Problems with Ammo .223 Wolf, FMJ

[stroo]

While I agree that you should clean the packing grease out, the jams don't have anything to do with that. The steel case is the culprit here. Some AR 15 manufacturers even state now that their warranty is abrogated if you use steel cased ammo. Use brass cases and this problem will go away.

[shortysboy09]

While I agree that you should clean the packing grease out, the jams don't have anything to do with that. The steel case is the culprit here. Some AR 15 manufacturers even state now that their warranty is abrogated if you use steel cased ammo. Use brass cases and this problem will go away.

I have heard of manufacturers doing this as well. Stroo is right, the shoulder expanding on you wouldn't have anything to do with the packing grease. What brand AR did you get?

[LedJedi]

While I agree that you should clean the packing grease out, the jams don't have anything to do with that. The steel case is the culprit here. Some AR 15 manufacturers even state now that their warranty is abrogated if you use steel cased ammo. Use brass cases and this problem will go away.

I have heard of manufacturers doing this as well. Stroo is right, the shoulder expanding on you wouldn't have anything to do with the packing grease. What brand AR did you get?

It's a Bushmaster. I tend to agree too that the shoulder expansion of the case would have nothing to do with the grease. The grease doesn't help the situation at all, but those cases were most definitely stuck in the bore and had to be forcefully removed. That was most definitely caused by case expansion.

[shortysboy09]

While I agree that you should clean the packing grease out, the jams don't have anything to do with that. The steel case is the culprit here. Some AR 15 manufacturers even state now that their warranty is abrogated if you use steel cased ammo. Use brass cases and this problem will go away.

I have heard of manufacturers doing this as well. Stroo is right, the shoulder expanding on you wouldn't have anything to do with the packing grease. What brand AR did you get?

It's a Bushmaster. I tend to agree too that the shoulder expansion of the case would have nothing to do with the grease. The grease doesn't help the situation at all, but those cases were most definitely stuck in the bore and had to be forcefully removed. That was most definitely caused by case expansion.

Did you snap any pictures of the casings?

[gregthehand]

It seems strange that the case would expand on a steel round. Usually the problem people have is that they shoot the steel stuff and it blows a lot of junk back into the action since the case does not expand as much as a brass one will. So what happens is that crud gets in the chamber and dirties it up. Then you go to shoot brass and it does expand and gets stuck in the chamber.

I'm thinking it maybe just that your rifle is so new and not broken in yet. I would try cleaning the rifle really well and then trying a box of the Wolf again.

By the way I use Monarch which is what Academy sells now when I'm just out plinking. I've also used the silver and brown Bear ammo and not had any issues. However this has always been in an XCR which, no offense to your AR but, is a much more forgiving rifle when it comes to ammo choice.

[stroo]

I had about 300 rounds through my rifle when I got a steel case stuck in my barrel. It came after probably 30 rounds that day. I couldn't push it out with cleaning rod so I took it to my gunsmith. He got it out easily but said he sees a fair amount of this problem with steel cased ammo. The ammo I used was not Wolff, and I had shot some Wolff before without a problem, but I think was Monarch.

I put together another AR 15 for my daughter for Christmas using a Delton upper. I noticed at the time that Delton states that their warranty is abrogated if steel cased ammo is used.

[Mike from Texas]

It seems strange that the case would expand on a steel round. Usually the problem people have is that they shoot the steel stuff and it blows a lot of junk back into the action since the case does not expand as much as a brass one will. So what happens is that crud gets in the chamber and dirties it up. Then you go to shoot brass and it does expand and gets stuck in the chamber.

I'm thinking it maybe just that your rifle is so new and not broken in yet. I would try cleaning the rifle really well and then trying a box of the Wolf again.

By the way I use Monarch which is what Academy sells now when I'm just out plinking. I've also used the silver and brown Bear ammo and not had any issues. However this has always been in an XCR which, no offense to your AR but, is a much more forgiving rifle when it comes to ammo choice.

This is more than likely your problem. Wolf ammo is dirty to begin with and with the steel cases lack of expansion it is allowing a lot of powder back into the action. This is just ONE of the many reasons I don't shoot Wolf ammo in any of my guns.

In addition to that you may have just voided the warranty on your new gun.

[tboesche]

I like the Monarch brand from Academy. I have shot both their steel cased and the brass cased with ho issues out of my AR. BUT, no I am pretty much only shooting the brass. 9.99 a box is not too bad. I have a couple hundered steel cased in the bottom of the ammo box for when the Zombies come. Stash ammo I call it. FYI, Cabelas in North Forth Worth is selling Sellier & Belliot brass cased FMJ for 6.99 a box. I bought a couple hunnert last weekend, and will probably pick up a couple hunnert more this weekend.

Sure wish I could get .45 this cheap.

[LedJedi]

Sure wish I could get .45 this cheap.

Amen to that brother!

[CWOOD]

Wolf Ammo comes with two different types of coatings. There is a great deal of difference in their effect on various firearms.

What is often referred to as "Classic" Wolf has a lacquer finish. The lacquer is the original protective coating which in the loose chambered Soviet Block weapons and their derivitives is a non factor in their functioning. In the tighter chambers we often find in more modern weapons the lacquer can come off the case and build up in the chamber and cause serious function problems. This can cause failure to eject problems and failure to go fully into battery problems. This latter one might be the reason for the expanded case.

The more modern Wolf has a polymer coating. This is a much cleaner functioning round. I have run about 1000 rounds through a Mini-14 at local carbine matches. These are relatively close ranges so ultimate accuracy is not a factor. I do not recall EVER having a function problem with the polymer coated rounds. I have never used the lacquer coated ones so cannot speak to them personally.

As far as the steel case itself, before I purchased the rounds I called Ruger Customer Service and asked about steel cases. They told me without hesitation that there was no problem using them in the Mini-14.Cannot speak with personal experience as to their use in AR's.

Check the ammo that you have. The polymer coated rounds are very slick and clean feeling and have a generally lighter color. The lacquer coated rounds seem to be darker in color and just look like they were dipped in something....lacquer, I guess. They almost look like you could scrape it off with your fingernail...but I don't think you really can.

Those folks above with success or failure stories might have had one type or another which could have contributed to said success or failure.

Hope this helps

[Mastodon]

Tried a box of Wolf steel early on in the life of my CZ-75 B, many yrs ago. The casings definitely had FTE's; remarkably more so than anything I have EVER shot since.

I've since stayed way away from putting steel ammo through anything and from Wolf altogether. Though I imagine the Wolf brass would eject well enough.

*edit. I don't recall them having any polymer/etc. coat, but its been awhile*

[tb7475]

My AR had problem with old lacquer one for fail to eject after the barrel gets hot but never have any problem with newer polymer one in 223 rem.From my experience some company's barrels has tighter chamber and some others will give a little more room to accompany different brand of ammo.Yours might be the one.You can clean and lube the gun real good then go try it one more time since you still have some wolf ammo,if it still doesn't work then go for brass ammo.
I have one 45 ACP can take different brand of ammo but Wolf,every time I shot it with wolf the case will stuck won't eject,I have to use cleaning rod to push the case out just like what happen to your AR but the same ammo feeds my other gun just fine no problem at all.
I am still using Wolf for plinking for my AR and pistol except the one I am having trouble with.

[.45mac.40]

... Also the 7.62X39... is pretty dirty and nasty ... BUT, why do I keep buying it ??
Since I've had my bolt and firing pin, worked over by "Murrays", ( He also says to stay away from it) My SKS will rock and roll !
Mac

[LedJedi]

it appears that cleaning must have been the issue here. I recently went back to the range to sight in my new scope. We burned through the rest of the steel ammo from wolf and didn't have a single failure to eject after about 200 rounds.

I also ran through 2 boxes of the monarch ammo from academy and they cycled fine as well.

*on a side note I have to say I love the friendly folks at the range. I was working with my daughter and one of the guys on the line noticed we were using a 9mm. He offered to let her try out his 22 pistol. She loved it. Very nice of him. On the rifle side of the range the same thing happened. A guy was helping his son sight in his new 22 and they offered to let her shoot a few rounds. She loved the rifle so much she wants one for xmas so she can sit next to me at the range and shoot with me. :)

I let the guy shoot as much as he wanted through my AR and he seemed thrilled. he'd never been able to shoot one. I love nice folks like that at the range.