Question on .223 ammo

[Glockdaddy]

I am interested in getting a bolt action .223 rifle for shooting from the bench at 100 and 200 yds. The price of ammo lately...

With that said, I am interested in opinions on the Silver Bear and Wolf ammo for this purpose. I know that the steel cases are hard on the action and I know that it's dirty....but it is cheap still....what type of accuracy could be expected?

Any opinions are appreciated...

 

[lowes79]

Don't do it!

If you like your gun, don't do it! That Russian garbage is fine if you're shooting it through a surplus gun that you can beat the crap out of and not do anything to it, but if you're shooting a commercial gun it won't take it. Besides, if you're doing bench rest shooting you want accuracy, and that stuff is anything but accurate.

 

[rkh]

Seriously. The price of .223 is ridiculous these days.

I guess I lucked out though. I snagged 6 cans of Radway Green a few months back for $140/can. I thought it was expensive then, but looking at the prices now I think I made off like a bandit.

 

[Full Clip]

Steel-case ammo should only be used with rifles designed to ingest it: AKs, SKSs, etc. Also, you're sacrificing a lot of accuracy by using Wolf, etc. Not good for long-range shooting...
Remember: You Get What You Pay For. Start reloading if ammo prices are too high for you.

 

[Glockdaddy]

Thankyou....

Gentlemen....you have helped me greatly....and I guessed that the Russian stuff was best in a MilSurp....

Thanks for the insight...I will wait until I can do the reloading thing....

 

[ftierson]

Try the Silver Bear and/or Wolf...

It will not be any harder on a bolt action rifle than brass based ammo...

You never know, but your rifle might shoot it quite well...

Forrest

 

[aubie515]

These types of questions pop up on various forums online. If you buy a good rifle and optics...why in the world would you run under par ammo through that set up? It would be different if you said you bought a Saiga or a SAR 3 and wanted to use the russian ammo.

If you cannot afford good ammo, how in the heck can you afford a good rifle and optics?

 

[ftierson]

How are you defining 'under par' ammo?

Wolf .223 Rem. ammo is known to be loaded to the lower edge of 'normal' pressures for .223 Rem. ammo. Some people experience reliability problems in ARs, probably partly due to the lower pressure. Such problems should not occur in a bolt gun.

Personally, I have seen some pretty crappy, and expensive, US made .223 Rem./5.56x45mm ammo...

I'm not suggesting that trying some expensive ammo is a bad idea. Quite the contrary. I'm just suggesting that also trying some cheap steel cased stuff might not be a bad idea either...

Otherwise it's mostly a case of, "Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Poupon?"

Forrest

 

[aubie515]

He wants to shoot the russian 223 ammo in a bolt action and not an AR15. Learn to read before you comment.

If you are so confident with using the russian ammo...how about we have a shoot off. You use your russian ammo and I'll use my reloads or factory ammo. The winner gets bragging rights and the other person's firearm? We will shoot for pink slips...deal?

I'd recommend using Ultramax reloads before I would recommend russian ammo in a bolt action rifle. I had groups in the low .5s with 52gr match using my Winchester Stealth I. I'd like to see russian ammo do the same thing out of my bolt action rifles.

 

[skud_dusty]

The accuracy won't be as great, sure...But most of the Wolf "theories" aren't proven, and are just a big rumor.

The only proven fact about Wolf is it isn't quite as accurate, and it is very dirty. If you clean your firearms like you should be doing Wolf won't give you any problems. AR-15 or not.

 

[Glockdaddy]

let me add so CLARITY....

I appreciate all of the comments and opinions. Let me clarify a few things. I can afford to buy both a good rifle and good ammo. However, I know that the best accuracy comes from reloading and I don't want to invest the time and space into reloading....wife would kill me, not enough room on the workbench already...

With this said, my intent was to learn if the cheaper ammo was a consideration for the bolt action. My guess is that I will buy some Wolf and some Black Hills (for example) and see if I truly "Get What I Paid For!"

Thanks again for all of the input...

 

[ftierson]

Originally posted by aubie515
He wants to shoot the Russian 223 ammo in a bolt action and not an AR15. Learn to read before you comment.

Thanks for your helpful comment. Since you're the one mentioning the importance of reading before commenting (and I'm assuming that you read my two previous posts given the importance you place on reading skills), perhaps you should work on your comprehension skills...

Forrest

 

[trueblue1776]

Russian .223 is actually 5.56 Nato, If your bolt gun is meant to be accurate it probably won't chamber the steel cases because of the tighter chamber, or if it does it may stick when you try to eject. If you shoot one round at a time for accuracy, why not spend a wee bit more dough for higher quality (and reloadable) ammo?

but...

I have no problem with the quality of Russian ammo, but I do believe it is meant for military style weapons chambered in military calibers (5.56). Hell I'd give it a try though, if it cycles and is decently accurate, then great. If it doesn't work and gets stuck, then you just push it out and get different ammo. Pressure may get pretty high in that tight chamber. Bottom line, I'd try it, but it's your gun.

 

[kcmarine]

Eh, give it a try. If you have problems, don't use it again.

It's a bolt action... it's not like there's a plethora of things that could go wrong.

Just get a couple of rounds.