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Posted: 6/21/2010 5:38:21 AM EDT
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Hi guys, I just wanted to get some input on this topic. I did a quick search and did not find any threads dealing with this. Maybe it's because it makes people cringe and no one wants to talk about it. I consider this site to be one of the best gun related forums out there, so I respect your input on these matters, so here we go.
Here's my story: father had a Norinco Mak-90 which was purchased in 1994. Shot a few times, cleaned very casually, then shoved in the corner of the closet. Fast forward about 15 years. I purchase several rifles and decide to take my dad's rifle out for a cleaning and shooting. Shot beautifully, but after a good cleaning I notice some black blotches inside the barrel. Looks like it may be rust/corrosion/pitting... hard to tell with the naked eye. I was so heartbroken and disappointed in myself, I wanted to give away all of my rifles... almost. 
Questions: 1) As far as I know, no corrosive ammo was ever shot out of it. Is this gun a lost cause? Part of me says, "It's a 15 year old AK, who cares. It will do what it needs to do for another 50 years." Any recommendations on what to do? Just suck it up and deal with it or get it looked at professionally? 2) Critique my cleaning method for my rifles: Soaking wet swab of Hoppes 9 through barrel. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wet brush. Clean dry swab, then liberal spraying of Remington oil, then clean dry swab. Repeat any steps if necessary. Hoppes 9 scrub on bolt, Remington Oil on receiver and other finished parts. Liberal spray-down with Remington Oil on externals with a nice wipe down. Back under the bed, in the closet, etc. I don't want any pitting or rust on any of my new rifles! 3) Got a safe, looking to stick all the guns in there with a dehumidifier or desiccant. When your not shooting the gun, how often do you clean it, every few months, years, etc. 4) Bought a PSL. Corrosive ammo, worth the risk? From what I read, just need to add an extra cleaning step with hot soapy water or Windex/water mix. And in advance, thanks for the input guys. I owe you one. My collection (just for reference): Norinco Mak-90, Arsenal SGL-21, TGI Bulgarian AK-74, CMMG AR-15, and PSL (on it's way from J&G). |
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In order:
1. I'd get a new standard bronze bore brush and brush the bore with bore solvent to see if the black spots come out. Likely, the spots are rust. While you don't think any corrosive ammo was fired, back then a lot of it was, but advertised as not. If it's pitted that means the chrome lining is gone in those spots and it'll only get worse over time. This will not affect shooting the rifle. Just clean with a good bore solvent after firing. 2. You're cleaning method sounds good. Chrome lined barrels are easier to clean then unlined, and Hoppe's does say that it's good for corrosive ammo. Personally, I clean the bore like you do, but I let it soak for 30 minutes or so then run another wet patch straight through. If I see any fouling stains, I let it soak longer. I apply a thin coat of CLP Breakfree to the bore to prevent rust Then I clean it with patches wet with Hoppe's a day or two later to make sure nothing has come out of the metal. 3. If you've cleaned the rifle properly and applied CLP to the bore and the outside, you shouldn't have to clean it again until you fire it. As long as the safe has a proper dehumidifier system, the guns will be Okay indefinitely. Just check them at least monthly, more often if you live in a humid area. Also, keep an eye on the dehumidifier system to make sure it's working properly. Golden Rods do stop working, and desiccant gets saturated. 4. Corrosive is not a risk as long as you remove the corrosive salts properly and clean the rifle. Do this as soon as possible after shooting. While a lot of people spray the bore out at the range, this doesn't get the gas system or other areas, so I clean ASAP as I get home. Hot water is cheap and nothing works better. Hoppe's is good for corrosive residue according to their web site. I do the first cleaning with hot water, then clean as normal with Hoppe's. In the case of corrosive ammo, I definitely clean the next day, and usually clean again in 2 to 3 days using Hoppe's on patches just to make sure. You have to get the metal clean wherever the fumes have made contact. Many people do a good job on the bore but fail to get the gas system, receiver, and muzzle brake clean too. |
,check it out at www.corrosionx.com
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Clean up after shooting corrosive ammo as soon as possible using lots of water (with soap if possible) and then bore scrubber/oil as usual. The salts in corrosive primers will still cause corrosion through oil alone, youve got to wash the salts out of the bore. Get a "golden rod" for the safe. In regards to the AK bore, shoot it some, then clean it well and see what you've got. If accuracy is still good just roll with it. I've got 60 year old C&R's that look like you poured an ashtray down the bore and they still shoot well enough. You can also get new production Wolf or Golden Bear etc in 7.62x54r that isnt corrosive, it will also probably have betterns patterns than surplus. |
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"Shot beautifully, but after a good cleaning I notice some black blotches inside the barrel. Looks like it may be rust/corrosion/pitting... hard to tell with the naked eye."
Are you sure you are not seeing the hole for the gas port? The first time I looked down an AK bore I mistook the hole for corrosion/pitting 
A MAK90 bore is chrome-lined. I am suprised to hear that you have any significant amount of rust inside the bore even if you used corrosive primed ammunition. I have a Vietnam Bring-Back (papered) SKS that is nothing but rust pits all over the rifle except the chrome-lined bore which looks as good as a new, in the box Norinco import. |
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I did mistake the gas hole for a blotch for a second, but there were several other black blotches that ran in a spiral motion along with the rifling. I cleaned the hell out of it and they were still there. Hard to tell if they were textured (ie pitting) or just discoloration... it's not easy looking down the bore of a rifle with the naked eye.
Just another side note, I ordered a few AK cleaning kits and I can safely say that a nylon cleaning brush is worthless... after I scrubbed the bore with it a few times, it still was dirty. When I got the brass one in there afterwards, it scrubbed out a lot more than the nylon brush. |
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