Explain the difference to me...

[KahrMan]

The only experience I have with ARs is with my .308 Bushmaster. I have been wanting to get a .223/5.56. My question is this...What is the difference in the 5.56 ammo I have seen for sale. Example - ammoman.com sells 1000rounds of russian for $269 shipped but Federal XM 193 sells for about $100 more. What is the difference in the ammos? Is the russian stuff crap or the Federal just that much better?

Thanks for the help.

[molonlabetn]

Difference is the Wolf ammo uses a steel casing, which does not feed or extract as smoothly, and may actually gradually weaken the extractor of an AR... and the powder used in the russian ammo is very dirty, expect to need to clean the gun at least twice as much.

[KahrMan]

I figured it was something like that. I am strong believer in the phrase you get what you pay for. It has taken me a long to realize that sometimes it is "cheaper" to buy the higher quality more expensive item.

Thanks

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Not all steel cased Russian ammo is created equal.

I've found a huge quality difference between say, Wolf and Barnaul's Brown Bear. I won't shoot/use Wolf's .223, but Brown Bear is my go-to practice ammo when I'm paying for it. I have yet to have a single problem with BB (I have seen NUMEROUS problems with Wolf .223).

Dirtier? Maybe. Clean your gun.

Increased extractor wear? It's talked about, but I haven't seen it. I've got about 1500 rounds of BB through my RRA...extractor is still good-to-go. Even IF it happens, what does an AR extractor cost? $10? You save that on your first case of ammo easily.

KahrMan, to answer your original question the Federal ammo is higher quality "mil-spec" M-193 and the Russian stuff is not. You just have to determine if $100 is worth it or not for your intended purposes.

Practice? I'd go cheaper (and do). Ammo that may be pressed into "service?" Get the Federal.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Todd@CIS

[KahrMan]

Not all steel cased Russian ammo is created equal.

I've found a huge quality difference between say, Wolf and Barnaul's Brown Bear. I won't shoot/use Wolf's .223, but Brown Bear is my go-to practice ammo when I'm paying for it. I have yet to have a single problem with BB (I have seen NUMEROUS problems with Wolf .223).

Dirtier? Maybe. Clean your gun.

Increased extractor wear? It's talked about, but I haven't seen it. I've got about 1500 rounds of BB through my RRA...extractor is still good-to-go. Even IF it happens, what does an AR extractor cost? $10? You save that on your first case of ammo easily.

KahrMan, to answer your original question the Federal ammo is higher quality "mil-spec" M-193 and the Russian stuff is not. You just have to determine if $100 is worth it or not for your intended purposes.

Practice? I'd go cheaper (and do). Ammo that may be pressed into "service?" Get the Federal.

Great analysis Todd. That makes a lot sense.

Thanks.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

PS. Speaking of AR extractor wear, for those that don't know how to check it before actual failure, here's an easy check.

-Remove the extractor.

-Run your finger over the claw of the extractor (OK Verbal, it doesn't HAVE to be your finger...whatever appendage you prefer).

The outer edges/corners of the claw should be sharp points...you should feel two of them. If it feels dull, you're due for a new extractor/extractor spring.

[creeky]

-Run your finger over the claw of the extractor (OK Verbal, it doesn't HAVE to be your finger...whatever appendage you prefer).

BWahahahaa!!!!

If you touch your extractor more than twice though... your playing with it.

Not that there is anything wrong with that... just call it what it is! LOL!!!

[Guest coldblackwind]

I have a comment on the bulk wolf .223. I've been shooting some in my ar, and didn't think much of it, as I was shooting bottles and such. Then I shot some in my mark X (bolt action), that I grabbed out of my ammo can. At 100 yards it dropped over 6 inches. I thought my scope got knocked around until I fired some remington I had in the side saddle, that was dead on, bullseye. The wolf, if you shot at the top of the paper, you would hit...maybe an inch under the bullseye. Fine if you're just playing around and want cheap ammo, but don't try to do any real accurate shooting with it.

[R1100R]

Also the XM193 is brass cased and re loadable. The wolf/BB Russian is not.

[Guest sermon8r]

Is an Oxymoron...

Wolf is great in an AK but I wouldnt shoot it in Rabbis AR......

[Guest 04heritage]

federal is a better ammo i think

[Guest GLOCK2340]

Not all steel cased Russian ammo is created equal.

I've found a huge quality difference between say, Wolf and Barnaul's Brown Bear. I won't shoot/use Wolf's .223, but Brown Bear is my go-to practice ammo when I'm paying for it. I have yet to have a single problem with BB (I have seen NUMEROUS problems with Wolf .223).

Dirtier? Maybe. Clean your gun.

Increased extractor wear? It's talked about, but I haven't seen it. I've got about 1500 rounds of BB through my RRA...extractor is still good-to-go. Even IF it happens, what does an AR extractor cost? $10? You save that on your first case of ammo easily.

I totally agree about the Barnaul Brown Bear. I have bought 1000 rounds from AIM and it works great through my bushmaster. I also bought some Wolf just to test it out, and I couldn't get 3 rounds to fire in a row without a problem. I tried again after cleaning lubing my gun, checkin all the mags, I thought that it might be the gun. Same thing afterwords, so I gave all of the wolf to my fatherinlaw to put through is mini14. He said it worked fine for him, but you won't find anymore Wolf in my possession!! The federal is good stuff and if my life depended on it I would choose it over the Brown Bear, but for practice and plinkin brown bear or cheaper ammo that cycles works for me. I would suggest buying a couple of 20 packs to see how a certain brand or type of ammo works in your gun before you go bulk.