When I put wolf 223 (steel case) through my M&P15 it fires it, ejects it, but does not feed the next round. And I always end up with and empty cartrige stuck in my chamber that I have to use a cleaning rod to get out. Is there anything I can do to make my gun use wolf, or do I have to start buying brass ammo?
Wolf doesn't work in my M&P15!
- Thread starter wisocki
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Pumpkinheaver
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If it ejects it how do you have a case stuck in your chamber?
equitytrader
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hahahaha!
By the way, the same thing will happen if you put American brass in an AK. I'm kidding, but not.
Acheron
Member
Lots of ARs are picky when it comes to ammo. Either get new ammo or get a new gun.
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RockyMtnTactical
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It's almost as much of a 5.56 problem as it is an AR15 problem.
For one thing, the 5.56 is not tapered much at all, and since Wolf cases are made of steel you see more cases stuck in the chambers since steel cases do not contract quite like brass does.
My AR15's feed steel cased ammo just fine, but I don't care for Wolf. I get too many blown primers and hard primers in Wolf (no matter the caliber or weapon). Even among steel cased offerings, I prefer something else besides Wolf if I can find it. I have had much better luck with Golden/Silver/Brown Bear and Barnaul.
Wolf and other steel cased offerings will always be less reliable than brass, especially with a caliber that has little or no taper in an auto loader. I've never seen a brass case get stuck in an AR15 (I know it has happened, but not nearly as common with brass cases).
Honestly though, if my weapon would not feed steel cased ammo somewhat reliably (at least reliable enough for range use) I would be worried. I don't like to own unreliable weapons, so if my weapons are unreliable, I usually sell them fast...
For one thing, the 5.56 is not tapered much at all, and since Wolf cases are made of steel you see more cases stuck in the chambers since steel cases do not contract quite like brass does.
My AR15's feed steel cased ammo just fine, but I don't care for Wolf. I get too many blown primers and hard primers in Wolf (no matter the caliber or weapon). Even among steel cased offerings, I prefer something else besides Wolf if I can find it. I have had much better luck with Golden/Silver/Brown Bear and Barnaul.
Wolf and other steel cased offerings will always be less reliable than brass, especially with a caliber that has little or no taper in an auto loader. I've never seen a brass case get stuck in an AR15 (I know it has happened, but not nearly as common with brass cases).
Honestly though, if my weapon would not feed steel cased ammo somewhat reliably (at least reliable enough for range use) I would be worried. I don't like to own unreliable weapons, so if my weapons are unreliable, I usually sell them fast...
longdayjake
Member
wolf casings
I thought I had a problem with feeding in my Rock River but I found out that if I lubed the bolt and carrier group a lot better than the problem stopped. Some AR's run fine with no lube, but mine only runs well with a lot of lube. the MP has very tight tolerances like the Rock River so I would try slopping some lube on the bolt. No need to put it in the chamber as that might just make the problem worse. Also, have you tried any other kind of ammo? It may just be your mags. That is the biggest problem with the AR platform. It needs good mags to work.
I thought I had a problem with feeding in my Rock River but I found out that if I lubed the bolt and carrier group a lot better than the problem stopped. Some AR's run fine with no lube, but mine only runs well with a lot of lube. the MP has very tight tolerances like the Rock River so I would try slopping some lube on the bolt. No need to put it in the chamber as that might just make the problem worse. Also, have you tried any other kind of ammo? It may just be your mags. That is the biggest problem with the AR platform. It needs good mags to work.
When it comes to Smith & Wesson, it's best to just send it back to the factory. Smith pays shipping to and from the factory, so all you have to invest is a little time.
Stuck cases sounds like the chamber is slightly out of spec. Though the batch of ammo you fired might have been out of spec. Try another batch if you want to make sure.
Failure to feed rounds sounds like a magazine problem.
Stuck cases sounds like the chamber is slightly out of spec. Though the batch of ammo you fired might have been out of spec. Try another batch if you want to make sure.
Failure to feed rounds sounds like a magazine problem.
pgeleven
Member
is it acting the same way with ALL brass or just wolf? are you using the same mag or trying other ones? strip it down and give it a good scrubbing for a whole evening and try again. it may be a simple fix that can be taken care of before you send the rifle in, or it could be your rifle is just prejudice.
DaveInFloweryBranchGA
Member
Be thankful and buy some decent ammo.
MountainBear
Member
It almost sounds like your chamber is on the south end of good for headspace (usually there is a window .002 to .003 wiggle room between go and no-go) and the steel cases catch a little harder than the brass.
Send it back to Smith and Wesson, let them deal with it...
Send it back to Smith and Wesson, let them deal with it...
W.E.G.
Member
Its an ammo issue - NOT a gun issue.
Quit shooting Wolf ammo in that gun and I'm sure your problems will go away.
My AR's hate Wolf too. Same problem. Cases stuck in the chamber. The headspace is EXACTLY correct on each rifle. Neither rifle has a chrome chamber. Folks with chrome chambers in their AR's generally have better luck with WOLF, although chrome is no slam-dunk for success with that stuff.
Quit shooting Wolf ammo in that gun and I'm sure your problems will go away.
My AR's hate Wolf too. Same problem. Cases stuck in the chamber. The headspace is EXACTLY correct on each rifle. Neither rifle has a chrome chamber. Folks with chrome chambers in their AR's generally have better luck with WOLF, although chrome is no slam-dunk for success with that stuff.
does the ammo go boom? does the ammo produce enough force to cycle a firearm?
the answer to both is yes. its not an ammo issue.
it may be a DESIGN issue. which is fine. if you will admit steel cased cheap ammo was not in the DESIGN of the AR. then thats fine. just like an AK is not DESIGNED to be run like an AR. nor is a mosin as a mauser. etc
guns are designed to certain standards. as i said, some companys say Wolf is fine, some say no. its in design. NOT ammo.
How many rounds through the weapon?
Is the chamber cleaned?
Is it getting stuck in the case because the extractor is slipping off, or is the extractor ripping part of the rim away?
When it fails to feed the next round: Are the screws holding the gas key to the bolt carrier tight and properly staked? (Short stroking) Take the bolt out, are the three little rings perfectly aligned, so that the open spaces are lined up? If so, twist em around.
What magazines are you using?
My model 1 sales rifle had the same stuck case problem yours did, it seemed to work itself out over a few hundred rounds fired with no lube.
RockyMtnTactical
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It can still be an ammo problem even if the ammo goes "boom" and the ammo produces enough force to cycle a firearm.
For instance, my dad's Advantage Arms conversion kit is practically flawless the majority of the time. But with a specific batch of Federal .22LR he bought, the round goes off, the slide cycles, and the case gets stuck in the chamber everytime. It works 99.99% with everything else we have tried (including other lots of Federal .22LR).
How do you explain that? Bad ammo? Or is it the weapon?
Like I said earlier, it's as much a design "flaw" (if you will) in 5.56 as it is in an AR15. Maybe even moreso a 5.56 issue.
However, it may be partially the "perfect storm".
Still it is a FACT that steel cased ammo in all calibers and by all manufacturers is less reliable.
It is a FACT that Wolf has poor QC compared to many others. I don't even like to shoot it in my AK, SKS, or Makarov because I have had too many issues with Wolf.
Those two factors may also be the "perfect storm" (Wolf QC and Steel cases).
My AR15's run steel cased ammo as good as anything else I have. They also run Wolf as good as anything else I have.
Would it bother me if my AR15 wouldn't cycle Wolf properly? Yes. All of my problems with Wolf can be directly attributed to the ammo (usually primer related), not my weapon.
Funny though, I don't actually think I have ever had a failure with Wolf in my AR15's that I can recall, not even primer or mag related. But then again I don't shoot a whole bunch of it in them either.
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