How about this Russian .223 ammo? Seeking input.

[Johnny Guest]

Related to, but not exactly the same as another current thread on this forum.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

223 Brown Bear 62gr HP, 1000 rds. Jacketed hollow point, made in Russia, steel case, non-corrosive. $99.90
223 WOLF 62gr FMJ, 1000 rd cases. FMJ, made in Russia, steel case, non-corrosive. $99.90

J&G Sales is running both types for $99.90 per thousand. See their page at - -
http://catalog.jgsales.com/?itemnumber=5-1097c

They also show some other pricing which seems attractive, but I’d like to know a bit about it.
Is it worth the money for plinking and training updates? Any word on the accuracy? Would a Colt AR15 suffer any ill effects from firing quite a bit of this ammo?

Thanks in advance
Johnny

 

[Master Blaster]

Douh

 

[iamkris]

If you believe some people on arfcom, they'll lead you to believe that your AR will crumple an die the moment you get Wolf ammo within 10 feet of your rifle. They say that the steel cased ammo will shred the insides of your gun. They say that it is so dirty that within 2 rounds, the rifle will be reduced to a gummy mess that only a 3 week solvent soak will take care of.

I say poppycock. I shoot Wolf 55 gr FMJ with the new "grey" polymer coating on the case in my AR. It eats them like I eat gummy bears. Not even one failure to fire / extract in 500 rounds (wish I could say that about NATO ammo I have...I get a stuck case every 50 rounds or so with the Santa Barbara stuff...extractor rips the rim right off) I highly doubt that steel cased ammo is harder than the 4140 chro-moly steel, and certainly don't think it's harder than the chrome-lined bores that many have (me included). The harder steel will win.

As for accuracy, it is NOT as accurate as other ammo but also not horrible. I was getting 2-1/2 to 3-1/2" benchrest groups with iron sights with the Wolf. Winchester whitebox was giving me about 2/3 that number.

It is a little dirty but certainly not 50% more dirty than any other ammo...maybe 10%? Mostly its the fault of the AR design that blows all that crap back into the bolt carrier. The propellant does have a peculiar smell that I can't quite ID.

Even in the unlikely event that it does wear out your AR, at a cost of $0.10 per round, you're saving upwards of $0.10 per round. Shoot 4000 rounds and you have yourself a new upper.

One note, I've noticed that on the Russian 7.62x39 I shoot, the JHP they advertise really isn't JHP that we think of...it is more about their jacket drawing process that leaves a hollow point at the bullet tip. Not quite like JHPs that are designed specifically to expand with a certain amount of weight retention. Not sure if that is true for the Brown Bear you mention.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Only issues I've seen with the Russian ammo and ARs is where the red neck sealant around the bullet leaves a gummy residue in the chamber as the rifle heats up and then when it cools the cartridge or empty case is stuck in the chamber.

Wolf stopped using that sealant a long time ago, so it shouldn't be an issue with new manufacture ammo; but no telling how much of the old stock is still out there.

I haven't used the Brown Bear (I'm assuming it is related to Silver Bear?) so I can't say; but if it is using the same sealant it will be easily visible to the eye as a thick band of red around the bullet at the mouth of the case.

Accuracy isn't great; but it would do for plinking or training at <100yds.

 

[roscoe]

I don't knw about Brown Bear, but Silver Bear hollowpoints are terrifically accurate out of my Saiga.

 

[Johnny Guest]

I appreciate the answers, all - -

Much as I expected, but nice to have my thoughts confirmed.

thanks again - -
Johnny

 

[RatFink]

The New Wolf ammo is great for paper and plinking. I just got my first AR and so far it's all I've shot through it so I can't give you a good comparison to other ammo. I've had one FTF out of about 400 rnds.

 

[PrudentGT]

Both "Brown Bear" and "Silver Bear" are made by the same Russian manufacturer (don't know if they're from the same plant or not). I think, in 5.56/.223 at least, the silver bear uses zinc coated steel cases and the brown bear uses the old laquer coated steel. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.)

I've only heard good things about the new Wolf polymer coated ammo, and you can get it for the same price ($99/1000rd) here

I've been meaning to try it in my SU16, because, hey, let's face it, $99 is cheap for 1k rounds of .223!

 

[natedog]

Anyone ever try ammo from "Maine Cartridge Company"? http://www.ammunitionstore.com/

1000 rounds of brass cased SS109 for $140 is pretty good.