Burnt powder causes strong ammonia smell?

[MikeMcCasland]

Hey Guys,

I know this is random, but figured I'd ask. I shot an informal F-Class match today with a suppressed .223 bolt gun. I'm just getting home from the match and cleaning rifles, when I unscrewed the can I was hit with a very strong smell of ammonia. I don't make a habit of sniffing suppressors post-shooting, but this can smells like every cat in 5 block radius pissed in it.

I'm no stranger to shooting suppressed, but I'm normally running Hodgdon/Alliant powders; they are decidedly not smelly. Today I was playing around with some Shooters World Precision (Lovex S062).

Any idea what causes this, and if this is indicative of something corrosive/harmful from this SW powder? I looked at the MSDS and didn't see anything ammonia based on there.

I don't use any ammonia based cleaners, and both my wife and dogs are housebroken for the most part.

 

[Crow]

Check this out....

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/suppressors-dampness-and-barrels.3989126/#post-37601415

...since reading this, I take mine off as soon as shooting is complete.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Check this out....

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/suppressors-dampness-and-barrels.3989126/#post-37601415

...since reading this, I take mine off as soon as shooting is complete.

That's very interesting; it was very humid today. I'm usually pretty fanatical about cleaning barrels, but I'll double down when shooting suppressed. Thanks for posting this.

That said, this barrel was scrubbed down to bare metal (and lubed with a wet patch of lockeeze) then bore scoped prior to shooting today. I'll scope it again in 20-30 mins once I'm done patching all this crap out.

Just strange how it happened only with the SWP powder; maybe just a coincidence as I don't often shoot suppressed in humid environments.

 

[Sandstorm]

Thats scary stuff but good to know...I havent had a suppressor on any rifle in some time...Gota remember this.
With all the F-Class im doin these days ..could be years.

 

[rogn]

All propellants(exceptions?) contain some form of nitrogen in the form of nitrates. Hen the powder is consumed the nitrates decompose and release their oxygen. This results in nitrogen in a very hot environment, maybe 5000*. There is also water vapor(humidity) and maybe some free hydrogen or hydrogen compound as a transient compound. A significant amout of all this is retained in your supressor and the internal environment seems to be capable of creating ammonia, NH3. Along with time metallic elements, bacteria(?) you may get some unique forms of ammonia compounds. Corrosive factors, well it is ammonia.

 

[shoot4fun]

Not an F-Class shooter but I have to say that, in all the pics and F-Class guys I know, I had no idea suppressors were legit for any match, especially FTR.
As for suppressor corrosion, I've heard from a few manufacturers that it does occur. One manufacturer even said they won't use titanium because of accelerated corrosion with them. Take all that for what it's worth, as I've never seen any indication of moisture with one of my suppressors. I also own a 22LR can that has removable baffles. I clean it somewhere between the 500-1,000 round mark and never saw any corrosion indicated.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Not an F-Class shooter but I have to say that, in all the pics and F-Class guys I know, I had no idea suppressors were legit for any match, especially FTR.
As for suppressor corrosion, I've heard from a few manufacturers that it does occur. One manufacturer even said they won't use titanium because of accelerated corrosion with them. Take all that for what it's worth, as I've never seen any indication of moisture with one of my suppressors. I also own a 22LR can that has removable baffles. I clean it somewhere between the 500-1,000 round mark and never saw any corrosion indicated.

They're not legal or legit for F-Class. It's a long story, but basically some circumstances allowed for me to shoot with it one time. Don't worry, it didn't set any national records, nor could the score have improved my classification.

Having done it, I wouldn't recommend it either. You'll be dealing with some serious barrel heat/mirage issues.

 

[shoot4fun]

They're not legal or legit for F-Class. It's a long story, but basically some circumstances allowed for me to shoot with it one time. Don't worry, it didn't set any national records, nor could the score have improved my classification.

Having done it, I wouldn't recommend it either. You'll be dealing with some serious barrel heat/mirage issues.

Actually, as I haven't nor intend to (schedule already full) shoot any F-Class. My Long-Range BR rifles are 4" forearms which makes them illegal. All of my 223 and 308 rifles are mag fed repeaters and that does them in too.
You are definitely correct on the additional heat and mirage.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Idea for Can Shooters at F/Class Matches ?
We do this not to keep people shooting.
We have a Oregon Tactical Class ? We get 4-5 a most Matches .
We even give out a Winner if 4 or more .

 

[Sandstorm]

@ shoot4fun, I think you miss understood...I meant it will be years before I have a suppressor on any of my rifles shooting F-Class.