Wolf ammo through a Colt LE6920

iluv2viddyfilms · 08-06-2012, 12:00

Howdy. I was watching Sturmgewehre on youtube and he made about video about Wolf ammo through an AR-15 rifle. I was wanting a second opinion regarding this topic. He claims that it isn't that bad if the rifle is cleaned to remove some of the carbon buildup. He claims that because the AR-15 action was designed for the 20 inch barrel, steel cased ammo CAN possibly give issues to shorter length barrels if the timing is off. He says an indication of this is an extractor mark on the rim of the headcase. Have any of you had this issue?

Also will timing either be off or not, or is it something where the ammo can throw the timing off.

He claims it shouldn't be an issue in most people's experience, and has fired thousands of rounds of Wolf .223 ammo through his ARs.

I trust him, but I wanted other opinions or viewpoints. I don't want to harm a $1,100 gun because I want to save some money on ammo.

The issues of accuracy that is negatively effected in steel case ammo, etc is a non-issue for me.

I'm also wondering though if this ammo could harm my hardened steel target I shoot at.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ZB3UfG960

Oh and here is a link to his video.

bmoore · 08-06-2012, 12:29

Its not so much as it being dirty, the gun can be cleaned, the chamber can be cleaned. Its that that ammo is horribly under powered. A gun that is not over gassed may choke on it (short strokes and other malfunctions). A friend bought me like 80 rounds of Tula for building his lower, my M&P15 ate it no sweat. That's the only experience I have with steel cased 5.56/223.

plouffedaddy · 08-06-2012, 13:33

I've fired thousands of Silver and Brown Bear rounds through my ARs---no issues. I shoot the ammo at steel targets without issue (I can post videos if you'd like). The best objective review/test of steel cased ammo I've seen is from the boxotruth.com. It's very comprehensive and dispells a lot of myths. It's worth a look.

MajorD · 08-06-2012, 13:36

steel case russian ammo can cause SOME guns to have functional issues- some AR's will run it all day long, other will choke on it- it is case by case- and even guns of the same make and model will vary. Not unlike one pistol running with brand x hollow points and the next one not. In theory the steel case is harder than brass so could be harder on some parts than brass cased ammo, but I am not convinced of this. I have seen enough guns choke on steel case that I won't bother with it, but that does not mean it might run fine in your rifle.

Apetrulis01 · 08-06-2012, 13:44

Fine as long as your rifle runs it.

Adam

Foxtrotx1 · 08-06-2012, 14:23

Brown Bear Ammo is hotter for the same price in my experience. Also slicker, may feed better.

iluv2viddyfilms · 08-06-2012, 14:56

Another thing is I would also have to check the Colt warranty. As far as I know DPMS will void their warranty if Wolf or certain types of ammo are shot through the gun. Has anyone heard of this?

K. Foster · 08-06-2012, 16:14

His info is generally pretty good. The biggest problem with wolf is that (as he said) the case does not expand so you get some carbon build up in your chamber. Then, if you switch to brass, the case does expand and gets stuck in the chamber. This can be a pain.
Someone mentioned voiding the warranty. I don’t know what Colt’s position is on that but if it’s important to you, read up on it.
In short, if you shoot a lot, you’ll likely save a chunk of change with wolf and not have a problem. But, if you do have a problem, it can be a hassle getting a stuck case out of a chamber, especially if your extractor rips the case head off. That could ruin your day and require a gunsmith.
To start, buy a couple hundred rounds and see how it functions in your gun.
Personally, I shoot 80 to 100 rounds of wolf in a new AR to see if it will function because I like my guns to be able to run anything, but as a rule, I save the commie ammo for commie guns.

plouffedaddy · 08-06-2012, 17:19

Quote:

The biggest problem with wolf is that (as he said) the case does not expand so you get some carbon build up in your chamber. Then, if you switch to brass, the case does expand and gets stuck in the chamber. This can be a pain.

This is the exact results they found over at boxotruth.com. It's the only issue they could actually document.

ak 47 · 08-06-2012, 17:27

i use wolf ammo in my ak 47 rifle and ak pistol and they run really good no problems at all worked really good for the price

Foxtrotx1 · 08-08-2012, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by plouffedaddy

This is the exact results they found over at boxotruth.com. It's the only issue they could actually document.

Yeah, they also found that the only brass that showed a problem with losing the rim was weaker south african brass.

Foxtrotx1 · 08-08-2012, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluv2viddyfilms

Another thing is I would also have to check the Colt warranty. As far as I know DPMS will void their warranty if Wolf or certain types of ammo are shot through the gun. Has anyone heard of this?

Ask your self how they would know.

TangoFoxtrot · 08-08-2012, 04:27

I'm sure Wolf ammo would run through rifles, but I'm not ready to use it. The rewards vs. risk is not worth it on the money I'm going to save.

mjkeat · 08-08-2012, 22:00

My BCMs and DDs have ran thousands of Tula, Wolf, and Silver Bear w/ all but 2 malfunctions (short stroked twice w/ Silver Bear). I run steel cased almost exclusively even at classes.

I'm willing to bet I know why DPMS voids warranties for using steel cased ammunition. Steel cased doesn't go well w/ out of spec (small) chambers.

DieselNut · 08-08-2012, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjkeat

My BCMs and DDs have ran thousands of Tula, Wolf, and Silver Bear w/ all but 2 malfunctions (short stroked twice w/ Silver Bear). I run steel cased almost exclusively even at classes.

I'm willing to bet I know why DPMS voids warranties for using steel cased ammunition. Steel cased doesn't go well w/ out of spec (small) chambers.

This^
Also gives them "reason" to void your warranty if your sights break lol. You get the picture? DPMS is a turd company. If your colt won't run steel cased ammo, find an AR that will.

BlackPaladin · 08-08-2012, 23:29

I have heard that the Wolf ammo is a legitimate problem with the 16" or less barrels.

I could save your AR a lot of wear and tear by taking that ammo and parting it out for scrap steel. I would only bill you a nominal fee for the disposal costs and you could go ahead and buy real ammo.

glockenturm · 08-09-2012, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ak 47

i use wolf ammo in my ak 47 rifle and ak pistol and they run really good no problems at all worked really good for the price

Message sent from Texas!

pgg00 · 08-09-2012, 01:12

My Colt does not like it and will not run with it. All my other ARs will and not miss a beat. Then again my Colt would only run about 2 rounds of "high quality" brass ammo when it was new before jamming up and becoming a musket when it was brand new

Airhasz · 08-09-2012, 01:24

Sounds like you got a lemon...

WoodenPlank · 08-09-2012, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackPaladin

I have heard that the Wolf ammo is a legitimate problem with the 16" or less barrels.

I could save your AR a lot of wear and tear by taking that ammo and parting it out for scrap steel. I would only bill you a nominal fee for the disposal costs and you could go ahead and buy real ammo.

My old Colt M4A1 upper wouldn't run reliably on Wolf ammo, but (in hindsight) I blame that on the crap BCG that was in it.

My Mk. 18 RIS II build eats anything and everything I have fed it, from 50gr HP to 75gr TAP T2, and has yet to complain after I swapped an old, worn out BCG to a brand new Bravo Company FA BCG.

pgg00 · 08-09-2012, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhasz

Sounds like you got a lemon...

I did, cost me a pretty penny and had to use a department letterhead to get the thing (during the ban), just to be dissapointed. Colt told me it was fine, reality told me different.

I swapped it for another rifle for patrol pretty quickly. I've done some work on it since then and it runs decently now on brass ammo. I still don't trust it though.

mjkeat · 08-09-2012, 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackPaladin

I have heard that the Wolf ammo is a legitimate problem with the 16" or less barrels.

I could save your AR a lot of wear and tear by taking that ammo and parting it out for scrap steel. I would only bill you a nominal fee for the disposal costs and you could go ahead and buy real ammo.

My main use ARs are 14.5s. I thinks it's simply a timing thing which can be manipulated w/ changing buffers. I'm no expert just speaking from experience.

IH8Glox · 09-04-2012, 14:55

ran some wolf 223 fmj through my new colt 6920 over the weekend. case stuck in chamber after about 40 rounds. will never use that crap again. had the same thing happen with my old bushie.

mjkeat · 09-04-2012, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH8Glox

ran some wolf 223 fmj through my new colt 6920 over the weekend. case stuck in chamber after about 40 rounds. will never use that crap again. had the same thing happen with my old bushie.

Post honest pics of the inside of the upper receiver. I'd be willing to bet lube was on the light side. Or I could be one of the luckiest mofos on the face of the Earth.

***Matthew Courtney*** · 09-04-2012, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmoore

Its not so much as it being dirty, the gun can be cleaned, the chamber can be cleaned. Its that that ammo is horribly under powered. A gun that is not over gassed may choke on it (short strokes and other malfunctions). A friend bought me like 80 rounds of Tula for building his lower, my M&P15 ate it no sweat. That's the only experience I have with steel cased 5.56/223.

Wolf is not underpowered. The issue often is that because the steel case does not expand and seal the breach, gas loss from the breech prevents pressure in the bore from rising to the level that the gas system is designed for. Putting more powder in the case wouldn't be safe because when a breach does seal, you would get a kaboom. The best solution is an adjustable gas block.