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branshew | 03-12-2010 03:27 PM
Cheap Russian Ammo I have recently seen a rash of Wolf and Brown/Silver Bear ammo on the market - sometimes for ridiculously low prices. I'm tempted to pick some up for target practice, but I have some reservations. Is anyone here shooting this stuff? Is it dirty, corrosive, etc? I see some of the stuff is lacquer coated or polymer coated. Any chance that will mess w/ the internals or barrel on a semi-auto?

wallew | 03-12-2010 03:35 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo If you can get it for way less than current prices on Golden Bear, then yeah, pick it up. It is NOT corrosive. But it is in a laquered steel case that cannot be reloaded. But it SHOULD go bang every time. I've shot it, but I don't keep it for anything more than range ammo. My personal choice for Russian ammo is Golden Bear, which performs flawlessly in all my AK's. Hope that helped.

joe_momma | 03-12-2010 04:02 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I've used wolf and brown bear - fine for plinking - FMJ stuff, so I cannot speak to how well hollow points feed (if they even make them). Seems like wolf in particular has lots of powder fouling. Pricewise, they are pretty much the least expensive on the market. (edit) Follow-up to Mick Silver (see below) - yeah, a clean gun is a happy gun, just noticed that there was a lot more gunk to come off with wolf, doesn't really take any extra time, just a couple more patches, q-tips, and some more Hoppe's. :s1:

mick silver | 03-12-2010 04:29 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo just clean your guns when done . i thought everyone did that after shooting . i shoot good ammo cheap ammo after i am done i always clean my guns

Ruthless Defaulter | 03-12-2010 05:08 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Wolf = lacquer or plastic ("polymer") deposits in chamber, plenty of combustion residue. Brown Bear = less of the same. Silver Bear = excellent overall, no plastic since it's (edit: zinc) <s>nickel</s>-coated, but plenty of smoke & soot. I use Silver Bear when I want new (for Mosins), and copper-washed surplus when I want cheap. Never lacquer/plastic-coated.

CQC McDuck | 03-12-2010 05:57 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo The cheap steel cased Russian ammo works great with cheap Russian rifles. I've heard that the steel cased ammo is rough on the extractors of XD pistols though which is why I only run brass in mine.

Twisted Avatar | 03-12-2010 06:14 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo If no other reason grab a few boxes for bartering or putting together "care packages" for fellow patriots T

SilverCity | 03-12-2010 06:21 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I only shoot Russian ammo in Kalashnikovs...works great.

Patriotme | 03-12-2010 07:11 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I've shot a few thousand rounds of Silver Bear 9mm in my Kimber Stainless Target II. That stuff used to be very reasonably priced and I loaded up a long time ago. No problems. If it's harder on the extractor then I haven't noticed. You do eventually get a coating on the zinc cases(some kind of corrosion). It's only on the surface and doesn't seem to affect relaibility. I got a couple of M4's about 6 months or so ago. I've probaly put about 700 rnds or more of Silver Bear, Brown Bear, Tula, Wolf and Golden Bear through my Bushmaster and S&W MP15. I've had no problems. The Russian stuff is dirtier but I haven't had any problems the ammo. I do keep a spare extractor, firing pin and a broken cartridge extractor in my range bag. With what I save on ammo a couple of spare parts is no big deal. BTW, the 55 gr Brown Bear seems to be the most accurate in my guns. There have been a few people that say that the laquer from the Russian ammo can cause the bolt to be stuck if you get your gun hot and let it cool with the bolt foward. Tula doesn't have the laquer.

Corbin Dallas | 03-12-2010 07:47 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I've tried wolf, and had problems with jamming, but works fine if you load one round at a time. A lot of indoor ranges don't allow Russian ammo., for whatever reason.

Ag_man | 03-12-2010 08:03 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I shoot Wolf 7.62x39 in my SKS and AK. It's dirty ammo, but I haven't had jamming problems. I wouldn't buy it for pistol calibers.

Irons | 03-12-2010 08:15 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I haven't had to buy ammo in a while, but I love the wolf in the heavy duty cans. We shoot a lot of wolf .45 in pistols and I don't find it overly dirty compared to other surplus shit I have shot. For wolf .223 it's not consistant enough for long range shooting, and the silver bear is slightly better but not prarie dog range consistant. For the 140 yards at my home range silver bear is very good. Points given for the sealed, stackable heavy duty sardine cans.

SilverCity | 03-12-2010 08:17 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by Corbin Dallas (Post 2224017) I've tried wolf, and had problems with jamming, but works fine if you load one round at a time. A lot of indoor ranges don't allow Russian ammo., for whatever reason.
Russian ammo has a bi-metal jacket (soft steel with copper wash) that can cause sparks and has been known to start fires in the range backstop material.

ohioarmedneutrality | 03-12-2010 11:41 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Cheap Russian ammo + AK + day at the range = fun. Buy all you can, shoot it, then clean afterwards. :5_1_120:

Patriotme | 03-13-2010 12:53 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_momma (Post 2223746) I've used wolf and brown bear - fine for plinking - FMJ stuff, so I cannot speak to how well hollow points feed (if they even make them). Seems like wolf in particular has lots of powder fouling. Pricewise, they are pretty much the least expensive on the market. (edit) Follow-up to Mick Silver (see below) - yeah, a clean gun is a happy gun, just noticed that there was a lot more gunk to come off with wolf, doesn't really take any extra time, just a couple more patches, q-tips, and some more Hoppe's. :s1:
I've shot a lot of Silver Bear HP in 9mm in several different handguns. No problems with feeding. I've tried the Silver Bear BTHP in 62gr in my M4's. They feed fine but the groups are a lot larger then they are with the 55gr.

WAoG | 03-13-2010 01:25 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo How cheap and who is selling it.

Usury | 03-13-2010 12:21 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Buy Russian Ammo for Russian Guns (i.e., AK's, Mosins, etc). Don't put Russian Ammo in American Guns (i.e., 1911s, ARs, etc). My $0.02

BobtheTomato | 03-13-2010 12:37 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I have seen alot of people shoot the 9mm and 45 in handguns just and it seemed to work just fine. I have heard some say that the steel will wear out the extractor but most people agree that the steel in the cases in a mild steel and will not hurt the extractor. It is all I use in my SKS and AK and I need to buy a box sometime to try in my 9mm.

Usury | 03-13-2010 12:38 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo The Wolf .380 won't cycle in my Ruger LCP!!!!

S_Goldberg | 03-13-2010 09:48 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverCity (Post 2224050) Russian ammo has a bi-metal jacket (soft steel with copper wash) that can cause sparks and has been known to start fires in the range backstop material.
Many ranges have policies against russian ammo because they collect spent cases and reload them or sell them to be reloaded and the russian steel cases can't be reloaded. As for the russian ammo. It is fine for plinking.

latitude22 | 03-13-2010 10:53 PM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by Usury (Post 2224719) Buy Russian Ammo for Russian Guns (i.e., AK's, Mosins, etc). Don't put Russian Ammo in American Guns (i.e., 1911s, ARs, etc). My $0.02
Yea I adhere to this logic too.

cpy911 | 03-14-2010 12:11 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by latitude22 (Post 2225358) Yea I adhere to this logic too.
What about Wolf/Brown Bear/Golden Tiger in a Ruger Mini-30? Breaks the American ammo in American gun rule...but you guys tried it?

simpleworld | 03-14-2010 12:20 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I've been shooting Barnaul ever since I picked up a bunch back in 2008. No issues yet. http://home.comcast.net/~jfreeman16/barnaul39FMJ.jpg

latitude22 | 03-14-2010 12:55 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by cpy911 (Post 2225465) What about Wolf/Brown Bear/Golden Tiger in a Ruger Mini-30? Breaks the American ammo in American gun rule...but you guys tried it?
I don't have a mini-30 so I can't say that I've tried it. I did shoot a bunch of the Wolf through my old neighbors FAL and no issues, he said it was dirty as hell, but we shot some cheap brass from a local gun shop that day too, so who knows. Also he bitches about EVERYTHING. I just don't like loading cheap ammo in my expensive firearms, it's usually not worth it, of course I also don't like cleaning my guns with solvent, I prefer to clean them with oil and that's not always possible with the wolf.

SilverCity | 03-14-2010 12:59 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by cpy911 (Post 2225465) What about Wolf/Brown Bear/Golden Tiger in a Ruger Mini-30? Breaks the American ammo in American gun rule...but you guys tried it?
Many who do so complain about inconsistent ignition due to the harder Russian primers. Wolff Gunsprings offers a heavier hammer spring for the Ruger to minimize but not totally eliminate this problem.

Heimdhal | 03-14-2010 01:01 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Russian ammo was meant to be shot in Russian guns. Ive never seen so much whining and worrying before in my life :tongue_ma: Ive shot wolf, brown/silver/gold bear, etc in my AK and SKS and have friends that do the same without a hiccup. ITS WHAT THEY WERE MEANT TO DO! What, are yall paying 2k$ for an AK or something??? Its an AK, get over it. If you shoot corrosive surplus, wash it down at the range with the appropriate cleaning agent and give it a finer cleaning when you get home You got an AK cause you didnt want to moan and bitch over a 1,500$ rifle thtat need .60 cent+ a round ammo, right? "Oh no" you say, "I cant get sub MOA group with my wolf ammo and AK at 100 yards." Yeah, and you probably never will. IS there some reason you cant make a 3-4 inch group at 100 yards effective in combat? Shoot, 6-8 inch groups will still land effectivley in a human sized target. I try to pick up any decent priced Russian ammo I can. Ive got military surplus, but far mor brown bear and would feel more than confidant doing more than "plinking" with it if I had to.

CrufflerJJ | 03-14-2010 08:03 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo Quote:
Originally Posted by cpy911 (Post 2225465) What about Wolf/Brown Bear/Golden Tiger in a Ruger Mini-30? Breaks the American ammo in American gun rule...but you guys tried it?
I don't know about the Mini-30, but a friend's Mini-14 gobbles up the older lacquer coated Wolf stuff (which jams some AR15s) without a hiccup.

Maddie | 03-14-2010 09:49 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I've shot at least a few thousand rounds of Silver Bear and some Brown Bear through my SKS and never had a problem with it. It's a lot cleaner than and seems to shoot more accurately than Wolf. My favorite was Silver Bear Match, but I don't think it's available anymore.

Heimdhal | 03-14-2010 10:05 AM
Re: Cheap Russian Ammo I should clear up my little "rant" up there. I was refering strictly to russian rifle and rifle ammo. As far as the .223, Id probably stay away from it in an AR platform. As far as pistol, I have used the wolf .45 in my Bersa without a single issue other than that it was really fraking dirty.

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