuff.

sheepdog

...are pressures lower on military .308 than commercial hunting ammo???

Bountyhunter

Yes they are, Sheepdog, but i have the Springfield M1A, which is built to shoot SAAMI spec ammo. That's anything on the shelf.

I also checked last nigth and the ammo I have is non-corrosive according to my local.

sheepdog

...good news, both...so the M1A is stronger than the original M1s were....wow!!!

Machinist

Sheepdog,
They are not stronger but are set up for the higher pressures. It is a matter of adjusting how much gas is allowed to reach the piston before the port cuts off. Some .308 military rifles are adjustable by the user so they can compensate for weather, dirt, or different loads. Others need parts changed. The M14 would handle commercial ammo if set up for it. NATO ammo has a lower peak pressure than commercial ammo. The high pressure makes the action operate too violently and batters it unless it is adjusted.

Snuffy

How can you tell?

Machinist

Tell what, Snuffy?

Bountyhunter

If it's corrosive or not? My local told me it's not. That's the only way I know. I'd have to look up the ammo and see if it was or not otherwise.

a easy check is to pull a bullet & powder and fire on a steel plate.watch it for a few days and if its corrosive you will know.btw its only the primer that is corrosive.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting/co ... /index.asp

Bountyhunter

I was reading on another forum that the corrosive ammo is almost non-existant now. Is this the case?

no.some of the korean 30/06 M1 ammo that is floating around is corrosive,indian and paki ammo I heard was corrosive also in 303 brit and 7.62.

all russian,hungarian,bulgarian and CZ ammo is corrosive in 7.62X54R.

the only 7.62 nato surplus I would shoot in my socom would be LC german, brit or SA.

Bountyhunter

I don't remember which brands I have have. They were both marked non-corrosive at the shop though.

sheepdog

...that's a lotta rifle to trust to some underpaid store clerk's choice of stamps...