Project Appleseed

So I was reading on one of my favorite forums and came across a thread about corrosion in DAG and MEN German surplus (which I happened to have purchased when I found it available).  It seems that the pinkish corrosion is scaring people and they are tossing them out if any is found. Where the green corrosion is no problem to clean and shoot (or just shoot).

Do any of you inspect your surplus and weed out the ones with pink corrosion?
I kind of purchased these in battle packs with the idea of being able to keep them in good shooting condition over time, but are some of the already unshootable?

I inspected one battle pack of MEN and one of DAG, these are my results:
LOS MEN95C0008 (from UN Ammo Company)
Pink corrosion: 7%
Green corrosion (but shootable): 28%
No Issues: 65%

*Update*
Opened up the rest of the case of MEN, and the averages seemed real close to the first battle pack:
Pink corrosion: 7.7%
Green corrosion: 24.8%
No issues: 67.5%

LOS DAG93C0332 (from wiedners)
Pink corrosion: 0.5% the one I found was even questionable
Green corrosion: 1.5%
No issues 98%

Should I open all the MEN and pick out the pink corrosion, or is my time better spent promoting Appleseeds 

Link to full thread: http://m14forum.com/ammunition/108956-pictures-corrosion-inside-men94-cases.html

Thanks for the post Nick. I was not aware of the pink corrosion issue. I pulled and opened a MEN92G005 battlepack and here are my results: 92 no corrosion, 69 green corrosion, 39 pink corrosion. Plan is to clean the corrosion off the greens and pull the bullets on the pinks then discard the powder/case. Very dissapointing as I have sunk a lot of $$$s that should have gone into my IRA into surplus German 7.62x51 the last few years. I need to pull out a DAG battlepack and see what those look like. I'll post those results.

   I would be very leery of getting rid of any ammo based on something on the internet.

   The stuff I used to shoot was treated with an antifungal which morphed into green corrosion on the brass so thick in some cases you could scrap it off with your fingernail.

    Yet it all shot, with no problems. In fact, no problems chambering, despite the sometimes thick coating.

    Most ammo authorities will tell you that case splits only become critical (or perhaps better, "are most critical") if in the lower webbing of the case - from my experience, the base of the case provides adequate sealing if there are splits or 'holes' in the brass higher up on the case.

    I've seen a number of splits in the webbing, without any issues. That doesn't negate the above, simply indicates in at least some instances even splits in the web are not a major problem.

     None of the above is to suggest you take risks with ammo. It's up to you to investigate carefully and under the theory "measure twice, cut once", decide for yourself where the risks lie, as YMMV.

     PS: But if you come to the Ramseur range, bring all the "pink" stuff with you - I'll even let you load it into my mags...

Some of the German surplus ammo (DAG and MEN)was improperly stored; ie stored in a damp location. Because many paper products are acidic the elevated humidity helped cause corrosion of the cartridge where it touches the cardboard box. Check the label on the green pvc battlepack to help determine in what condition yours are in. If the label is original, the storage was adequate and you will have a minimum of corrosion if at all. I'll keep these as is indefinitely.  If the label  is not original, that's because it was wet and became illegible and someone replaced it. The original labels are larger and are a sticker; the new ones are smaller, placed over the original, and adhere more like a stamp. I placed these in 40mm ammo cans with extra desiccant to dry them out and will use them up first.

Are they safe? I think Fred's reply is right on.

How long will they last? Consider this; test a sampling first and if you find them satisfactory then repack them in in extra desiccant and keep them cool and dry to slow or stop the progression of the corrosion. Retest every so often as your keeping your skills sharp anyway. The worst lot I have is MEN 93 which means it took 19 years to get as bad as it is( and I've rejected one in the 5 or 6 hundred I've used so far). I've slowed the corrosion's progression and will easily get 10 more years out of them, steadily using them up in practice.

Yes it is disappointing but not the end of the world unless you just pitch them.

See you on the trail,
JoeZ

Thanks for the advise Fred and Joe. I won't dump the pink stuff based on your recomendations.

Here is what you do, Wolfie invites her friends over for one of those fancy candle parties, sorry don't mean to stereotype, invite spouses for a ammo inspection party. You take a brake, tell 1st. strike to all, back to work, brake tell 2nd strike, back to work, 3rd strike benediction. Store ammo in ammo boxes with desiccant, all your friends are fired up and ready to go to an Appleseed, and your confident about all your ammo.

D   

I love it d-fly!!  Thanks for the tips guys. 

Although Wolfie doesn't do the whole "candle party" thing, she is a riflewoman after all.  All our friends are terrified of coming over because we guilt them into coming to Appleseeds.
I think they may be intimidated by our AQT wallpaper...

Excuse the pics - taken with my phone in the garage

Solution:

1.  Chuck it up in a Lee #2 case trimmer shell holder in a drill

2.  Spin it in some steel wool for 30-45 seconds

3.  No more tarnish

4.  All ready on the firing line... FIRE!

Git-R-Done! 

While I have no problem with mechanically removing the green patina from brass and using it I have real concerns about reusing brass showing "pink" areas.

Green patina is generally a surface oxidation which actually retards further chemical action.  However, the "pink" color may be due to a corrosion process called "dezincification" where the zinc in the brass is removed (leached away) by acidic fluids.  It's more commonly found in brass valves used (incorrectly) with acidic fluids.  When the zinc is removed, what is left is copper, which shows up as "pink" and this corrosion can extend through the case wall. 

Before shooting any ammunition showing "pink" I'd suggest pulling a bullet and inspect a case from the inside for evidence of corrosion.  I'd also see if the "pink" area seemed softer than the rest of the case.

   

Well, here's my view, and I've got more than a little experience here.

The real issue isn't what color the corrosion is, but how bad the ammo is corroded.

Mild to moderate corrosion is nothing.

Severe corrosion is a serious issue.

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Here's what mild to moderate looks like. I'd clean it and shoot it.

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Here's what severe looks like. I'd toss it out. A fair amount probably will misfire anyways.

I agree with nickle.  I have shot a ton of ammo with the green corrosion and never had a single problem, never as bad as the last pic though.  and I have never seen pink corrosion though I probaly wouldn't notice it anyways.  if you have any your really worried about you can box it up and ship it to me