CLEANING AFTER SHOOTING CORROSIVE-PRIMED AMMUNITION



Corrosive primers contain potassium chlorate (KClO3). After firing, this chemical leaves behind potassium chloride (KCl) crystals. Potassium chloride has properties almost identical to sodium chloride - table salt (NaCl). In fact, potassium chloride is used as a salt substitute for people on low-sodium diets.
Both of these chemicals are hygroscopic - they absorb moisture from the air, creating tiny droplets of salt water. And we know what salt water does to steel.
Cleaning these salts from a bore requires a water-based cleaner, since they are water soluble.
People have used plain water, Windex, water with a drop of dish soap, and black powder solvent successfully. The point is never to clean with a modern nitro solvent as a first cleaner, since most of these contain oil, and oil coats the salts, but does not dissolve them.
Many years ago, before WWII, Army Ordnance discovered that ammonia dope was the most effective way to dissolve and neutralize these salts. (Information from Hatcher’s Notebook.)
I use regular household ammonia diluted with two to four parts water.
Moisten two patches - not dripping wet. Run one patch through the bore. Wait ten minutes. Repeat.
Moisten two patches with plain water and run them through the bore several times.
Dry the bore with a dry patch.
Set the rifle against a wall muzzle up for a while to insure that the bore dries.
Proceed with regular nitro solvent and brush.