What's the Big Deal with WOLF Ammunition?

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CAPTAIN MIKE

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I've seen signs at a couple of ranges saying that WOLF ammunition is not allowed there. I know it's cheap and available, but exactly and precisely is the deal with banning it from some ranges but not all?

Anybody know with precision what exactly the problem is?
If I have a couple of boxes of, how can I dispose of it?
 
Ranges often gather up the cases left by shooters and sell them to reprocessors. Since Wolf isn't made of brass, they can't re-sell it, and the processors usually won't accept a shipment that contains mixed brass and steel cases. Same often applies to CCI Blazer aluminum cases.
 
Send it to me and my FNC will dispose of it for you. I've never really had any problems with it except in my RRA with stainless steel barrel. I think it was sticking slightly in the chamber and would slow extraction/ejection.

All my chrome lined guns eat Wolf with no problems.

Ranges that reload brass or sell brass don't like Wolf or CCI because they are not brass cased. The Wolf you can separate with a magnet at least.
 
Captain,

One reason it is specifically banned from some ranges is the fact that the range owners can't make money from the berdan primed steel cases selling them as once fired brass to reloaders. Basically range owners being greedy, IMO.

Also, at one time, Wolf Ammunition used copper clad steel jacketed projectiles, which can damage the backstops that some ranges use, especially indoor ranges. I believe all of their current production ammunition uses lead core copper jacketed bullets with no steel jacket.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
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There are 2 public ranges in the Portland, Oregon area.

One is run by Clackamas Community College and the Sheriffs department and you must buy your ammo from them. They have a good selection and don't gouge, but they don't carry Wolf.

The other is privately run. You can use your own ammo but they don't want you to use Wolf. When I asked why they said that it is dirty and smokey.

While I was there one day, I noticed the range filling up with smoke, I asked the ro and he said one of the people on the line was using Wolf. The ro went and talked to him and he left.

I did a quick search and found this,

http://www.smithsauto.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=9

It would seem that 100 pounds of brass, uncleaned, would bring $40. Not much of a return but I suppose it would add up over time.

Then there is this,

http://www.smithsauto.com/articles.php?lng=en&pg=12

Seems as though uncleaned steel would bring $45 a ton.

DM
 
Also, at one time, Wolf Ammunition used copper clad steel jacketed projectiles, which can damage the backstops that some ranges use, especially indoor ranges.
Click to expand...

Bingo, backstops are expensive and the range owners do not want to have to sort the wolf ammo to figure out which is copper plated steel jacketed or steel core, Some indoor ranges are required to use a filtration system, instead of venting directly to the outside air. Wolf is very dirty and plugs up the filters which cost $100-150 each to replace, these same ranges also ban handloaded LEAD ammo because the smoke from the burning lube also plugs up the filters.
 
Nope - it just plain stinks!!!
Click to expand...

It's a funny kind of stink! Smell it once, and you'll ALWAYS know if someone is firing Wolf, or if an uncleaned firearm has had Wolf run through it.

Sometimes you can still tell after several cleanings. :D

I don't mind running Wolf 9mm through my Glock. It's cheap and goes bang. If it breaks my extractor, oh well, I'll replace it.

I don't run it through my Colt GSP or my 6920 because I'm turning into an elitist snob. Only brass cases for my Colts! :p

Generally it's as others have said - range owners have to sort out the steel cases before they can sell the spents. How to dispose of it? Find a range which doesn't restrict it, load into firearm, point at target, and fire until empty. Repeat as necessary.
 
I've only used wolf, in 7.62x39 and 9mm, and it works fine. Won't use it in .45 acp as I understand the cases are out of spec in that caliber for some reason, and may not feed/extract reliably.

It does stink; something on the order of flaming bat guano.
 
Between the lacquer and dirty powder, it's a pain the rear to clean the weapon afterward also... :cuss: I shot it ONCE in my G17 and I swear it took three times as long to clean up afterwards, that was in additon to probably 2/100 FTF and FTE's. Now I just pay the $$ for WWB :D
 
I only use Wolf in my SAR-1 and my SAR-2 with no ill effects.
The stuff is accurate, especially the 5.45x39MM.

It's like making love to a polecat...... once you get past the smell.... :evil:

Yanus
 
I was unaware of the whole "range owners hate Wolf ammo". I use an outdoor range, so i've never had that problem. Sure, Wolf may smell, and some people may hate that it's cheaply made Russian stuff.....but it goes bang rather well :D . I'll have to keep that in mind for if I ever go indoors.
 
The "stinky Russian" has always worked fine in my Ruger P95... honestly don't find it that much dirtier/smokier than Winchester White Box.... does have a unique aroma though ;-)

Only problem I ever had with it was in my Kel-Tec P11 where, probably due to the polymer coating on the casings, it kind of "bound up" in the magazine a couple times. Never had that happen with brass or aluminum cased ammo and never had it happen with the Wolf in my P95 which ate about 800 of the 1000 rounds of it that I bought last year. In that gun it was very accurate and reliable. No FTF, FTE or misfires.
 
Does Wolf ammo smell like ammonia? Just wondering because as we were firing several boxes through my friends Bushmaster AR there was a very strong smell of ammonia, almost made it unpleasant to shoot. We didn't know if it was the ammo or the new rifle.
 
I've never had problems with their 7.62x39. I still use Federal XM193 or American Eagle .223 in my Bushmaster though.
 
Ha,

I love it. Range owners have a hard time separating it from the brass. Well a friend of mine (who has a range) was complaining to me about separating brass, so I helped him out. I gave him a new invention I made that separates the brass from the stinking Wolf steel cases. I gave him a magnet with Wolf Ammuntion stickers on it. Now he can think of me whenever he is removing the steel cases from his precious brass pile. We had a good laugh about it but I still see that magnet at the brass separating area.
 
Matthew748,

Ok, you are crazy :neener: !!

PS Wolf ammo seems under powered in .223 and 7.62X39, but does go bang...I don't know about their pistol ammo, as I refuse to shoot it in my handguns :uhoh: !!
 
As other have said, it stinks, its non-reloadable, it stinks, it clogs up air filters, and it stinks.

I honestly never thought of the air filters, it makes since though. I honestly think that the fact its not reloadable is the biggest reason.
 
Yea...BlackCat

it smells like ammonia to me too ! But I find that my firearms just chew it up and spit it out...no problem with .223 or 45acp. But, I always clean my guns after a session at the range...to me, it's part of the whole experience. :evil:
 
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