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Posted: 11/20/2010 5:26:49 PM EDT
This makes me sick.
 I have about 500 rds of 5.45x39 Russian surplus that has had moisture on them for a while. As you can see, some of the rounds have significant rust on the cases and some very minor. I pulled a couple of bullets and the powder doesn't seem like it has had moisture in it.
Now the question... What would you do with these rounds? 
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Posted: 11/20/2010 5:44:12 PM EDT
[#1]
For the small cost of these cartridges, it would not be worth my time to try cleaning the rust off of any but the least affected. I would wipe off the better looking ones to see how they clean up. Any pitting or raised, rough areas of oxidation would be a no-go. I would cull these and break them down for componants. I'd salvage the powder and bullets for reloading...
That being said, I've fired some ugly looking, rusty 7.62x39mm in an AK before with no problem. It's your rifle, so it's your choice. 1DD |
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Posted: 11/20/2010 6:20:05 PM EDT
[#2]
I was thinking the ammo might be shootable, but I wondered a few things...
1. Would the bubbled rust areas on the steel cause any damage to the chamber? 2. Are the chambers in the AK74 loose enough to allow the round to chamber the increased diameter the bubbled areas? |
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Posted: 11/20/2010 7:02:12 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I was thinking the ammo might be shootable, but I wondered a few things... 1. Would the bubbled rust areas on the steel cause any damage to the chamber? 2. Are the chambers in the AK74 loose enough to allow the round to chamber the increased diameter the bubbled areas? I would think that the bubbled rust areas would not cause any chamber damage. That steel on the case (especially when rusted) is not going to be near as hard as the chamber. As for the chamber being loose enough, no idea. Try just chambering a few out of a mag to see what happens, and really let the bolt slam shut like it would when firing, it may just shear that raised oxidation right off. Granted, this may dump that crud in and around your receiver, but hey, the key word there is "AK." |
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Posted: 11/20/2010 7:27:05 PM EDT
[#4]
I would tumble them in aggressive media, and shoot them.
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Posted: 11/20/2010 8:26:05 PM EDT
[#5]
Me personally, I'd just shoot them as is. If I started having chambering issues then I'd tumble them for a little and try again.
YMMV! 
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Posted: 11/20/2010 11:40:15 PM EDT
[#6]
I can't stand to throw anything away that has value. If they were mine I would clean them up and shoot them.
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Posted: 11/20/2010 11:46:19 PM EDT
[#7]
This is the draw back on non-brass cased ammo
 I have alot of Russian military ammo and it seems to have a problem with prolonged moisture exposure in the 'field'. Set some ammo outside for a few weeks of your SHTF ammo and do a test and you will be surprised I have the 5.45 and 7.62x54r Russian military ammo that has lacquer and copper washed cases but the ammo results of my test show that the ammo will corrode after some time. Yugo 7.62x54r and 7.62x39 brass cased hold up very well. Brass will also corrode after time but it holds up better in the short-term.
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Posted: 11/21/2010 8:53:53 AM EDT
[#8]
Don't worry about it. In the stan, some of the AK ammo we had would hurt your eyes just looking at it. This stuff was as bad as a rusty nail. I was hesitant on shooting it, but I loaded that shit up and it shot just as well as the new stuff. Really made me have faith in AKs.
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Posted: 11/21/2010 9:14:06 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted: Me personally, I'd just shoot them as is. If I started having chambering issues then I'd tumble them for a little and try again. YMMV! This. |
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Posted: 11/21/2010 9:22:49 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
I would tumble them in aggressive media, and shoot them. I wouldnt do this. IIRC this causes the power to get finer inside the case, causing faster ignition of the powder, but i could be wrong. Someone else chime in here? |
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Posted: 11/21/2010 2:09:18 PM EDT
[#11]
DON'T tumble! As mentioned it will change the granulation of the powder...
I'd take some very fine steel wool..wipe off the worst of them...and shoot them ALL. I've shot far worse x39 over the years in AK's. Never had an issue. FN in MT |
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Posted: 11/21/2010 2:10:27 PM EDT
[#12]
Had a half a case of Wolf 7.62 like that. I just hit em w/ steel wool or maybe it was a scotchbrite type pad to get the worst stuff off, and it shot fine.
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Posted: 11/21/2010 7:09:03 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
DON'T tumble! As mentioned it will change the granulation of the powder... I'd take some very fine steel wool..wipe off the worst of them...and shoot them ALL. I've shot far worse x39 over the years in AK's. Never had an issue. FN in MT I'm pretty sure someone on here did an experiment that showed no powder breakdown after tumbling live rounds. Maybe someone can find it in the archives? |
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Posted: 11/22/2010 4:09:43 AM EDT
[#14]
I did not catch the make of the ammo. Is it Golden Tiger?
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Posted: 11/22/2010 4:22:53 AM EDT
[#15]
Where's that box of truth about tumbling live ammo?
splanes the myth about, "Breaking down the powder"......... 
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Posted: 11/22/2010 4:54:05 AM EDT
[#16]
Shoot it man. Or send it to me and I'll shoot it.
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Posted: 11/22/2010 5:22:08 AM EDT
[#17]
That stuff looks dangerous, send it to me for proper disposal.
Seriously, though: steel wool to remove the worst of the rust, then shoot the hell out of it. |
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Posted: 11/22/2010 6:53:20 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
Where's that box of truth about tumbling live ammo? splanes the myth about, "Breaking down the powder"......... I heard that tumbling ammo was dangerous with British 'cordite' ammo 
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Posted: 11/22/2010 10:19:02 AM EDT
[#19]
Shoot it. If you won't, I will.
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Posted: 11/22/2010 3:18:36 PM EDT
[#20]
Wipe them down with a rag and shoot them.
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Posted: 11/22/2010 6:07:58 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Shoot it. If you won't, I will. This... it's an AK... it can take it. I have seen some shitty rusted AK's fire some Shitty rusted Ammo... Trust me... it will run... |
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Posted: 11/23/2010 11:51:57 AM EDT
[#22]
Note to self: Do not store ammunition in water ...........
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Posted: 12/15/2010 7:42:24 PM EDT
[#23]
Im wondering - what is the concern here? Why would you not load it as is and shoot it?
I'm just wondering what everyone is making a big deal about? You stick a rusted steel case in a much harder steel chamber, pull the trigger, the gun fires and the case is ejected. Sure the rust will touch your chamber - but as long as you clean it when you are done, absloutly nothing will happen to your AK. It's corrosive - so you will be cleaning the gun after you shoot it anyways... I think people sometimes forget these things were actually made to shoot, and they do a pretty good job of it. Much worse ammo has been fired through AK's in worse conditionthan yours - gaurenteed. |
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Posted: 12/16/2010 4:18:04 AM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
Im wondering - what is the concern here? Why would you not load it as is and shoot it? I'm just wondering what everyone is making a big deal about? You stick a rusted steel case in a much harder steel chamber, pull the trigger, the gun fires and the case is ejected. Sure the rust will touch your chamber - but as long as you clean it when you are done, absloutly nothing will happen to your AK. It's corrosive - so you will be cleaning the gun after you shoot it anyways... I think people sometimes forget these things were actually made to shoot, and they do a pretty good job of it. Much worse ammo has been fired through AK's in worse conditionthan yours - gaurenteed. I would have questioned if I should shoot the ammo too. My main concern would be if the case had been weakened by the rust enough to where one of them might blow the back of the case off when fired. Other concerns would be (as mentioned above) will a rusted case become jammed in the chamber. I've never shot rusty ammo so I would not know. It sounds like a lot of people have though, and generally don't have problems. I learned something today.. yay!! |
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Posted: 12/16/2010 11:11:56 AM EDT
[#25]
Questions for the OP;
Where did you get this ammo? How was it packaged when you got it (sealed can or cardboard box)? Do you know how it became so rusted? |
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Posted: 12/16/2010 5:05:46 PM EDT
[#26]
Load mags and shoot. You may or may not have some minor failures, but nothing that will damage the rifle or any bystanders.
Tumbling loaded ammo does NOT adversely affect the propellant. Most ammo manufacturers tumble their loaded ammo just prior to packaging. |
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Posted: 12/17/2010 1:26:39 PM EDT
[#27]
Shoot it!
I've dropped the hammer on worse looking ammo than that before. |
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