Wolf ammo for handgun training course

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dshimm

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I am going to attend a weekend handgun training course with an advertised round count of 900. With all that shooting in a short period of time, I'm sure it will be a "lost brass" event, and so I was thinking of buying a load of Wolf ammo to use. It's cheap (probably cheaper than I could reload with new brass and FMJ slugs), and while Wolf ammo doesn't enjoy a great rep for accuracy (their rimfire ammo excepted), it's not like I'm going to be shooting bullseye pistol at Camp Perry.

Does anybody have any experience with Wolf .45 ACP 230 grain ammo? Specifically:

1) reliability (does it go bang, and does it have a reputation for feeding poorly in 1911 pattern handguns),
2) accuracy (we're talking combat, not bullseye target accuracy),
3)cleanliness (do you have to clean residue out of your pistol every hundred rounds or so), and
4) corrosiveness (yes, it's advertised as non-corrosive, but then John Kerry advertises himself as a champion of the second amendment).

Any other suggestions for ammo for training courses?

Thanks.

David
 
My opinion only.

I have put 900 rounds of the new polymer coated Wolf 230gr. FMJ through my SA Mil-spec without a hitch. No failures at all.

I have only shot it at 7 yards for accuracy, but my best group was a little over .5" off a rest at that range.

Not corrosive.
 
There is a range/school here in Moonsoon Central that specifically prohibits the use of Wolf or any steel cased ammo. The only exception is if you plan on using Wolf ammo in a commie gun.

Here is the e-mail from the director of the school that answered my question regarding commie ammo

"Our range doesn't care, it is me that doesn't like steel cased ammo, and here's why.

The steel cased ammo, most of which is made in 3rd world countries simply doesn't have the quality control that American made, or some other brass cased foriegn made does. We have seen literally dozens and dozens of problems when we were allowing it in the classes, resulting in the student not getting value out of the class because he could not keep his gun running.

Having said that, I do make an exception for the steel cased ammo when fired out of the SKS and the AK-47, as these rifles are specifically designed to run this ammo, and we have not seen as many problems. So, if you want to bring the steel cased ammo for the SKS, I don't have a problem with that."

In other words ask the folks running your class.

ZM
 
BS,,,that guy wants brass to recoup some cost to hom from the course, or is a gun snob.

I have shot several hundered rounds through my 1911, and it loves the stuff. Much cleaner and more accurate than Winchester White Box.
 
The older wolf burns dirt, I mean -filthy-. It used these resin coated cases that'd cause many a handgun and even longgun to jam tight.



edited:spelling
 
Huh, I have been shooting the green laqured stuff, and it is consistently cleaner than the Winnie WB for me.
 
AK and SKS designed for steel

that's one of those oft repeated comments that sounds good on the surface, but if you go deeper doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

How would you design a gun differently for steel cases? What is different about the SKS and AK, other than they are simple reliable designs?
 
I dont have a firearm that accepts anything in a steel case, and Wolf dont make no .30-30 but I will report what I have been told.

The issue is apparently not the fact the case is steel, but the fact its covered in a lacquered kind've lubricant. The inside of the case is also apparently partially to blame. The abbrasive inside of these cheapo cases grates at the bullets themselves and the result is more leading.

This is what I was told, take it with a grain've salt.
 
I second the recommendation for CCI Blazer. I've taken that through Thunder Ranch, Chapman Academy, and LFI, and never had any problem. On the other hand, I've personally seen numerous problems encountered by students using Wolf and other steel-cased ammo. Not worth the risk, IMHO - and there are no great savings, either, as the CCI Blazer is available online for about $5-$6 per box. If you have more than a week before your course, that's plenty of time to order some. Try Natchez Shooters Supply: at the moment, for a case order (20 boxes or 1,000 rounds) they have a special of $4.59 per box, or $91.80 (plus shipping, of course). That's even cheaper than their Wolf ammo, which in case lots is $4.85 a box! See here for more information.
 
Well, use a little old-fashioned common sense here.
I get the impression that you've never shot Wolf in your gun.
If that is the case, you should not take it to a course.

If you've got time to buy a case, and take it to the range, to make sure it works in your gun, then give it a try.

I've got several friends that run it in their 1911s with no problem.
In my Colt Defender, I get a 2% failure-to-extract with Wolf.
Shooting Winchester WB, UMC, S&B, or any other brass ammo, my gun doesn't miss a beat.

I took my CCW with a Browning High Power.
I had just bought some cheap lead 9mm reloads from Cheaper Than Dirt, so I took them to the course.
Guess what? Mil-spec BHPs can be picky about what they will shoot. :scrutiny:
Yeah, no kidding. :rolleyes:

I couldn't get through 1 mag without a jam.
Everybody on the range was looking at me and thinking "Look at this loser!".

My buddy gave me 100 rounds of fmj, that I qualified with.
He took the lead ammo to a different range, and his Sig ate it all, and asked for more. :mad::eek:

So, if you've never shot Wolf in your gun, and you take it to the class, Murphy's law dictates that you'll be the loser that everybody will posting about on the Internet. :cool:
Suddenly a dozen people will be writing posts like "Don't get a [insert 1911 brand here] gun, I was at a course with a guy, and his didn't work at all." :neener:

Edited to add:
The same goes for Blazer, or any ammo you haven't tried.
If you don't test it first, you're asking for trouble.
What works in my gun may not work in yours.
 
mini14jac has hit the nail on the head: wring out ANY ammo/firearm combo before depending on it with your life or your hard-earned cash or paid-for training time.

That being said, my SW1911 eats Wolf .45ACP all day long & asks for more. It runs ~$6.50/box. Same with the wife's SA 1911 Ultra Compact 9mm. I usually get Blaser 155gr alum 9mm for hers, though, 'cause I can get it for $3/box. Blaser .45 is over $10/box.
 
I like using Wolf ammo. It is cheap and easy to pick up with a magnet. What people have said about it working in some guns and not in others is very true. I have a Steyr M40 and a S40 these guns are identical except the S40 is about an inch shorter in the grip and the barrel. For some reason my M40 shoot wolf ammo flawlessly, but the S40 will not shoot it reliably. For some reason the Slide will not cycle completely. The gun will fire, eject the spent shell, and then will feed a new cartridge into the gun, but it will be out of battery by a 1/4 inch. It would do this 3 out of 10 shots!!! Needless to say I switched to WWB. If you are going to be shooting .45 I think I would head down to Wal-Mart and pick up ten of their value packs for $14.97
 
I dint know about where you are, but the Winnie Value Packs are 19.98 here for .45, and they shoot dirtier, and less acurately than Wolf.
 
I've burned a lot of the Silver Bear JHP .45 (185 or 200 grains, forget which). I think Silver Bear is the same stuff as Wolf, made in same factories in Mother Russia (correct me if I'm wrong), but instead of green laquer on the steel case they nickel-coat it so it's silver. Clever name, huh? They also make Brown Bear with the olive laquer.

Results: works great in my Springfield mil-spec. Never a problem in 800+ rounds.

Enough people have complained about lacquer buildup that I stick to the silver now, after putting 400 rounds of Wolf through it. Never had a problem with it either, but why ask for trouble?
 
The Silver Bear isnt the same. The rim profile is different. I just bought some, and am a bit anxious about shooting it, as the rim looks ripe for an extractor over ride. It is very thin.

BTW, the Silver Bear is zinc-plated.
 
I hope it works good, as cheap as it is. I really like the Wolf, but its not always easy to find online per box, like the bear is at AIM.
 
I won't buy any more of the 380 stuff. I bought some last weekend and 75 rounds into it had a failure to fire yesterday afternoon - no big deal right? I opened the slide and the brass ejected while the bullet remained in the chamber, and the powder all over the place.
 
I just realized that I still had 300 rounds of Wolf .45acp. I also realized that I had never tried it in my current .45. It's Colt Mk IV Series 80, factory stock except for the trigger, hammer, thumb safety and mainspring housing.

I ran 50 rounds of Blazer aluminum and 200 rounds of Wolf through it without a bobble of any kind in 8 different magazines. My last Commander had about a 4% functioning problem with Wolf, but this gun seems to gobble it up in stride.
 
If it works in your gun then its OK, thats really the only 'answer'. All guns have specific 'tastes' with the Russian ammo it appears that those tastes become more pronounced. It either has few or no problems or your gun will hate it. I think the MAIN complaint about with in 1911's (and ARs for that matter" is that the steel case is hard on the extractor. So run a few boxes and see if you have any appearance of excellerated wear, and maybe bring an extra with you if you decide to take it.
 
I do not buy the argument that the steel case is hard on the gun. Any steel part in the gun is harder than the steel used in the ammo.
 
"I opened the slide and the brass ejected while the bullet remained in the chamber, and the powder all over the place."

I had that same thing happen to me with PMC ammo when I was taking a course at Gunsite. I got a lot of practice from then on clearing malfunctions until lunch time, when I cleaned the gun.
 
I do not buy the argument that the steel case is hard on the gun. Any steel part in the gun is harder than the steel used in the ammo.
Click to expand...

True, but then again any steel in a steel casing is harder than the brass in a brass casing. If it was all about which metal is 'harder' then it would be impossible for barrels to wear out from firing lead.
 
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