Using Wolf or S. Bear in an old Colt AR-15.

[Ignition Override]

A friend might want to buy a small amount (300 rds.) of my .223, in order to afford some plinking, but I'm saving the majority of it for a trade during a roadtrip.

Having read that some ARs' ejectors suffer from using steel cases, what are the chances that there would be some real stress from newer Russian-made .223 with a few hundred rounds?
Most is polymer-coated, but the Silver Bear has the silver coating.

So far he seems only to have used over-priced US ammo in his rifle, which is in excellent condition, and I don't want him to risk any damage.

 

[BK]

I wouldn't hesitate to feed a few hundred rounds of steel to a tough-as-nails Colt.

 

[SHvar]

The steel cases are thin and soft enough that they will never damage anything on any AR-15.
I use barnaul all of the time, I like the stuff, better than many brass rounds you can buy, loaded hot, and makes a big bang.

 

[SaxonPig]

Asking if Wolf ammo will damage a gun is starting to eclipse questions regarding +P 38 Special ammo in frequency.

Does anyone think any ammo maker, even one in Russia, would market ammo that was damaging guns and stay in business longer than a couple months?

 

[Ignition Override]

Very good points.
I must have misunderstood the context of some comments elsewhere. Thanks.

 

[Avenger29]

The main thing you have to watch out for in regards to Wolf and other steel cased ammo is lacquer coated cases. The older Wolf had it, but the newer stuff is poly coated.

Lacquer coated cases will gum up an AR-15 (or other guns) right quick. The poly coated stuff runs fine.

I don't know about the Silver Bear. Never had any of those in my hands.

And that small amount won't cause any appreciable wear or stress on the extractor. He could shoot a case of that stuff and easily recoup the costs of an AR extractor (they are cheap) in the savings.

 

[SHvar]

I think the older wolf laquer was but one ingredient in the gum that caused a problem. Barnaul brown bear uses laquer, and Ive never had a problem, nor do I ever have to clean laquer from my rifles. I think the type of laquer, the cheap dirty powder they use, lube oil, heat, and possibliy other factors unknown are all combined to be the culprit with wolf ammo.
Ive known far too many who never had a single issue with wolf ammo to blame the ammo itself.