Wolf 7.62x39mm ammo

[TheFrontRange]

Over in the handgun threads I've read some posts recommending to stay away from Wolf-brand pistol ammo. What's the verdict on their rifle ammo? I recently purchased a new SAR-1 AKM clone and a case of Wolf FMJ for it. I've only run about 250 rounds through the rifle so far and had no problems at all. Is there anything I should be on the lookout for trouble-wise with this rifle/ammo combo? Are there other economical ammo brands out there in 7.62x39mm?

Thanks, all!

 

[Destructo6]

My rule of thumb is that Wolf ammo is great for any cartridge the Russians use themselves.

Russian gun + Russian ammo + Russian chambering = good.

 

[PATH]

Some folks says it is dirty ammo and will thus foul your rifle. Except for the foul smell of the stuff when shot I have had no problems. I also clean my rifle after I use it though!

 

[TheFrontRange]

Russian gun + Russian ammo + Russian chambering = good.

Makes sense to me!

I agree on the cleaning, too...I try to clean my guns ASAP after a range trip. That Wolf stuff does seem to get the SAR-1 especially dirty, but I don't let it stay that way for any appreciable length of time.

Thank you for the speedy replies!

 

[dude]

shoot it and enjoy!

yea, I shoot a few 1000 rounds of it a year and while I do swab the barrel before shoting, I actually am down to dissasembeling and cleaning the SKS every at least once a year.

 

[Ikari]

I've had zero problems with the 1200+ rounds of Wolf that I've put thru my SKS. At 50 yards, it shoots almost as good as higher quality ammo. I always clean my rifle after every range trip, and clean it before a trip if it's been stored for a long time. I say go for it. Hard to beat the fun you can have for the price of cheap ammo.

 

[TheFrontRange]

I actually am down to dissasembeling and cleaning...once a year.

These SKSs and AKMs are tough like that, aren't they?

I did a little online research on the SAR-1 on some other gun boards before buying and ran across folks who were making a hobby out of seeing how long their rifles could go without a thorough cleaning! The dealer I bought my rifle from told me he has an old Egyptian Maadi that he's purposely not cleaned in a few thousand rounds just to see if he can make it choke.

 

[TheFrontRange]

Hard to beat the fun you can have for the price of cheap ammo.

You said it! That's one of the things that attracted me to the AKM-clone line. I've got a buddy with an SAR-1 and an SKS and he and I can finally now split a case of 7.62x39mm and save both ourselves some cash!

 

[MonkeyMan]

It works great in my Chi-Com SKS as well and at $70/1000 it's hard to argue with. I also bought some 7.62 X 54R but the weather hasn't been cooperative enough lately to let me try that.

 

[Tropical Z]

Wolf is fine as long as youre not shooting a sissy-merry gun!If my Hi-Point shoots it without damage or extra maintenance any gun should be able too.

 

[Azrael256]

I've run... well, I don't know how many Wolf rounds through a ROMAK SAR-1, but it's a bunch. Several cases. It fouls like crazy, but it's nothing a few swabs won't fix. I had one box that jammed like crazy, which was later determined to be a damaged magazine follower, and a few rounds got a little sticky when the rifle got REAL hot and started to melt the enamel off the steel cases. So basically it's great ammo if you just want to go plinking for a day.

 

[Carlos]

Absolutely no problem.

I've shot several thousand rounds through my AKs. I'll keep buying Wolf. I won't run Wolf ammo through any of my handguns though, due to the negative comments I've read about in this area over the past two years.

Have fun and stay safe.

Oh yeah, I decided I'm going to start keeping my AK cleaner, or at least run a bore snake through her after EVERY shooting.

 

[Stinger]

In a plinking gun it is some pretty good stuff. I shoot Wolf in my Nagant, 7.62x54. It will almost always group within 2 1/2". Not bad for "cheap" ammo.

Stinger

 

[cheygriz]

I use it in AR-15s, AKs, Glocks, and whatever. Never had a problem.

Try a couple of boxes, and see it you like it. If you do, buy a case. If you don't. you're only out a few bucks.

For Russian ammo, I think that I like Barnaul better than Wolf.

 

[TheFrontRange]

I really appreciate all the replies to my post! Now to just make some time for a range trip!

 

[Jedi_7.62]

wolf ammo

I've used a lot of WOLF ammo in my SAR-1 and my Makarov 9x18 and never had any trouble out of either.

Another option for ammo that I like is Silver bear it's pretty good stuff too.

I've never known anything to make an AK clone jam or anything short of being ran over by a tank.

Man I love my russians!

 

[Braz]

The cheap Wolf ammo was what led me to get my SKS. It's just a penny or two higher than many .22 rds. Perfect way to let guests shoot, or just pop all day for fun. Since it's not steel core, my range will let me shoot it. Cheap fun at 8 cents a shot.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Cheap??? Accurate???

At 50 yards, it shoots almost as good as higher quality ammo.

It will almost always group within 2 1/2". Not bad for "cheap" ammo.

If this is what you call acceptable accuracy, fine. And it is true that the Russian guns digest the Russian ammo without jamming or other such problems. And it is also true that the milsurp and the Wolf ammo are less costly per round than better stuff.

Sorry, I find that level of accuracy unacceptable at any price. We don't shoot to save money, we shoot to put the bullet in the target, I thought. If some guys just like going bang, bang, bang, OK, if that's what turns you on!

I get flamed for this every time I mention it, but IMHO, you want to use the best ammo you can get your hands onÑusually this means reloadsÑevery time you pull the trigger. I have never in my life taken a shot that I didn't care a great deal as to where it went in relation to where I was aiming. I can't understand not caring about that.

 

[Stinger]

If this is what you call acceptable accuracy, fine.

Smokey Joe,

I consider 2-3 inches at 100 yards quite acceptable. I too care about where my shots go. I don't just close my eyes, turn circles, and then just pull the trigger. Maybe you get flammed because you have no idea about how others are shooting. Good for you if you only shoot sub-MOA, but some of us are just newbies at rifle shooting. Why not just let us have our small victories.

My shooting with the Wolf ammo has been open sighted. If I was shooting with a scope, I believe it would be closer to an inch, everytime. But I don't have a scope on my Nagant.

If you are the greatest shot of all time, then I am happy for you. However, I am not anywhere near the best. But for you to think that I am somehow doing something that is unsafe/inadequate, that is ignorant. I follow ALL safety rules, everytime. Would you care to elaborate on how my shooting is somehow unsafe/inadequate?

Someday I will improve my accuracy, but as long as I am doing it in a safe manner, what do you care? How am I supposed to get better if I don't practice?

Stinger :banghead:

 

[Smokey Joe]

Clarity...

Stinger: First off, let me apologize if I appeared in any way to be criticizing the safety of yourÑor anybody'sÑgun handling. No such criticisim was intended nor implied, and if I somehow seemed to be saying that I thought what others were doing was unsafe I am sorry. Such was not my intent. Period.

Secondly, I'm not so egotistical as to think of myself as a great shot. My rifle shooting friends seem to regard me as somewhat better than "pretty good." My pistol shooting friends look on me as a duffer who is "coming along" albeit slowly. My shotgun shooting friends think I'm hopeless.

I WAS commenting on acceptable accuracy. If you are happy with the accuracy you are getting, hey, go for it. If you feel you're improving satisfactorily, again, that's great. It's not for me to call you wrong if you aren't doing exactly what I'm doing.

My theory is that, in the accuracy department, we should give ourselves every available advantage. That includes using good ammo. Every shot. Especially if you're trying to improve as a rifleman, shooting "blasting ammo" is IMHO, a waste of time. Sure, the milsurp and the steel-cased ammo costs less. When you go camping, sleeping right on the ground costs less than buying an air mattress. Using old bald tires on your car costs less than buying new ones. Feeding your dog cheapo dog food costs less than Iams or Purina. BUTÑwill you be just as happy with the results? That's a decision only you can make for yourself.

For me, I'll quote a better man, the late great Col. Townsend Whelan: "Only accurate rifles are interesting." 'Nuff said.

 

[Stinger]

Sorry, Smokey


I didn't mean to jump down your throat

I am happy with my current accuracy, but not satisfied. I've come a long way in the last year, that is why I am happy. The reason that I am not satisfied is that I still have a long way to go.

My goal is to be out deer hunting this fall. That is what I have been working for. Sure, I could have gone many times before, but I was not a good enough shot to jeoparadize wounding an animal and never finding it. I want to improve so that when I harvest, I do it as efficiently and humanely(sp?) as possible.

The main reason that I shoot the Nagant is sight and trigger control. I try to keep my sight picture exactly the same and SLOWLY squeeze the trigger. I am getting much better.

Sure, I have more accurate firearms in the arsenal, but sometimes it is fun to shoot "Olga," as I call her. She sure is loud and flashy, but a heck of a good time.

No hard feelings?

Stinger

 

[Braz]

You ain't wrong SJ,

But there is such a thing as plinkin'. I live in the heart of darkness, and encourage friends to go shooting with me. But .45/44 or .308 is expensive. Your right, I should reload, but haven't started yet. This was a way for everyone to get their fill without asking them to chip in for ammo.

I am gonna try the LARC's battle rifle competition. Just to get out and shoot will be fun. But you're right, if I get serious, reloading would be the way to go. I did see an article in G&A on reloading the 7.62x39. But then I'd need a better rifle... and another press, etc, etc, etc. D 'oh.

 

[*8*]

I've shot quite a few rounds of wolf ammo in my AK, If given the choice, Barnual ammo is a better option.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Sting...

NHF. Sounds like we now understand each other. From your description of your shooting, sounds like you're "doing it right" prepping for deer hunting. I really like your phrase, "happy with my current level of accuracy but not satisfied." That says a lot.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Call me strange, but I always considered 2.5MOA at 100 yards with a tangent-sighted SKS rifle to be pretty good shooting. They're not exactly match rifles, you know.

Really, though, (and this is going to irk some people), I have never once got out my ruler and measured group sizes. I generally shoot at human silouette targets, representing the torso and head of a human.

If I hit the target, I consider it a good shot. I can put 20 rounds from my FAL into the target the side of a person's head (or one sheet of notebook paper) at 200 yards (iron sights). That's acceptable.

I'l be satisfied when I can do the same thing from the standing position with my 11lb FAL. That's going to take some work.