7.62X39 Wolff Ammo Used In An AK-47 Question

[mwpslp]

I went to the range today to shoot my newly acquired Yugo AK47. They wanted to check my ammo which is the current production polymer coated Wolff brand (not the military classic). I know the case is steel but they used a magnet to show me that the bullet core was steel as well (which I was unaware of). They do not allow steel core ammo on the indoor range. Fair enough so I bought some WWB they had for sale. My question and concern is that the guy behind the counter began telling me how this steel core ammo is really bad for my barrel as it is too hard on the rifiling, etc. Is this true and should it be a concern??? Thanks.

 

[FieroCDSP]

It's not any worse on your bore than anything else. The jacket usually doesn't strip away until it hits a target. The bore is still touching the copper jacket, whether it's lead core or steel core.

 

[fearless leader]

A magnet will stick to alot of rifle bullets. I am told there is a certain amount of ferrous metal in the metal jacket. If you really want to know if it's steel core, take a good pair of side cutters or diagonal cutters and see if you can cut the bullet (that is the Projectile only) in half.

 

[nalioth]

Wolf isn't steel cored, it's steel jacketed.

The soviets used steel instead of lead and copper because steel is easier to use (no cancer) and cheaper.

Your gun range needs to cut open a wolf projectile and see for themselves (or don't they know steel core imports have been stopped for years?).

It is a very soft steel and won't hurt your AK at all. Every country that produced AKs, also used steel cased and steel jacketed ammo. They are designed for it.

 

[Frog48]

I see you're in DFW... what range is this?

 

[jerkface11]

The AK was designed with steel core in mind won't hurt a thing. If you have a K-31 the swiss GP11 is steel JACKETED doesn't hurt a thing either. Gun ranges always seem to come up with rules that require you to buy ammo from them. No high velocity .22lr ammo (try finding non high velocity). No lead. No steel. Always something.

 

[mwpslp]

The range is in Ft Worth, Winchester Gallery. They said the copper wash on the bullet was so thin that it makes little difference in keeping the steel core off of the rifling in the barrel. Not sure it all made sense to me. Again I know the core of the bullet is not steel but apparrently has some steel in it as the tip of the bullet stuck to their magnet but the Winchester White Box brand did not. They did not have a problem with the steel case of the Wolff brand though, only the bullet core as they said the steel mixed with the lead when they recycle after cleaning the traps drives the price of the scrap lead down. Hey I'm not making this up.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

but the impurities caused by copper jacketed bullets does not affect the scrap lead?

either way its not gonna be pure lead and is going to have some other junk mixed in.

 

[Frog48]

I usually go to Alpine Range, just south of the I-20/820 interchange. They dont care what you shoot, as long as its not rifle caliber FMJ.

I've been looking for a place to shoot my stock of Monarch/Barnaul 7.63x39 FMJ, but apparently there arent many ranges in DFW that allow FMJ.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

The local Dept of MO range says they won't allow WOLF because it's steel core (which it isn't). But, I think it's because they can't sell the brass for reloading and recoup costs, because it ain't brass, it's steel.

 

[chris in va]

Hate to say it, but the guy at your range has a point. The round is definitely 'copper washed', hardly jacketed. Only half the bullet has lead in it, steel shell if you want to call it that. Here's a picture.

 

[dfariswheel]

Some ranges will not allow steel jacketed ammo due to the danger of sparks from bullets hitting rocks possibly starting brush fires.
Other ranges have back stops that are damaged by steel jacketed ammo.

As for damage to your AK, the AK was specifically designed to use steel jacketed ammo, and the barrel will last you for the rest of your life.
This is one thing you don't have to worry about, no matter what some boob behind the counter told you.

Again, the AK rifle was expressly designed for unlimited use of steel jacketed ammo, and it has a barrel service life that's so long, very few people have ever actually seen a worn out AK barrel.
There are reports of AK's in Africa and Afghanistan that have barrels worn almost smooth from untold tens of thousands of rounds of steel ammo, and these rifles are still shooting.

 

[twinhairdryers]

Nearly everyone who brings a comblock gun in there

will bring in their own russian steel ammo. They can then make a rule that you spend 60.00 to buy their ammo at premium prices and claim yours is crap. Making money with their own rules. Guess how many AKs break due to steel bullets or steel casings (duh - they were designed for this)?

Pay the man, or go elsewhere. Anyone who tells you that shooting Wolf ammo through your AK is damaging your gun is laughable.

 

[MechAg94]

I think the guy was confused. They do say that 30.06 AP ammo will wear on the rifling of a Garand or 1903A3, but that is a bit different than an AK or Wolf ammo.

Half the gun store myths you hear about are half truths that get stretched well beyond their original concern.

I just grit my teeth when I hear the clerk telling someone to keep their magazines unloaded or to not leaving them fully loaded or to unload them occasionally to let the spring rest or some such.

 

[MechAg94]

Was the range guy walking down the line making sure you only used that ammo? You could always bring a couple boxes of WWB and have your Wolf ammo in the bottom of the bag.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Wolf is neither steel core nor corrosive nor whatever else the myth du jour is. Shoot at a different range.

 

[Spiggy]

The AK was designed with steel core in mind won't hurt a thing. If you have a K-31 the swiss GP11 is steel JACKETED doesn't hurt a thing either.

it's some sort of nickel, not steel

only downside to wolf is that it's really dirty burning... as if that matters through an AK

 

[Jeremy2171]

Guess how many AKs break due to steel bullets or steel casings (duh - they were designed for this)?

Another "myth"..Ak's weren't "designed" for steel cased ammo. The original x39 ammo was brass cased.

They do say that 30.06 AP ammo will wear on the rifling of a Garand or 1903A3, but that is a bit different than an AK or Wolf ammo.

Negative, the AP is copper jacketed and the steel core does not touch the bore so there is no excessive wear.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

Bottom line...Wolf is commie ammo, your AK is a commie gun. Wolf won't hurt your AK.

Find a different range that won't extort you.

 

[dglockster]

In January of '04, I contacted Wolf and asked about steel core in their ammo. The reply that I received is as follows:

WOLF does not import any steel core ammunition. When a magnet is used to test the bullet it may stick to the projectile and give the impression that the bullet has a steel core. In reality the bullet is the 7.62x39 bimetal jacketed ammunition. Our bimetal jacketed ammunition has a steel, and copper jacket, and the magnet will be sticking to the steel used in the jacket. The core is lead in all of our calibers. To avoid the impression of a steel core, always make sure to purchase the copper jacketed ammunition, there is no steel in the jacket. Our copper jacketed ammunition is just like the more expensive domestic ammunition in that the jacket is entirely made up of copper, and will pass the magnet test.

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in WOLF Performance Ammunition.

Sincerely,

WOLF Ammo

 

[SSN Vet]

so it sounds like bi-metal jacket means....

pot metal steel jacket with a copper wash.

and the core is still lead, so the bullet does not qualify as armor piercing.

several threads have kicked this around recently....

seams like the consensus is that even the thin layer of copper in the copper wash will be sufficient to protect the barrel.

Only problem with Wolf is the metal case....which can't be reloaded.

after all, shooting is just an excuse to get back to the reloading bench

 

[ROMAK IV]

Go with Grant 45, go down to Alpine, off of 20 and Forest Hill Road. The gun shop at the same location was so high, I didn't even visit the range. Alpine should allow hollow point wolf, or they did when I went there not so recently, they won't allow FMJ rifle ammunition like he already said. from what I remember, the range fee is pretty cheap in comparison. I live on the other side of Dallas, so I'm trying to get in at a couple of places.

 

[geojap]

Glad I live in Austin! The few ranges here have no restrictions.