My slippery slope begins

[Pugs]

Brought back from my NASC assigned FFL buddy last weekend. We were up in Pa doing a little fishing and groundhog hunting.

Bushmaster M-4 5.56. Shot about ten rounds up there and last couple three shot groups were 1 1/2" at 100 so it works fine. Now, to find some ammo. Thinking Black Hills and then I'll reload after that.

 

[Rocketman]

K.I.S.S Very nice indeed.

Black Hills is primo stuff for sure. 1-9 barrel? My 16" 1-9 Bushy's like everything Black Hills up to 75gr out to 200 meters. I've got a 1-7 for 77gr stuff.

I'll get some heat for this I imagine but with brass being as expensive as it is I've started using Wolf Military Classic for my "cheap" blasting ammo. The new polymer coated stuff runs just fine for me. A little dirty but otherwise no problem.

No more chasing brass at 3 gun meets for me.

Great looking weapon!

 

[squeeze]

K.I.S.S Very nice indeed.

Black Hills is primo stuff for sure. 1-9 barrel? My 16" 1-9 Bushy's like everything Black Hills up to 75gr out to 200 meters. I've got a 1-7 for 77gr stuff.

I'll get some heat for this I imagine but with brass being as expensive as it is I've started using Wolf Military Classic for my "cheap" blasting ammo. The new polymer coated stuff runs just fine for me. A little dirty but otherwise no problem.

No more chasing brass at 3 gun meets for me.

Great looking weapon!

There is nothing wrong with Wolf ammo. Sure, it's not match grade stuff, but for practice or use in the "bullet hose" variety of guns, it's fine. And to counter all the "that shit doesn't work in my gun" crowd -- if your gun can't feed/shoot Wolf reliably, it's broken.

 

[Pugs]

K.I.S.S Very nice indeed.

Black Hills is primo stuff for sure. 1-9 barrel? My 16" 1-9 Bushy's like everything Black Hills up to 75gr out to 200 meters.

Yep, it shot surplus ball fine so guessing it'll like the BH stuff. No rush, it has a safe full of companions that keep me busy and the only competition I shoot is metallic silhouette and it's certainly not for that. Just thought I ought to own an "evil black rifle" on general principle.

 

[Rocketman]

Yep, it shot surplus ball fine so guessing it'll like the BH stuff. No rush, it has a safe full of companions that keep me busy and the only competition I shoot is metallic silhouette and it's certainly not for that. Just thought I ought to own an "evil black rifle" on general principle.

Yup I hear you. I'm sure my Garands and M1A thought the neighborhood had gone to hell when the first AR moved into my safe. Ammo costs are driving me even further to the dark side. I just broke down and bought an AK.

 

[C420sailor]

+1 on the Wolf. It shoots fine, but it does leave your weapon a mess. My Glocks don't really get that bad but my AR's gas tube, bolt carrier assy, and upper receiver are filthy. Not that it matters---they get cleaned after every session anyway.

Sweet carbine.

 

[BACONATOR]

Very classy. Very Beautiful.

<<<< Very jealous.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Wolf is no dirtier than other ammo IMHO. They do use dirty powders - but it's not ridiculous. And at .17-.20 cents per round it's affordable. Reloading the .223/5.56 is a pain - if for no other reason than the cases being small.

Wolf just came out with a new 75 grain boat tail load that shoots awesome. Very flat.

Also there is cheaper Russian brands coming - "Brown Bear" brand. Cheap, dirty, but it works, accurate, and won't harm your rifle.

Try AIM Surplus...

 

[Zissou]

I have to disagree with everyone on Wolf ammo.

It is a dirtier load, but thats not the problem.

The steel shell case is laminated. When shooting high volume/rate this laminate acrylic leaves a residue inside the chamber. This ammo has been hell on guns and caused quite a few guns to go down hard. I've seen many myself.

Removing the laminate from the chamber require a high RPM mechanical buffer. Or some VERY harsh chemicals and hand scraping with dental tools.

Somewhere around 300rds per hour is where this fouling takes over the weapon.

I dont recommend any steel cased ammo in an AR gun.

 

[Zissou]

Pugs,

If you know your twist rate and barrel length, I'll give you some generic dope on different loads.

Nice bangstick BTW.
Z

 

[Rocketman]

I have to disagree with everyone on Wolf ammo.

It is a dirtier load, but thats not the problem.

The steel shell case is laminated. When shooting high volume/rate this laminate acrylic leaves a residue inside the chamber. This ammo has been hell on guns and caused quite a few guns to go down hard. I've seen many myself.

Removing the laminate from the chamber require a high RPM mechanical buffer. Or some VERY harsh chemicals and hand scraping with dental tools.

Somewhere around 300rds per hour is where this fouling takes over the weapon.

I dont recommend any steel cased ammo in an AR gun.

Zissou when I said I would probably get some grief over using Wolf I was actually thinking of you in particular. I'm glad you chimed in. I've been on the no Wolf in my AR's side of the house for years...until the reasonably priced 5.56 surplus dried up. I have plenty of M193 and M855 salted away for the future but I almost hate to shoot it right now. I'll say this. The majority of my experience with Wolf has been with the new polymer coated casings. During the last carbine class I took I got one of my AR's pretty damn hot and ran 500 rounds (no where near 300 rounds per hour) of Wolf thru it in an afternoon. I ran it wet of course and it was filthy when I finished but I had no problems. I'm thinking that there may be a premature broken extractor in my future but otherwise I feel ok about it in the 2 AR's I use for blasting. The weapon I'd grab if I ever needed to actually defend myself with an AR will be loaded with 5.56 TAP LEO or maybe MK262.

 

[Zissou]

TAP is great!

The MK262 is pretty heavy (77grSMK). So long as your TR is 1/9 or better you will have good results in accuracy and delivered energy.

I hear you, 556 is worth its weight in gold these days.

Speaking of which, if you bought that ammo your hoarding three years or more ago? SELL IT! Best return on your money since Vegas.

So long as your having good results with Wolf, stay with it. Price cant be beat. But do pay extra attention to your breach and chamber. If you have a Wylde chamber on any AR, the laminate will ruin it sooner or later.

556 prices will drop in the next 24 months. Once the DOD purchase is filled there will be a few 100 million rounds of mil rejects and over runs. Should make for some cheap ammo and mishaps!

 

[Rocketman]

If you have a Wylde chamber on any AR, the laminate will ruin it sooner or later.

556 prices will drop in the next 24 months. Once the DOD purchase is filled there will be a few 100 million rounds of mil rejects and over runs. Should make for some cheap ammo and mishaps!

I'm pretty sure both uppers I use with Wolf are Bushmasters so no Wylde chamber concerns. I have a couple of Rock Rivers that do have Wylde chambers and they are real tack drivers.

I sure hope you are right about the surplus XM193 and XM855. I'll buy that stuff all day long if it's reasonable. Even if that never happens my boys will have something to shoot for the forseeable future.

Now if SSA would just finish up their 6.8 SPC contract so they can start making a "cheap" plinking round I'd be set for sure!!

 

[Pugs]

Pugs,

If you know your twist rate and barrel length, I'll give you some generic dope on different loads.

Nice bangstick BTW.
Z

Thanks much, It's a 1 in 9 twist 14.5 barrel. Figure I'll buy the first couple hundred and reload after that.

For those that think this case is small try loading .22 Hornet.

 

[squeeze]

Old Wolf stuff (now sold as "military classic") was lacquer coated and fouled guns up good. Newer Wolf has a polymer coating that doesn't foul nearly as bad. I haven't seen any FTFs with over 2k rounds of new Wolf and no cleaning in my AK.