List of dirty Ammo

[Die Judicii]

The recent topic regarding barrel fouling and possible causes (Centerfire rifles, "Barrel bore cleaning") has prompted this post.
The resultant discussion on PPU Ammunition as being very dirty is a good starting point.

Maybe we could compile a list of ammunition that is considered "dirty" and which presents the need for EXTRA diligence in cleaning.

So,,,,, We start off with PPU,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[bigrich]

i don't shoot factory ammo much , besides 22LR . PPU has always been horrendously dirty burning , i reckon it's key ingredient is coal or diesel . or maybe both

[Wapiti]

Never found PPU ever dirty, it's all BS and an excuse for poor procedures, cleaning product choice or technique. Shot 223, 243 and 308 by the case, and even with my slack cleaning procedures, every few months or so, have never seen rust or excess carbon, copper whatever. Dream on.
I won't be surprised if someone jumps in and says they have, but then I'll know what rating to give any further advice from that person.

Another thing that's BS is the rubbish that 2205 is "dirty".
WTF? Shot it for years in a 357 and even more in full-power loads in a 44 magnum farm handgun, and every time I hear it I ask for an explanation why and all I get is all the repeat internet and passed down scuttlebutt "Granddads mates cousins' wifes brother-in-law reckons it is"


Some powders seem to be generate more black patches when cleaning guns between group testing, I seem to remember 748 and 760 doing that, but it's only another solvent-wetted patch and it's all gone. Big deal.

[Tinker]

2205 is "dirty" in my .310 cadet, lots of fouling and unburnt powder, but it cleans up very easily. By comparison the 2205 burns clean as a whistle in my 22 Hornet.
I've never found PPU ammo "dirty", and the brass is excellent for reloading (especially 303).
Ex military 303 ammo is usually corrosive, and barrels are best cleaned by pouring hot water down them from the breech end to remove the corrosive salts.

[No1Mk3]

I've shot PPU in everything from 32ACP to 8x57, 9 handgun and 12 rifle calibers and i haven't found it to be any worse than most other brands, but I've never used their rimfire ammo, the Highland brand which used PPU for their centrefire got their rimfire from Armscor. I can't actually recall anything centrefire I though particularly dirty. I find among rimfire that some brands can be quite dirty but even then it depends on what I'm shooting it in and amongst the same brand their Subs may be dirtier than their HV.

[Wapiti]

2205 is "dirty" in my .310 cadet, lots of fouling and unburnt powder, but it cleans up very easily. By comparison the 2205 burns clean as a whistle in my 22 Hornet.
I've never found PPU ammo "dirty", and the brass is excellent for reloading (especially 303).
Ex military 303 ammo is usually corrosive, and barrels are best cleaned by pouring hot water down them from the breech end to remove the corrosive salts.

Hey Tinker, regarding the unburned powder in the .310, do you think that might be due to a lighter load?
I ask because, as you have found, in the Hornet it's clean.
I have found this before with a few powders, when mucking about trying to make light loads to go subsonic and there was quite a mess. A mess that wasn't there with loads from the mid to high side from the ADI reloading manual. This was with 2206H, BTW.

Over the years, I have seen a lot of rubbishing on PPU ammo, which I don't understand at all because that's not what I found.
What I DID find was that it can be pretty fast... scarily quick.
The PPU I bought in 338 Lapua with the 250gn match HP bullet clocked over 3000fps in my rifle, 150 fps more than I can get with any ADI powder.
And the 308 hits like a hammer.