"Ask the Rabbi" by R. Mermelstein
QUESTION: Dear Rabbi
Mermelstein:
I currently have a Mini-30 on layaway. I just heard that foreign
made surplus 7.62x39 ammo will damage the Mini 30. I was planning on
buying Russian "Wolf" ammo because it is supposedly the best made
Russian ammo and is cheap ($3.00 for 20) but if its going to damage the
weapon that probably wouldn't be a Good Idea. PMJ has 20 round boxes
for $8.99 which is a bit expensive.
Do you know if in-fact the Russian ammo will damage the Mini-30?
What would be a good alternitive ammo that is inexpensive for target shooting?
Thanks,
Steve F.
14 Dec 1999
ANSWER: Dear Steve,
The Mini-30 is designed to shoot
either .308 or .311 caliber projectiles. Most, if not all Russian and
Chinese 7.62 X 39 ammo is loaded with the latter. Based solely on that,
it won't damage your rifle. However, before buying any imported
ammunition in any military caliber, check with the importer that the
cartridges are marked "non-corrosive". The Russian and Chinese SKS,
along with the AK series of rifles, were manufactured with chrome lined
bores to guard against corrosion from ammunition loaded with the old
potassium chlorate type primers, also known as "corrosive primers".
Potassium chlorate breaks down into potassium chloride (very similar to
common table salt), upon firing. On firing, these salts are deposited
throughout the bore. The slightest humidity will cause the bore to
rust, and quickly. After firing corrosive ammo, the bore must be
flushed with clear water within a few hours to prevent permanent
damage. Commercial cleaning solvents are petroleum based and won't do a
thing to dissolve the salt deposits. Ruger literature does not mention
whether the bores of Mini-30 carbines are chrome lined for use with
corrosive primed ammunition. Call their customer service, 603-865-2442,
and ask.
In American ammunition for the civilian market, potassium chlorate was
replaced with lead styphnate about 70 years ago. Remington was an early
innovator in non-corrosive ammunition. They obtained a copyright on the
"Klean Bore" trademark. Winchester's competing trademark was
"Staynless". The last hold out for corrosive primed ammunition was the
US Army Marksmanship Unit. The top brass "determined" that
non-corrosive primers could not possibly compete with the old corrosive
primers to make the most accurate competition ammunition. I learned how
the US Army operates as a uniformed insider for three years: If it
ain't broke, why fix it? Such .30-06 ammo used by Army competitors was
last made in or about 1957, several decades after the last corrosive
primed rounds were sold to the civilian market.
Sincerely,
R. Mermelstein
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