|
View Poll Results: Do you care if ammo is dirty?
|
No
|
|
24 |
21.62% |
Only if it causes malfunctions
|
|
38 |
34.23% |
It's a consideration but not a big one
|
|
31 |
27.93% |
Yes
|
|
18 |
16.22% |
|
01-30-2024, 10:06 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 788
Liked 1,371 Times in 655 Posts
|
|
Dirty ammo, do you care?
I don't.
This comes up when discussing what type of ammo to buy but I clean my guns after every range trip and have found a really dirty gun takes the same time to clean as a slightly dirty gun. Before I quit reloading I used a lot of Unique powder which had a well deserved reputation for being dirty before they changed reformulated it to be cleaner several years ago. But it was versatile and shot well.
The only exception is 22 LR ammo for my 617 revolver. Anything with a lead bullet results in sticky extraction after about 50 rounds and I would rather not have to take cleaning equipment to the range. So I only shoot plated bullets through that particular gun.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-30-2024, 11:22 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Northeast MS
Posts: 638
Likes: 2,374
Liked 1,862 Times in 436 Posts
|
|
The military surplus ammo for the M1895 is some of the dirtiest stuff I have ever fired. I think they loaded the round with black powder or something similar, not to mention the corrosive primers. Amazingly, the cleanup on the gun is fairly easy. Since it is a "gas seal" revolver, the cylinder requires very little cleaning. However, cleaning the bore is a bit of a "Russian" bear. I have to start with a slightly alkaline water-based mixture (I use Ballistol and water) to get rid of corrosive salts, then follow up with Hoppes #9 and light oil (I use Ballistol).
The second photo shows a round of the military surplus Nagant ammo compared to a .32 S&W Long.
DSCN2049.JPG
Nagant Ammo .jpg
|
01-30-2024, 11:30 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Puget Sound
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 8,899
Liked 5,314 Times in 1,873 Posts
|
|
Shooting is often dirty business, just like wrenching on cars. If you're averse to grime, then maybe a cleaner pastime is your thing.
In fact, some guns are like dogs. Give 'em a bath and they're upset with you until they get dirty again.
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-30-2024, 11:40 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 36,401
Liked 936 Times in 497 Posts
|
|
Unless it's dirty enough to cause functioning issues it's not an issue to me. And I've never really found any modern ammo that produces enough fouling for that to be a problem in any of my firearms. Black powder loads can, in some guns, be an issue but that's part of the sport of shooting antiques with what they were made to use................ Whatever I am shooting I am going to clean it when done. Even those shot with black powder or old, corrosive primed ammo are still not a big issue to clean as far as I can see.
|
01-30-2024, 11:41 AM
|
Suspended
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,747
Likes: 1,590
Liked 8,916 Times in 3,555 Posts
|
|
All ammunition is "dirty" to some degree! Takes no longer, or more effort to clean the gun with dirty than clean ammunition! You do clean your guns after shooting them, don't you?
Last edited by Alk8944; 02-11-2024 at 07:03 AM.
|
01-30-2024, 11:42 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OHIO
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
Liked 90 Times in 59 Posts
|
|
I have not ever noticed domestic ammo being overly dirty, or my handloads. The only issue I ever had was with rimfire ammo gumming things up and that was after a great deal of firing. I always avoided corrosive surp ammo. So my cleaning procedures after trips to the range are just the usual clean till it is clean. The worst part of that for me is removing residue from lead bullets, generally alot harder than removing the soot.
|
01-30-2024, 12:13 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Michigan Western UP
Posts: 12,977
Likes: 3,048
Liked 14,371 Times in 5,477 Posts
|
|
I was around when the absolute best shotgun powders were Unique, Red Dot, and 700X and they were dirty, especially in a semi-auto 12 ga. Never bothered me because they were all the same. Then along came Clays powder and the only thing ever said about the powder was that it burned clean. One could shoot a box of 25 and not know the gun was shot since the bore was still clean. Of course I went to Clays and found that my semi-auto shotguns hardly ever needed stripping down.
Moving forward to the COVID years, I shot any powder I had on the shelf. Had a 15 pound pasteboard container with 6 pounds still leftover from the 1960s. Loaded up and shot most of it over the last several years, but found I had to increase my charge bar bushing in order to get 1200 fps.
So, do I care about dirty powder, yes - but the reality is you shoot what you have or can buy and I still cannot get Clays.
__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-30-2024, 01:06 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: western NC
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 2,543
Liked 6,888 Times in 2,153 Posts
|
|
You said "dirty ammo", so I answered yes in the poll. It can be tarnished cases and oxidized lead, but no grit or other coarse material on the cartridge. I don't want it scratching up the chambers. If you mean dirty-burning, then it makes less difference to me.
|
01-30-2024, 02:14 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Lost Wages, NV
Posts: 20,067
Likes: 24,600
Liked 29,395 Times in 10,933 Posts
|
|
Funny you should ask as I am in the process of cleaning five guns I took out last Friday. 90% of the ammo used was Blazer Brass, and it is pretty dirty. I am seeing a lot of soot down the side of the case, but whether that is down to the ammo or the action type I cannot say. Today I am cleaning the two gas delayed blowback guns I took out, and I already know it's going to be nasty, despite the limited number of rounds fired. I'll start another thread with pictures.
__________________
Release the Kraken
|
01-30-2024, 02:52 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SE USA
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 4,494
Liked 1,932 Times in 875 Posts
|
|
I always buy non-corrosive ammo when I can. Shot a Saiga 7.62x39 AK-47 semi-auto without cleaning it for years as an experiment(have more than one). The action started getting a little tight, so I just sprayed some Rem-oil in there, worked the action about twelve times, and shot it another few years. When the 2006 ones came in, I cleaned it...experiment over. Loose tolerances or whatever, it carried dirty and kept on ticking.
|
01-30-2024, 03:54 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Piedmont of Virginia
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 4,435
Liked 5,768 Times in 2,234 Posts
|
|
Dirty ammo?
Just another excuse to spend more time with my guns.
|
01-30-2024, 06:47 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: York County, VA
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
Liked 4,932 Times in 1,822 Posts
|
|
I'm pretty OCD about cleaning my guns after each range visit. I bought some Remington UMC on sale a few years ago and vowed never again. It had to be the dirtiest I've ever shot by far. Cleaning my M&P9 was more of a chore than any other time I've experienced.
__________________
Why duck?? It's a 9mm!
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-30-2024, 07:07 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,590
Likes: 4
Liked 8,935 Times in 4,144 Posts
|
|
I don't think the question was well thought out.
I'm not sure what is meant by dirty ammo. Is the brass tarnished or what? Or does the powder burn dirty? As long as it's accurate and the case is not corroded in any way, the appearance doesn't bother me in the least.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-30-2024, 07:38 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: Rockies
Posts: 42
Likes: 27
Liked 55 Times in 22 Posts
|
|
I hate dirty shooting ammo.
I bought a box of Wolf garbage years ago and it took two hours to clean the gun after shooting.
I vowed to never again run that junk through any gun.
It was a Commie plot to destroy our firearms so they could invade more easily. Best thing the President ever did (low bar, I know) was banning it's importation.
|
01-30-2024, 08:15 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: between beers
Posts: 8,892
Likes: 4,779
Liked 6,943 Times in 3,312 Posts
|
|
Dirt isn't created equal.
I've had trap loads that were dirty enough to cause a pump action shotgun to become difficult to rack.
Naturally, this was a case where it was unacceptable.
I also had a 45 ACP load that was a mess. A Stainless gun came out looking like phosphate finish, bullet lube and GSR dripped from the mag well and the grass in front of my firing position was greasy, but in no way did this inhibit the guns function. In this case ... that's a badge of honor.
__________________
it just needs more voltage
|
01-30-2024, 08:18 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 252
Likes: 751
Liked 405 Times in 124 Posts
|
|
I shoot quite a bit, I don’t clean unless I notice function issues.
Although I have spent the last two evenings taking revolvers down to the frame and doing a thorough cleaning, probably because the weather is ****** and I am too wimpy to go shooting.
Last edited by Spurdann; 01-30-2024 at 08:20 PM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
03-16-2024, 02:52 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,850
Likes: 7,693
Liked 7,406 Times in 2,516 Posts
|
|
I'm sort of weird in this way I suppose, but in a way I kind of like the ammo to be a bit more dirty because then when I clean the gun it actually feels necessary.
When I've shot extremely clean-burning ammo then went to clean the gun afterwards it almost felt like a completely unnecessary waste of time and resources. It feels almost wrong to come home after a range trip and then clean the gun only to find that it really wasn't very dirty at all, just a dusting of soot inside that required a once-over to clear.
__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.
|
03-16-2024, 03:26 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,573
Likes: 5,017
Liked 21,397 Times in 6,456 Posts
|
|
Dirty ammo is not especially a bad thing as long as it goes bang when the trigger is pulled.
I do know that at about 2500 rounds of M1911 military issue hardball a M1911A1 quits working.........Know that for a fact.
__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
|
04-07-2024, 11:42 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 273
Likes: 22
Liked 217 Times in 126 Posts
|
|
Exept for .22 LR I clean approx. every 200 rounds so don't care.
|
04-07-2024, 12:08 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Texas & San Antonio
Posts: 33,644
Likes: 242
Liked 29,156 Times in 14,097 Posts
|
|
In my entire life, dirty ammo has been at the very bottom of my concerns. In fact, even below that. It doesn't even rate a mention.
Corrosive ammo is the same. All you need to do is clean with water after shooting it. Problem solved.
Last edited by DWalt; 04-07-2024 at 12:11 PM.
|
04-07-2024, 01:03 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: (outside) Charleston, SC
Posts: 31,005
Likes: 41,673
Liked 29,254 Times in 13,833 Posts
|
|
Tarnished, I don't mind a bit...
However, DIRTY ammo I don't want in my guns. I don't mind if it SHOOTS dirty. I just clean the guns afterward.
I see that most people took the question to mean that ammo shoots dirty. As to that I don't mind a bit, so you could change my vote from 'yes it matters' to 'no, it doesn't matter'.
__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"
Last edited by rwsmith; 04-07-2024 at 01:06 PM.
|
04-07-2024, 10:18 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Arizona
Posts: 217
Likes: 508
Liked 368 Times in 150 Posts
|
|
I don't like dirty ammo.
I clean my guns after EVERY range visit. Usually immediately upon returning. That's just how I run my guns.
Some of the worst ammo I've ever shot would be Magtech and UMC stuff. Winchester Whitebox would be hit or miss for dirty, for me.
I try to get clean ammo whenever I buy ammo for any caliber. I stick mainly with PMC, CCI, and Federal.
__________________
Go ahead... make my day.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|