Could this have triggered the ammo crisis?

[LVSteve]

Most ammo requires copper for the bullet jacket. We generally think that copper comes out of the ground as ore, is smelted and then shipped to the ammo manufacturers. But I have recently discovered that a lot of copper has been hiding out, removed from the supply chain entirely. Where is this hiding place...

...the bore of a Yugoslav Mauser M48BO supplied to the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq some time before 14 July 1958. The foaming bore cleaner I am using is still producing dark blue and black patches after about 15 cleanings. If anybody knows how to recover dissolved copper from bore patches, PM me.

 

[Llance]

You could try an electrolysis process much like you might do to remove copper from the bore of your favourite big bore rifle.

 

[Frank46]

I have three Swedish rifles that could donate a full sized copper bullet all ny themselves. I van get their barrels down to a non coppered state only ny much cleaning and scrubbing. But after firing maybe 50 rounds here we go again. Frank

 

[Llance]

I have three Swedish rifles that could donate a full sized copper bullet all ny themselves. I van get their barrels down to a non coppered state only ny much cleaning and scrubbing. But after firing maybe 50 rounds here we go again. Frank

Okay my next suggestion is to lap the barrel with different grades of lapping compound. Start with a fairly fine grade say 400g then switch to 600g then maybe 900g. After that you should be nearly free of any items causing the deposits. Of coarse you could start at 900g and work up to 2000g. Just be sure to remove (flush) all lapping grit in the barrel between the different grades.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Not much copper in a cartridge

 

[LVSteve]

Not much copper in a cartridge

True, but there's plenty of mileage in hyperbole.

 

[pantannojack]

I suspect we will be short of civilian ammo for a long time until that which was lost in Afghanistan is replaced.

 

[Rudi]

Most ammo requires copper for the bullet jacket. We generally think that copper comes out of the ground as ore, is smelted and then shipped to the ammo manufacturers. But I have recently discovered that a lot of copper has been hiding out, removed from the supply chain entirely. Where is this hiding place...

...the bore of a Yugoslav Mauser M48BO supplied to the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq some time before 14 July 1958. The foaming bore cleaner I am using is still producing dark blue and black patches after about 15 cleanings. If anybody knows how to recover dissolved copper from bore patches, PM me.

I don't think so.