Inexpensive Wolf Alternative: 7.62X54

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Aaryq

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My buddy's got an M44 that he likes to take out to our local range. The problem lies in that our range doesn't allow steel cased or Wolf Brand ammunition and he's a LCpl in the Marine Corps. If you bring your own ammo they will inspect it with a magnet to make sure you're not sneaking in any "banned ammo." The range sells ammo but for 7.62X54 is almost a dollar per round. What does THR suggest for him to have fun without breaking the bank.
 
For new ammunition, ammunitiontogo.com has Privi Partizan for about $0.50/round in brass casings. I am sure others here may know of milsurp ammo that has no steel in it.
 
I haven't bought any lately, but about 2 years back, I found Barnaul Arsenal 7.62x54 "hunting ammo" [203-Gr soft-point] for about $6/20.

Barnaul is another "Soviet Bloc" ammo maker. Stuff was decent in my M-44, although a bit stout. Try looking in the "Big 5" sporting goods stores. They seem to be similar to Dunham's here in my area. That particular ammo did use a steel shell case, but was a jacketed lead-point bullet.

If the range objects to steel-cased ammo, maybe they clean up the brass for resale. I can see why they wouldn't like the bullets of steel, but the ammo shell itself case is a different issue.
 
As gaweidert mentioned, Prvi Partizan makes their own (as well as being rebranded as Wolf Glold) new brass-cased ammo for typically ~$0.50 a round. both are also boxer primed if you reload.

Olympic makes brass cased ammo, but berdan primed and not very high reviews (I have 1 box, but yet to shoot any)

Also, you may be able to pick up some suitable surplus, such as the Bulgarian at AIM (http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Bulgarian_7.62x54R_Heavy_Ball_183grn.html) which is brass cased with a lead core (bimetal jacket, so might be on the range's "banned list")
 
I recently went to an indoor range where they made you buy their ammo and their ammo only. The real reason- they were trying to max out profit and over charge on ammo. I think this is a shady business practice. :fire:

Bottom line- I found a different place to shoot and they lost out of my business.
 
I'd love to find a new range. There just aren't any around here close enough. We'd be spending more on gas than we'd be saving by using whatever ammo we want.
 
+1 for finding another range. Failing that, make sure to pick up every single piece of brass you shoot before you go. No more, no less. If they try to stop you, ask them very loudly what reason they have for prohibiting you from reclaiming your property. You paid for it, it's yours. Period.
 
I'd say look around for some mil surp. I've seen bunches of it around for pretty cheap. Cheap to the point that I almost went out and bought a rifle chambered in x54 just to have something cheaper to shoot than my x51
 
That's pretty sick. No reason why you shouldn't be able to shoot and just catch the spent case if they don't like steel on the ground.

They just want to reload the stuff you shoot is all. Shysters.
 
Aaryq, CDNN investments had 7.62x54R surplus that was brass-cased and boxer primed for $139/420 rounds. They may be sold out by now. Ammunitiontogo has the same thing for more money. It can be hard to find x54R that will pass a rangemaster's magnet test. Even if it's lead core, the jacket will often be steel and they'll consider that a no-no. Most anything Yugo surplus I've seen has been safe to use, although it will still be corrosive.

Best of luck to you. I have the same problem at my range.

jm
 
There's no other range, people. I can't do that. Like I've said in this post before, we'd be spending more on gas than saving in ammo costs. I drive a pickup and he drives a full sized van. I'm not sure if you've ever been in the military before, but the pay is not so good, add on top of that we both have kids. It just won't work.
 
Is this a civillian owned range? Double check whether your base has a privately owned weapon range. The larger ones I was stationed at did.
 
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