Wolf Steel cased 9mm.

[Guest Keinengel]

I've shot about two boxes of wolf 115g steel cased 9mm luger through my Beretta 92FS (and about a box and a half through my old Sig) and I haven't had any problems or malfunctions on it so far. After the barrel heats up however the red paint like stuff around the primer cap tends to melt and get all over the extractor and i have to clean the crap out of it to get it all out.

I've read that steel cased ammo is almost Taboo according to most people and it should only be used in old surplus rifles. Am i going to wear my handgun out faster or experience some other problem from shooting steel case ammo?

[Oh Shoot]

Almost as big a debate as 9mm vs. .45.

A lot of steel cased ammo still is lacquer coating, to prevent rusting and encourage feeding, so that is the stuff that melts off in hot chamber. The red stuff is a primer waterproofing sealer, and is found on many cartridges, not just steel cased. You notice it because of the color, but it's just part of the melted "goop".

Now, there's also a lot of steel cased ammo that is polymer coated, too...and yours may be, and maybe you're only seeing the primer seal, I don't know.

Most folks have generally come to the conclusion that steel cased ammo is NOT any harder on extractors than any other, as the steel is of a type that is still softer than the steel of a gun, but many diehards still swear it is harder on a gun, especially the extractor, than brass cased. I've never seen any kind of "scientific" evidence to show that any part of guns wear quicker with steel cased, myself.

The main thing is that there are many thousands of ARs that just don't run well with the steel cased ammo, at least the lacquer coated kind.

The majority of steel cased being shot is 5.56/223 and 7.62. Main reason being that steel case doesn't expand as well with as tight a seal in chamber as brass, and builds up residue quicker, both regular powder residue and of course the lacquer especially or perhaps even the polymer also.

My Mini 14 absolutely doesn't care what kind of .223 is run through it, btw. I guess that's the only steel cased stuff I've shot much of, that I can remember.

So, settle back, and let the opinions fly.

- OS

Edited July 25, 2010 by OhShoot

[Mike.357]

what kind of Wolf is it?

I thought they got away from lacquer??????

I am not sure there is enough sealer on the primer to leave a mark on the extractor but obviously there is. Very odd.

i have shot the crap out of ammo with the red stuff aruond the primer but it has never left any evidence.

[Magiccarpetrides]

Why the hell would anyone shoot wolf when the red box 9mm at Walmart is brass case and under 10 bucks?

[Oh Shoot]

what kind of Wolf is it?

I thought they got away from lacquer??????

.

Maybe in 9mm, I dunno.

There's still a ton of Wolf .223 lacquer coated. And Tula, Brown Bear, and Monarch and the other Russian ones that I can't think of.

All of which a still from the same couple of Russian mega plants.

At least it's still for sale, whether it's currently manufactured that way I hear differing opinions.

I just bought couple hundred rounds of Brown Bear lacquer coated from CTD to round out an order, for example.

I realize that some Wolf is USA manufactured now, though.

Seems like all the .22 is.

- OS

edit: Looking around, it DOES look like no more Wolf brand lacquer coated ammo is being produced, so any found would be old stock.

Edited July 25, 2010 by OhShoot

[kb4ns]

Very odd.

i have shot the crap out of ammo with the red stuff aruond the primer but it has never left any evidence.

Same here.

[Guest Keinengel]

Why the hell would anyone shoot wolf when the red box 9mm at Walmart is brass case and under 10 bucks?

Our wally worlds here in M'boro suck, lol. But I will go look and see if i can get a better deal than 13$ a box tho. As far what kind of Wolf ammo it is, its just the black boxed Wolf: Performance Ammunition. 115 grain, steel cased, berdan primed. it doesnt leave a lot of the red stuff on the extractor but its clearly distinguishable from regular old grime. To be honest only my most recent couple of boxes left that stuff so maybe it was just the batch they were in. anyways thanks for the info guys!

[jeremy155rr]

Our wally worlds here in M'boro suck, lol. But I will go look and see if i can get a better deal than 13$ a box tho. As far what kind of Wolf ammo it is, its just the black boxed Wolf: Performance Ammunition. 115 grain, steel cased, berdan primed. it doesnt leave a lot of the red stuff on the extractor but its clearly distinguishable from regular old grime. To be honest only my most recent couple of boxes left that stuff so maybe it was just the batch they were in. anyways thanks for the info guys!

Dang, at 13 bucks a box you could have your pick of wally world ammo... umc, wwb, federal, that orange box?, speer lawman, all cheaper than that.

[kb4ns]

Dang, at 13 bucks a box you could have your pick of wally world ammo...

Yep, but just Wally World. It seems that everywhere else is keeping up with the ridiculous prices ($14+).

[Guest Keinengel]

Well, i guess its definatly time to hit up the local wally worlds. Luckily i have two within 10 minutes of where i live. Thanks for the advice guys