SU-16B range report

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Went to the range Friday to test fire my new KelTec SU-16B. I brought a variety of ammunition to check out what might work best. The first 20 round magazine I loaded with Wolf steel case .223. I fired the first 5 rounds slow and deliberate. Since only my brother and I were shooting I gave in to the urge to empty the rest of the magazine in rapid fire. The rifle jammed on round 17.

I had a case stuck in the breech and it would not eject. It wasn't until I got it home and tapped the case out with an aluminum cleaning rod that I discovered the malfunction. There was about 1/8" of the steel "rim" torn off the shell casing.

It didn't give me a real sense of confidence in the rifle and even less in Wolf .223 ammo. I am eager to take it back to the range and give it another try with Wolf and other brands. Regretably I stockpiled a 1000 rounds of Wolf...but it does work fine in my Contender.

 

[railroader]

Wolf ammo has a reputation of getting stuck in chambers. Part of the problem is that wolf and other russian ammos are steel cased. Steel cases expand when fired but don't retract like brass does, then you mix in the coatings on the ammo and you can have problems. That said I use wolf 55gr fmj in my su16 and it is pretty much problem free but not always. When I go to the range I try to clean the chamber prior and bring a cleaning rod just in case. I shot 60 rounds of wolf out of it friday problem free. Mark

 

[azrael]

Harry,
It is cheap practice ammo for a reason...You might also wanna try polishing the chamber...Tight chambers and Wolf ammo dont mix

BTW..One of the dudes at the range I illegally trespass at, has a SU-16 and all he shoots through it is Wolf...

 

[MartinS]

Don't feel too bad. My kid's 223 Savage Eskimo rifle hiccupped on Wolf steel cased. Some rifles that are just fine with brass cased commercial or NATO don't extract steel as well. The Russian designed cartridges like the 7.62x39, 5.45x39 etc. are all strongly tapered.

 

[beerslurpy]

Its been said, but the 223 doesnt have a taper, which makes combining this caliber with steel case ammo a hindrance to good reliability. Throw in weak steel for the cases and something has to give. Better the case than the extractor, but it still shouldnt have happened.

Honestly wolf should know about this and make their 223 cases stronger.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

As an aside, I test fired my KT Sub2000 (9mm, Glock mag compatible) with Sellier & Bellot brass case 115gr FMJ and Wolf steel case 115gr FMJ. I used factory 17 round and 31 round magazines. In this case the steel case Wolf fed and functioned flawlessly while the brass case S&B stovepiped every 5-7 rounds.

Go figure.

The Sub2000 with the 31 round mag is way too much fun.

 

[RKCheung]

I've had good luck with XM193 rds in my SU-16A. Several hundred rds and nary a hiccup yet.

 

[El Rojo]

I was shooting my SU16A yesterday and it was having a few failure to feeds with my reloads, some mildly loaded 55 gr. FMJ/BTs using R-P brass. I noticed on those few rounds that FTEd, the primer was out just about a 32nd or 16th of an inch. Could have I overcharged somehow on the Dillon or is it a gun problem?

As an aside, I have a red dot on my SU16A and the dot is always right in the middle of the front sight hood. So I cut the hood in half today and fixed the problem! Someday I will order B sights, but with my new custom modification, I can procrastinate even longer.

 

[strambo]

El Rojo, I'm no handloadin' e'spert, but I think it is a light charge problem. The light charge doesn't have enough pressure to expand the brass and force it against the bolt face, so the primers pop out a little. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I don't wanna put out bad info, haven't witnessed this first hand myself)

An overcharge would flatten the primers and leave bolt face marks on them. They might be loose due to the primer pocket expanding under pressure as well.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

RKCheung. Thanks for suggestion. Ordered 500 rds of XM193 from ammoman.com today.

 

[artherd]

My SU-16 A model has been great for about 1200 rounds...

Untill yesterday, when it jammed with the bolt open.

The plastic reciver is galled from the metal piece that holds the bolt in the opperating rod. Looks like it's hanging up there.

Damnit, give me a friggin AR-15!!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

While shooting the SU-16B the other day two gents with Bushmaster Carbon 15 M4's came on range. I asked permission to look at his rifle and he(Phil) told me to pick it up and shoot it. Nice guy. Long story...short, I sold my SU-16B to a friend today...nothing to do with the jam I experienced...and ordered a Carbon 15. $829 + tax.

Film at eleven.