Wolf primers

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fmcdave

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Just a note on my experience. During the "primer shortage", I bought a couple of 1000 Wolf primers (small pistol, large pistol).

I have had a lot of issues with the large pistol primers for .45 ACP (note: I will try some in .45 LC when I switch calibers).

I had issues with about 5% of the rounds not getting the primers fully seated. Since I check this (using the time tested set them on the table and see if they wiggle) I fix this before they get shot. They did feel "funny" during seating on my Dillon press. I had to be very careful in seating...but still had issues.

The issue was during the shooting. For about 1% of the rounds, my Kimber Custom Classic would have a FTGB (failure to go bang). A second try worked most of the time. My Glock 36 seems to have the same results. My S&W 325pd revolver would have a 30% FTGB. I was convinced that I had a problem with the S&W as it was new.

So, I tried about 100 rounds of factory ammunition in the S&W and all was well. Dang. So I bought a sleeve of Federal Large Pistol primers and loaded up 100 rounds. They fired perfectly in the S&W. They also seated much more smoothly.

So, my conclusion is:
1. My S&W has a lighter strike. I've fired a lot of my self defense ammo through it with no problems (as I always do) and there have been no problems to date.
2. I won't buy Wolf primers again.
3. I'm going to have to segregate my loaded ammo for now and just shoot the Wolfs in the autos that seem to tolerate them.

A little more complex for the .40SW for my Glock 23C. I have about the same FTGB as with other primers. I'm first suspecting a setup measurement on my Dilllon primer assembly. I have also put a LOT of rounds through that gun. I've changed the striker spring (to a heavy duty) with no positive results and I'm thinking new firing pin. I'll blame the Wolf primers last as I have a new box of CCI primers which I'll experiment with when I need load .40s again.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my experience.
Dave
 
Gave a buddy a sleeve of wolf a while back and he had trouble with them so I traded him some federals and loaded the wolf myself, as of yet no FTGB's from that sleeve .
 
Wow, just getting around to using them now.
I bought 5k wolf for the same reason.
Had a few in the 1st 100 that failed to launch.
Adjusted the priming station to the crush setting and no more problems.
 
A friend called me and invited me into a bulk buy of Wolf primers. I joined. He had several issues with them but to date, over 3K, nary a problem. I just have to make sure that I seat them all the way.

41 mag & special
44 Colt, special and mag.
45 AR
45 Colt.
45 ACP

All go bang, first time, every time
 
My wolf primers, lr, sr, and sp, are circa 2005, I've had no issues with them. I was glad to have several bricks of sr, lr, and sp primers on hand during the great shortage, I didn't have to hunt and/or pay $80/brick for them.:)
 
You didn't say what kind of brass you're using-- commercial or military? Some military brass has crimped primers and you need to be sure ALL the crimp is removed. If there's any crimp at all left the primers will be difficult to seat. This seems to be more common with LP primers than with any other type Wolf primers.

I have probably loaded more than 25,000 rounds of milsurp rifle brass with Wolf primers and haven't really had any seating problems. Most of this has been 5.56 and 7.62 brass.
 
"got to seat 'em like you mean it"

That has pretty much been my experience. I bought my 5K for similar reasons as the OP ... it is all there was at the time. But, man they -do- seat hard. They have all gone BANG for me so far.
 
I picked up 2K Wolf large pistol primers from Powder Valley in the spring for same reasons. LGS was "rationing" primers, only allowing customers to buy 200/day. :confused:

I just consumed the last of the first 1K box. All loaded into 45 acp mixed range p/u brass.

I'm seating them on the press with a LCT cast base press, so I get a lot of leverage, and I seat them "with authority".

They go in the tightest with Winchester brass.

I have not had a single failure.
 
I have not had any problems with them going off, but I did break the lever on my Auto Prime while loading some 45ACP. :( I sorted out the crimped casings, so these where just the assortment of Federal, Remington, CCI, and Winchester.
 
I did have problem with Wolf's LR primers in the past. Many hang fires and a couple of duds. Never had any issues with their ammo.
 
I had a few FTFs in S&W revos with light triggers, but with Win and Wolf primers. The problem went away when I started bracing my left hand on the back of my 550 during the priming upstroke. Using this technique may be a tiny bit slower, but my primers are consistently seated below flush, and I have no FTFs.
 
I have gone through 500 or so large rifle Wolf primers, I use them for my "plinking/fun" ammo for the Garands and FAL's, so far so good, no failures.

Haven't tried any other sizes though, just large rifle.
 
New October Rifleman's Journal article on Wolf primers (scroll halfway down the page):

These guys are hard core about component testing!

Here's August Rifleman's Journal article on Wolf .223 primer and small/large primer comparisons.

Primers and Priming
If you want ammunition with single digit SD, you are going to spend a fair amount of time working with primers - unless you happen to get lucky, but I wouldn't count on luck. Once you have the case necks turned, you can begin working with primers. Although my own primer testing has been incredibly detailed, maybe even obsessive, you don't need to go that far. Here's the shortcut that really pays off: test your primers by shooting each with a standard load over the chrono, varying only the primer. Fire at least 10 and preferably 20 of each primer type. Look for the one that gives the lowest MV and with a low SD although not necessarily the lowest SD (that will come later). That primer should be the one you use as you develop your load, now looking for the lowest SD load by varying powder charge and neck tension. There's a bit of judgment required here, but a low MV on the standard load and a reasonably low SD is the indicator of a good primer compared to the others.


In my testing, I've found the Russian primers to consistently yield the lowest MV and SD. They've been imported as KVB, PMC and Wolf. These primers are on the low end of the SAAMI height range and their cups are thick and hard, so if your ignition system is marginal, it'll show up right away. Improper seating, weak springs, inadequate firing pin protrusion, light firing pins and excessive headspace will all contribute to inconsistent ignition and thus higher SD. In extreme cases you may also experience misfires and that certainly won't do your frame of mind and your score any good.

Seating your primer is far more important than many reloaders realize. Today we live in a digital world and we've developed and on/off mentality. Primers aren't digital, they will fire under less than ideal conditions, but they will do so inconsistently. Perfectly consistent primer seating that ensures the cup is bottomed in the pocket and that a slight pre-load has been applied to the pellet by the anvil is a requirement of great long-range ammunition. There's no substitute for a high quality seating tool that gives you great feel for the process and the experience to use it well. I use the Sinclair tool, the K&M also meets the criteria.
Click to expand...
 
mgkdrgn said:
"got to seat 'em like you mean it"

That has pretty much been my experience. I bought my 5K for similar reasons as the OP ... it is all there was at the time. But, man they -do- seat hard. They have all gone BANG for me so far.
Click to expand...
^^^+1 I'm mid-way through a 5K brick of Wolf Large Pistol Mag. and have not had a miss fire yet in my Super Red Hawk. You have to feel them bottom out..
 
Gone through about 10,000 of them so far, only one FTGB. I have had all of the other brands have the same type of performance. That isn't an issue with Wolf primers but with the reloading process or the state of the firearms. Some folks like a light hammer, not me. I had some problems with Winchester and my M625JM. Went to Federal and the problem went away, then the Federal primers went away and there were no more to be had. I went to Wolf, put a spent primer under my strain screw, installed an extended firing pin and am good to go. I've used both Wolf standard and magnum in the M625JM and all of them have went bang.
 
I have gone through about 4500 of the 10000 Wolf LPP and did have problems getting them seated right at first. Wolf SPP worked fine.
I started reloading during the primer (and everything else) shortage so I was learning that along with what it takes to get my Hornady LNL working smoothly.
Thankfully it all worked out good.
 
I read a post recently that TULA primers are made in Russia and solf throughout Europe. Same article said that WOLF was the brand name used to sell these same primers in the U.S. I have purchased 100LPP WOLF Primers and only 1 Failed to go bang, even under repeated attempts.

I decided to support the U.S. and I now only buy U.S. made primers. Doing my part to lower the balance of trade deficit.
 
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