Wolf .223 in Mini-14

[stchman]

Hello all.

With ammo costing as much as it does I am using Wolf .223 Remington in my Mini-14.

I have shot about 60 rounds of Wolf in it so far and no problems.

I have been reading on here and various other forums that using steel cased ammo can damage the extractor mechanism.

I have read the Mini-14 manual cover to cover and nowhere can I find the manual stating that you cannot shoot steel cased ammo.

Ruger states to use only factory loaded sporting cartridges manufactured in accordance with US industry practice. They do not recommend reloads.

 

[Maverick223]

I think you will be fine with a Mini. YMMV

 

[stchman]

The gun shop I got the Mini from one of the owners bought a Mini as well.

He said that he shoots Wolf through it all the time. He said it is a little dirtier, but he thoroughly cleans his Mini after he shoots it.

 

[tju1973]

If you clean it after firing, you should be fine. I would reckon my dad's mini (805 series?) has tousands of rounds through it-- many are steel cased non -US rounds, many of them are Wolf to boot. His looks like a normal truck gun, sort of dinged and finish work off the stock in places, and besides an exctractor 9or exctractor spring?) he replaced years ago, and some accurizing strut he put on it a year or two ago, it gives him good service on the farm and has taken quite a few 'yotes, coons, possum, and skunks-- and probably a few thousand beer bottles/beer cans.

I suppose Ruger wants to limit any liability by recommending only US, brass, commerical rounds, but my dad can attest that he has had no ill results from Wolf, Brown Bear, etc...

YMMV..

 

[gvnwst]

Most of the people that say wolf will mess up your rifle are people who have never used wolf. You will be fine, unless there is something wrong with the rifle.

 

[Lightninstrike]

My experience is similar to others here. Wolf shoots a little dirtier but with a little additional cleaning no prob.

 

[FROGO207]

As far as Wolf ammo I have put several thousand rounds through my Mini with no ill effects. I have put at least 2K through my M1 carbine with no ill effects. It tends to shoot dirty but is plenty accurate. I had a friend that had a Mini 30 that didn't like Military Classic in it but it turned out to be a weak firing pin spring. all fixed now.

 

[Badger Arms]

Shooting Wolf in my Mini-14, I had a sheared extractor. I called Ruger and they sent me a new one on my word.

Extractors are cheap, around $10. I'd have a spare one on hand before you risked using Wolf... of course that's only been my experience.

 

[SHvar]

I havent ried wolf yet but I trust several associates I work with (some of which are on "tactical special teams") who use wolf almost exclusively in their own ARs and plinkers. The mini 14 would eat any ammo you throw at it. Mags are a problem for minis.

 

[SaxonPig]

What is this, like the 500th thread asking if Wolf ammo is OK... this week?

 

[rangerruck]

I use wolf, in ak type actions. the mini's are pretty tough actions, with pretty hefty extractors. the prob isn't the steel case, it is the Lacquer they put on it. That melts, goes into your chamber, and then hardens, or semi hardens. this then runs gooey/sticky, as new carts are being inserted and extracted from your chamber. Gets tough on the mechanicals.

 

[Maverick223]

the prob isn't the steel case, it is the Lacquer they put on it. That melts, goes into your chamber, and then hardens, or semi hardens. this then runs gooey/sticky

Firstly, they use a polymer coating now (probably due to this rumor), and secondly this phenomena has been disproved...I have even tried it myself, and it takes a great deal of heat and never actually gets sticky. Take no offence it is a common rumor, but I am afraid you are incorrect.

 

[Ignition Override]

About 1,000 rds. of 'Mil. Classic' Wolf fmj, and about 300 Silver Bear jhp worked 100 % of the time in my ('90) Mini 14. They all had either the standard polymer coating or the S.B. silver zink (?).

It was in perfect condition after so many rounds, and had never had a single ftf, or misfeed using mostly a wobbly polymer Promag 30-rd. magazine.

My old Mini 14 was more reliable than a buddy's "AK" (normal x39), which misfed once during extraction, and I watched him use only about 100 rounds in it.

Of course I would never consider bump-firing any of my guns, and can't imagine what cruddy carbon accumulates in the chambers and bores of guys who seldom clean their rifles. Stiff steel cases do not expand much and crud builds up in chambers. If people then switch to (the softer) brass shells, the cases then often expand and can become stuck. This certainly happens in some Mini 30s, as evaluated by gun smiths.
Some of the stories we read or hear about rarely mention how much certain rifles are abused by their indifferent owners
(the shell just stuck in the chamber...!). People ignore common advice and then blame the gun.