Corrosive Ammo Testing

**esh21167** · July 31st, 2013, 08:42 PM

First for me starting yesterday. Pulled several bullets from cases of 7.62x39 and performed the 'bright nail test'. Some are obviously corrosive, others obvious non-corrosive. But by the results below, not sure what to make of the ???????. It's METAK Yugo brass case, lead core FMJ.

First pic is the noncorrosive with the Yugo, and the second is the corrosive with the Yugo. My first thought was corrosive because it's not black, but not sure. Maybe the brass case limited the corrosion compared to the others, which were all steel case. Any thoughts?

**father-of-five** · July 31st, 2013, 09:29 PM

Were you checking the gunpowder or the primers? I always thought it was the primers that were corrosive.

**tabasco_joe** · July 31st, 2013, 09:39 PM

Looks corrosive to me. There are different corrosive primer materials that product different salts (sodium or potassium) and amounts.

**esh21167** · July 31st, 2013, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by father-of-three

Were you checking the gunpowder or the primers? I always thought it was the primers that were corrosive.

Testing primers. I pulled bullets, emptied powder, placed cases over the nails and popped the primers with a punch. Checked them after about 30 hours.

**esh21167** · July 31st, 2013, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by tabasco_joe

Looks corrosive to me. There are different corrosive primer materials that product different salts (sodium or potassium) and amounts.

Interesting. Did not know that. Is one worse than the other and is that why some people say 'mildly corrosive'? Kind of seems like the Yugo wouldn't attack as quickly as the other corrosive rounds.

**father-of-five** · July 31st, 2013, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by esh21167

Testing primers. I pulled bullets, emptied powder, placed cases over the nails and popped the primers with a punch. Checked them after about 30 hours.

I understand better now. Thanks for the details.