Brown Bear Ammo

[Oh Shoot]

Thinking of stocking up more for the (seemingly, closer) meltdown that has to eventually happen.

I think general consensus on the Brown Bear (9mm) is that it's pretty much okay? Maybe dirtier than some? Dirtier than most?

Also, is steel cased. That tougher on extractors/ejectors, or that just old shooters' tale?

thanx

- OS

Edited September 20, 2008 by OhShoot

[vujade]

i use brown bear for my 308 and 7.62x39. They are good. I think even cleaner than wolf. I use them on AK platforms though - I'm not sure how they will handle with "gentler" firearms.

[fizik]

dirtier than higher end ammo in my ak, dunno about the extractor damage. i've got an extra one here if it starts wearing, but after 4-500 rounds i don't see obvious wear on it.

[TripleDigitRide]

Not to thread hijack, but I was wondering the same thing for my AR.

[Guest Abominable_Hillbilly]

I love Russian guns and like Russian ammo.

Brown Bear, Silver Bear, and Barnaul all produce good ammo. Not the most accurate, but dependable and never light loaded like Wolf can sometimes be. The Bears are generally hotter, especially in pistol calibers and .223 and .308. To me, they're no dirtier than anything else because all of my guns need cleaning after I shoot. They are sootier, but it's never been anything that bothered me.

The steel they use for the case is not razor steel. It doesn't even seem to be as hard as mild steel. It's not as simple as comparing "brass" and "steel" when considering the cartridge. I can't imagine this ammo harming a known-good extractor from a reputable manufacturer. All of my guns leave visible claw marks on the rim of the cartridge.

As to use in AR's, I've never had a problem, except cycling issues in new guns with weakly loaded Wolf. The lacquer doesn't melt and stick to the chamber. Using steel cased ammo and then switching to brass (or firing, say, five hundred rounds of steel case without cleaning the chamber), can cause a round to become stuck in the soot that's built up on the chamber wall. The tighter tolerances of the AR are probably to blame. Accuracy is not great considering what even the most basic AR is capable of doing with AE red box 55gr. I'll give up a bit of accuracy for the difference in price.

Also, the lacquer coated rounds feed better for me than the polymer coated rounds, regardless of the gun or caliber. The lacquer is "slicker".

[Oh Shoot]

I love Russian guns and like Russian ammo <etc>...

Appreciate that detailed evaluation,thanks!

- OS

[Guest 2HOW]

I have heard of extractors breaking in ARs and some pistols, no direct experience. I wouldnt worry unless your shooting thousands of rounds.

[Oh Shoot]

I have heard of extractors breaking in ARs and some pistols, no direct experience. I wouldnt worry unless your shooting thousands of rounds.

Cool. Was only talking maybe a 1,000 round pack, and mostly as a "stockpile".

- OS

[Guest nitrous_mike]

I have heard of extractors breaking in ARs and some pistols, no direct experience. I wouldnt worry unless your shooting thousands of rounds.

I have ran over 3k rounds of BB in my MP15 and Bushmaster with no issues. I do try and run some brass in them to try to keep stuff "lubed" up. I would honestly never run any steel case ammo unless I have ran few hundred rounds of brass first on a new gun, nor would I run steel case only.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

I've run about 1K of Brown Bear through my issued BushMaster...zero problems. It's my new plinking ammo in 223/5.56.

Brown Bear is a totally different animal than Wolf.

C.I.S. has yet to have a student come through Defensive Carbine using the AR/Wolf combo without SERIOUS issues.

Tomorrow I'm going to run a couple hundred 9mm Brown Bear through my G19.

[Guest canynracer]

I've run about 1K of Brown Bear through my issued BushMaster...zero problems. It's my new plinking ammo in 223/5.56.

Brown Bear is a totally different animal than Wolf.

C.I.S. has yet to have a student come through Defensive Carbine using the AR/Wolf combo without SERIOUS issues.

Tomorrow I'm going to run a couple hundred 9mm Brown Bear through my G19.

WooHoo, I was kinda freaking a bit and havent bought any ammo cause I heard that Bushmasters are picky. I have the Optics Ready version...I NEED ammo!!!

[PaiMei]

I've run about 1K of Brown Bear through my issued BushMaster...zero problems. It's my new plinking ammo in 223/5.56.

Brown Bear is a totally different animal than Wolf.

C.I.S. has yet to have a student come through Defensive Carbine using the AR/Wolf combo without SERIOUS issues.

Tomorrow I'm going to run a couple hundred 9mm Brown Bear through my G19.

Curious, how did it run through the Glock? Flawless? Im thinking of getting some myself.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Curious, how did it run through the Glock? Flawless? Im thinking of getting some myself.

Zero problems.