Wolf .223 for SHTF/HD?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

migkillertwo

Member
Joined
May 29, 2010
Messages
279
Um, I dont know if you've heard, but AIM surplus is selling 1000-round cases of wolf .223 for 200$ a box (which is the same as 7.62x39). I'm thinking that much ammo would be good for SHTF situations. what do you think? Is wolf good or is it too underpowered?
 
Wolf is always a love/hate thing it seems, opinions vary widely.
Personally, I shoot it a lot, never had a problem.
YMMV!
 
well it seems that the only problems that really happen (as in are not internet rumor) are short-stroking, but that seems to never happen in DI guns (and I only have DI ARs and I plan on keeping it that way)
 
I would not use their .223 ammo for defense, because it isn't as reliable as better options and its bullets don't expand, fragment or tumble. Spend a little extra for brass cased ammo made to the M193 or M855 standard, or a specialized defensive load like Hornady TAP.

In the 7.62x39mm category I find the Wolf and other Russian options much more acceptable, because the bullet designs are better and aren't expected to expand or fragment (exception: military classic JHP) and are essentially the same as the military issue x39 ammo which has proven to be fairly effective.
 
Well, for plinking/training ammo I have no problem with Wolf; though it still isn't my first choice. For SHTF,I would think about the following:

1. Wolf uses a thicker copper jacket; so the fragmenting that makes .223 more effective does not happen.

2. Wolf is typically 4-5 MOA ammo; which may or may not be a problem depending on the ranges you intend to use it.

3. Longevity of steel case ammo is probably not as good as brass case.

4. Tends to be more variation in accuracy and reliability in Wolf from lot to lot.

5. Tends to be underpowered compared to brass .223
 
Although I don't have any problems with shooting wolf, it is a bit underpowered. I like the Silver Bear 62gr hollow point. It's hotter than wolf and runs $4.89 a box. In any case, if I had to stake my life on ammo and had to buy lots of it. I'd go some flavor of M193. The bulk stuff that comes in stripper clips is a good way to go. They fit well into a standard ammo can and you can load magazine very quickly with the stripper clips. I've seen it for around $340 for 900 rounds, shipped.
 
For SHTF, I would use Wolf if I had no other choice but I'd be ready to do some serious jam clearing on the run!
Click to expand...

Not trying to ridicule, but if running Wolf causes you to have to do some serious jam clearing, there's something wrong or not quite right with your rifle. If you are having trouble with cases sticking, I would suggest that you try something to slow things down a bit. Your rifle may be over gassed. Just a suggestion.
 
Gee, no one even mentioned Kalashnikovs...

Silver Bear and Brown Bear 62 soft points shoot better than any of the Russian steel-cased FMJ or HP and will run through my Saigas all day long. In fact, I have never had a failure.

I own several models just to take advantage of the lower ammo cost.
 
TonyAngel said:
Not trying to ridicule, but if running Wolf causes you to have to do some serious jam clearing, there's something wrong or not quite right with your rifle. If you are having trouble with cases sticking, I would suggest that you try something to slow things down a bit. Your rifle may be over gassed. Just a suggestion.
Click to expand...
+1 Million. I subscribe to the view that if your (non precision, battle/assault) rifle doesn't run steel case ammo, the rifle is defective, not the ammo.

For SHTF....any ammo you can get your hands on will be preferable to throwing rocks, and will also be a good bartering tool. As an aside...I agree with the other folk and prefer the Bear stuff to Wolf though, seems to be more accurate and consistent to me.

For HD....there are better choices but I'd not think twice about grabbing a mag of Russian steel cased ammo if that was what I had to hand.
 
(what ever color) bear soft points would be a nice cheap round to use. Soft points do massive damage. Not sure if wolf is sold in soft point though. If you look around online you can always find great deals. sportsmansguide.com is usually a nice place to go.
 
If it will go bang and put lead out at a reasonable rate towards the intended target, I'll use it. I tried a box of 20 regular Wolf from Dick's Sporting Goods in my RRA and it ran just as smooth as the Winchester brass rounds I had.

However, I am no longer interested in any Russian made ammunition.
 
I'm down to about 1500rds. of wolf, lots and lots of duds...
Click to expand...

I've run many thousands of rounds of wolf and can't remember ever having gotten a dud. Are you running a full power hammer spring or did you try to do a "trigger job" by bending or replacing springs. The Wolf primers are pretty hard.
 
People often complain about steel cased ammo. They say they don't work in AR's, but if its a proper AR or any rifle worth the money it will shoot steel cased no problem. True, it is not as high quality as brass, but its great for target practice and you can get a good round out of steel cased if you get a soft point or hollow point.

But I think if you were ever in said situation...I'd be more worried about trying to clean the AR in less than ideal situations with cleaning supplies running low and probably hard to find than what ammo I had (as long as I had some). Stock up on what you can afford and always make sure you have a back up of some sort. Whether it be a shotgun, pistol, knife, or another rifle.

Ever watched Nutnfancy videos on youtube? He runs a lot of wolf. Sure he's long winded, but his intention is good.

I wouldn't suggest silver bear though except for plinking. The zinc will corrode if it gets wet.
 
Why trust your life to garbage ammo?

OK for an AK---verboten in an AR.

MY AR's are 100% with brass and choke on steel----nothing wrong with the guns other than garbage ammo.
 
M1key said:
Gee, no one even mentioned Kalashnikovs...

Silver Bear and Brown Bear 62 soft points shoot better than any of the Russian steel-cased FMJ or HP and will run through my Saigas all day long. In fact, I have never had a failure.

I own several models just to take advantage of the lower ammo cost.
Click to expand...

No offense, but at the moment, the price of ammo for .223 and 7.62x39 are on par with one another, and I've been loading up magazines for my AK and good f***, the weight difference is huge. In a close encounter, HD situation, I'll grab teh AK or a pistol, but when the SHTF, I'm taking my AR. I can easily carry twice as much ammo for my AR as I can with for my AK.
 
Not to keep harping on it, but if your rifle won't run on steel cased ammo, it is NOT an ammo issue.

The price of 7.62X39 has gone up considerably. I can remember a time when you could get a case of Norinco (I think it was) for around $150 for 1440 rounds.

That thing about the Silver Bear corroding is something that I've heard or read about, but I've never seen it happen. When I get home, I'm going to pull a box and leave them out to see what happens.
 
TonyAngel said:
I've run many thousands of rounds of wolf and can't remember ever having gotten a dud. Are you running a full power hammer spring or did you try to do a "trigger job" by bending or replacing springs. The Wolf primers are pretty hard.
Click to expand...

No trigger job, just a bad batch of ammo. About 1 in 15 will fail the first strike, about 1 in 20 fail the second strike.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
223 Surplus (cheap) ammo - any good for defense?
Replies
7
Views
964
mc223
M
4
  • Locked
Wolf .223 Copper Jacket Ammo
Replies
6
Views
1K
Average Joe
A
G
  • Locked
Wolf 223 Ammo??
Replies
23
Views
931
DoubleTapDrew
D
S
  • Locked
Wolf .223 vs Surplus 7.62x54R?
Replies
4
Views
1K
Caseless
C
B
  • Locked
Wolf black box versus Wolf military classic primers
Replies
1
Views
476
W.E.G.
W.E.G.
Back
Top