Russian ammo clarification

[SpeedAKL]

So far I have seen Russian-made ammo marketed under the following names:

Wolf (black box)
Wolf Military Classic
Wolf Gold (brass)
Brown Bear
Silver Bear
Golden Bear (brass)
Hot Shot
Golden Tiger


I know of two Russian ammo plants: Tula and Barnaul. I have a few questions:
1. Which brands come from where?
2. In your experience, which offer the highest quality?

 

[alistaire]

I've heard that wolf gold is Privi Partisan, not Russian.

 

[rizbunk77]

they are all russian except hot shot and golden tiger.
It has been repeated as fact that Barnaul is the best. Personnally unsure.

 

[GunsBeerFreedom]

Wolf Gold is Yugoslavian. My personal preference is either Barnauls or Golden Bear in terms of quality, but you do end up paying more. All will do the job though.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Wolf (black box)
Wolf Military Classic
Wolf Gold (brass)
Brown Bear
Silver Bear
Golden Bear (brass)
Hot Shot
Golden Tiger

Wolf Gold, brass cased, is Prvi Partizan made in Serbia. Good ammo, not Russian.

Hot Shot is Romanian, whether it's steel or brass cased.

Golden Bear is brass plating on steel. It is not a brass case. All "Bear" ammo is made by Barnaul, which is also sometimes found under the name Barnaul.

Wolf black box and military classic are both Russian steel cased, two different factories, I don't remember which is which.

In addition to Tula and Barnaul, there are at least two other Russian ammo factories, one is Ulyanovsk and I can't remember the other one at the moment.

Anyone who knows ALL the details (do I hear Nalioth) please add info on Monarch brand as well.

 

[M1key]

Russian Ammo manufacture code:

3 = Ulyanovsk
7 = Amursk (Vympel)
17 = Barnaul
60 = Frunze
270 = Voroshilovgrad
539 = Tula
711 = Klimovsk
188 = Novosibirsk

Bear Line of Ammunition from Russia

Barnaul Manufactured Bear Ammunition

.223 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
. 223 Soft Point SILVER BEAR
. 30-06 Soft Point SILVER BEAR
.3006 FMJ SILVER BEAR
7.62x39 FMJ SILVER BEAR
76.2x39 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
7.62x39 Soft Point SILVER BEAR
7.62x54 Soft Point SILVER BEAR
7.62x54 FMJ SILVER BEAR
.308 Soft Point SILVER BEAR
.308 FMJ SILVER BEAR
5.45x39 FMJ SILVER BEAR

.223 Hollow Point BROWN BEAR
.223 Soft Point BROWN BEAR
7.62x39 Hollow Point BROWN BEAR
7.62x39 FMJ BROWN BEAR
7.62x39 Soft Point BROWN BEAR
7.62x54 FMJ BROWN BEAR
7.62x54Soft Point BROWN BEAR

.410 Shot SILVER BEAR

.223 Hollow Point GOLDEN BEAR
.223 Soft Point GOLDEN BEAR
7.62x39 FMJ GOLDEN BEAR
7.62x39 Hollow Point GOLDEN BEAR
7.62x39 Soft Point GOLDEN BEAR


Ulyanovsk Manufactured Bear Ammunition

.223 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
.223 Mil-Spec SILVER BEAR
7.62 “Effect” (nipple) SILVER BEAR
.40 S&W SILVER BEAR
. 40 S&W 180 gr. FMJ SILVER BEAR
. 40 S&W 180 gr HP SILVER BEAR
. 45 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
. 45 FMJ SILVER BEAR
. 45 Mil-Spec SILVER BEAR

7.6239 Mil-Spec BROWN BEAR



Novosibirsk Manufactured Bear Ammunition

9x19 FMJ SILVER BEAR
9x19 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
9x19 115 gr. HP SILVER BEAR
9x17 FMJ SILVER BEAR
9x17 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR
9x18 FMJ SILVER BEAR
9x18 Hollow Point SILVER BEAR

9x19 FMJ BROWN BEAR
9x19 Hollow Point BROWN BEAR
9x19 115 gr. HP BROWN BEAR
9x17 FMJ BROWN BEAR
9x17 Hollow Point BROWN BEAR
9x18 FMJ BROWN BEAR
9x18 Hollow Point BROWN BEAR

All info above goes to the credit of Yasenovo.

Other Russian ammo by maker.

Lugammo- Lugansk

Klimovsk - Klimovsk

Monarch
RAM - All four Barnaul
Barnaul
Red Hammer

Ulyanovsk
"Mil-Spec" - All three Ulyanovsk
Sapsan

Wolf
TCW - Wolf

Golden Tiger - Vympel

Wolf 7.62 X 54R made by LVE (Novisibrisk)



Wolf does not manufacture ammo...

Wikipedia:

Wolf Ammunition is a Russian clearinghouse company that sells ammunition produced in former state-owned (USSR) factories. Some of the ammunition is made in the Tula arms factory while some is foreign made with Wolf markings (for example their .22 target ammunition is made in Germany). The company is known for providing good quality ammunition at relatively low prices. Wolf produces ammunition in the most popular rifle and pistol calibers. Almost all of it comes in polymer-coated (previously lacquered), steel cartridge cases.

 

[atblis]

Hot Shot is Romanian, whether it's steel or brass cased.

I have some Hotshot that I am pretty sure is from part of the area formerly known as Yugoslavia.

EDIT: Says Bosnia-Herzogovina on the box

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

Did u just write that from memory M1key? I thought I knew a lot about guns, and I know more than anyone I have met in person except for Michael Bane, who I don't know anything about anything about more than him. People on this board absolutely amaze me at what you have your finger on for gun knowledge. Kudos on the post bud!

 

[M1key]

Thanks. Often asked questions. The info is from AK-47.net...

 

[Jason_G]

please add info on Monarch brand as well.

The Monarch that is brass cased is Prvi Partizan, from Serbia. The steel cased Monarch is Barnaul, from Russia.


Jason

 

[Speedo66]

I've got some 9mm Tula brand ammo. Tula boxes, but headstamped Wolf.