Wolf Military Classic in an AR-15?

[Nightwing]

Ok. I happen to have access to 500 rounds of Wolf military Classic .223 for my AR-15. I am sort of broke so it'll be a little while before I can buy some higher quality ammo for my gun.
In the meantime, for plinking purposes, is there really that big of a problem using this stuff?
I have guys saying "You'll fry your action after 10 rounds shooting that lacquered up crap! Don't use it! you'll ruin your gun forever".
I know it's not great ammo, but for plinking..... shouldn't I be fine?
Now I'm all paranoid.

 

[wilson]

I shoot it, and i havent had any problems. I have a bushmaster.

 

[rockinrussky]

One of my friends I go shooting with has been using Wolf in his Stag AR for over a year and a half now with at least 3000 rounds through it. There hasn't been any issues with the rifle at all. I do remember a couple of times the wolf 223 would shoot about an inch or so lower than the 556 nato at 50 yards. Also, using steel cased ammo (wolf, silver tiger, silver bear, any animal you name it) is supposed to wear on your extractor more than the brass cased ammo but thats an easy and cheap fix on an AR.

 

[WoofersInc]

Use Wolf all the time in my AR's. No problems. Most of my friends use it almost exclusively also due to price.

 

[Steve in PA]

I've shot over 500rds of Wolf MC in my Bushmaster M4 with zero problems, issues, breakages or any other issue. Accuracy has been quite good. I'd buy and shoot more without question.

 

[nwilliams]

I use a lot of it in my Bushy and it always worked perfectly fine for me, a little dirty but it goes bang.

 

[SMLE]

If it works in your rifle, use it up. The issue is reliability, not damage to the rifle. Get a GI chamber brush and clean the chamber throughly after each session.

I know a fellow who has no issues with it in his S&W M&P15. I tried it in my Bushmaster and ended up having to hit the butt on the deck while pulling the charging handle to get the fired case out. I don't think it damaged the rifle, but I have not, and will not, willingly fire another round of Wolf ammo.

 

[gunman42782]

I have never had a problem shooting it in my ARs.

 

[possum]

i say try it in your gun and see, in my first ar it went through many thousand rds no issues.

 

[Nightwing]

Thanks guys! That's what I thought.

 

[HighRoad]

I was facing this same issue the other day and decided to try out the silver bear ammo in spam cans. Ive heard (dont know if its true) that the laquer and, to a lesser extent, polymer coatings can gum-up an AR-15. Silver bear appears to be zinc plated instead. Also, it's made by barnaul and it's supposed to be cleaner (again, not sure yet).

700rnd spam cans are at AIM for $180 each. I've found it $15 cheaper somewhere else after I purchased ... cant remember where though. I hope I made a good decision, its en route right now. Any1 else use this? If this is decent stuff, is it time to back up the truck at this price point?

 

[Lichter]

My armalite doesn't function properly with wolf, cases won't eject. However my friend's olympic ar blows through it without a hitch

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Should be fine for plinking.

However, don't think of it as anything more.

I recommend training with carry/duty ammo though, and that means brass cases.

 

[MassMark]

To test the lacquer mythology, take a SPENT casing and hit it with a blow torch. Report back about the little puddle of lacquer you will not find...The early Wolf had issues with coating melt - I'm pretty sure that issue is over. What is not over is that Wolf ammo varies more than my girlfriends moods when it comes to quality and consistency - shoot at your own risk - I'm all set.

 

[nalioth]

Also, using steel cased ammo (wolf, silver tiger, silver bear, any animal you name it) is supposed to wear on your extractor more than the brass cased ammo

This is a myth. The steel alloys used in these cases are as soft as the brass they replace.

As long as your AR uses quality parts, this is a non-issue.

 

[41magsnub]

I burned 500 rounds of it through my new stag arms right after I bought it. My only complaint was how rapidly it fouled the gun, I ended up with a couple of stuck cases from the lacquer build up in the chamber that I had to pop out with a cleaning rod after about 200 rounds. Cleaning the chamber got me about another 200, then it stuck again.

It wasn't super accurate but good enough for a couple of days messing around and breaking in the gun.

 

[fletcher]

This is a myth. The steel alloys used in these cases are as soft as the brass they replace.

The steel is soft, but not quite as soft as brass. That being said, it's still sufficiently soft so that it shouldn't be doing a number on your extractor, and I just ordered 500 rounds to put through my AR.

Supporting data (my own hardness tests, each case once fired):
Wolf Steel Case - 96.2 HRB
Winchester Brass Case - 80.0 HRB

 

[Magic_Man]

I just put 40 rounds through my AR last night without issue. I'll be buying more.

 

[trickyasafox]

works well in my two ARs. Hell I even reload the steel as some of it is boxer primed. it'll be fine. I use a bushmaster 20in NM upper and a Del-ton 16in SL kit.