Objective To further promote ammunition repairing in Chinese army, and to improve the technique of rust removal from ammunition surface. Methods Several rust removal methods were comprehensively analyzed, the new operation method using sand-blasting for rust removal from ammunition surface was proposed. The abrasive type and the obliquity of spray gun for rust removal from ammunition surface by sand-blasting were determined. Using the rust removal of 85 plus projectile as an example, theoretical calculation and experimental measurement were conducted for the ammunition substrate temperature during rust removal by sand-blasting, and the safety was assured by comparative analysis of the thermal sensitivity of the energetic materials. Results The maximum theoretical temperature increase was 6. 35 ℃ and the average experimental measurement was 3. 72 ℃, which was far lower than the thermal sensitivity of the energetic materials. Conclusion Rust removal from ammunition surface using the sand-blasting technology could ensure the operation safety and effectively improve the operation efficiency.