Should I stay away from Lacquered steel case ammo?

[Redfish62 1]

Brown Bear ammo is so cheap but I have been told to stay away unless I am going to clean the barrel right after shooting while the barrel is still hot. Is there any truth to this?

[Maksim 1,504]

i have never had issues with them, but depends on what you are shooting them through. unless the ammo is corrosive itself, i dont see any big issues with it.

 

the biggest issue I had with the wolf/brown bear type of stuff is that I had a failure to eject in a CZ 85, 9mm.

[docwalt 1]

Steel cases are okay, but I would check with the firearm mfg.DSA says to stay away from steel

cases for their firearms.

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

Not sure that the issue is the steel cases, as much as it is the coating applied to them. I have read (no first-hand experience) of chambers getting gummed-up with melted laquer when shooting extended strings (hot chamber/barrel). That was one of the reasons Wolf switched from laquer to some type of polymer that was more heat resistant. Domestic manufacturerers are also using steel cased ammo. Hornady makes practice ammo for law enforcement using steel cases.

 

You'll probably hear the argument about wearing out your extractor because of the steel on steel issue. I would wager that your barrel will be shot out long before your extractor gets worn to the non-functional point.

 

All that being said, I choose not to use it in my AR's. However, If I owned an AK platform, I wouldn't hesitate - that's what they were designed to be used with.

 

You'll just have to decide what's right for you.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

[HODGIE 3]

All I pretty much shoot is Russian ammo out of all my weapons, poly and lacquer coated I have never seen

an issue with build up from the coating. That being said some of my pistols are picky and I do get some

fail fires out of my 9mm Baby eagle due to the hard primers or light strikes from the pistol. They will always fire on the

2nd attempt. Now if I load up my Kahr cw9 they fire each and Every time the 1st time so I am more inclined to believe

the Baby Eagle just does not like steel cased ammo.

 

The only rifle I have not put steel cased ammo through is my AR that I just built.

I got a great bulk deal on mil spec ammo, but I would defiantly try the steel to see if it feeds well.

If I can get brass cheaper then I go for it, or in the winter because some indoor ranges only allow Brass.

[Redfish62 1]

Thanks guys, it is the "lacquer" I was wondering about. I don't think I'll use it in my Remington R-15 just my bolt action only.

[Ray Ray 3,566]

Yes!

 

Buy American, buy in bulk, buy Brass!

[Caine 147]

Buy American, buy in bulk, buy Brass!

took you long enough. i've been waiting 2 days for that

[HODGIE 3]

Yes!

 

Buy American, buy in bulk, buy Brass!

 

 

lol

Yeah I here ya but a American Brass case of 7.62x39 would run me about $500.00 + no thanks.

[Ray Ray 3,566]

Yes!

 

Buy American, buy in bulk, buy Brass!

 

 

lol

Yeah I here ya but a American Brass case of 7.62x39 would run me about $500.00 + no thanks.

 

In AK's or pistols, yeah steel cased stuff is fine, but not in Direct Impingment AR's. Don't know about piston AR's though.

[Caine 147]

In AK's or pistols, yeah steel cased stuff is fine, but not in SOME Direct Impingment AR's.

Fixed it for you

[Ray Ray 3,566]

In AK's or pistols, yeah steel cased stuff is fine, but not in SOME Direct Impingment AR's.

Fixed it for you

 

Didn't need it fixed, lacquered cased ammo ain't good for DI AR's, but I'm not sure about Piston AR's.

[Col. Mortimer 11]

From what I heard, the old stuff was lacquered. Problems occurred when a round was left in a hot chamber. The lacquer melted, then solidified and glued the round in the chamber. The steel rounds now are poly coated and the problem was solved. I know a guy at the range that uses Brown Bear as his practice ammo and loves the stuff.

[Ray Ray 3,566]

From what I heard, the old stuff was lacquered. Problems occurred when a round was left in a hot chamber. The lacquer melted, then solidified and glued the round in the chamber. The steel rounds now are poly coated and the problem was solved. I know a guy at the range that uses Brown Bear as his practice ammo and loves the stuff.

 

The problem is that after a while the lacquer builds up causing malfunctions and, like the problem I had, was the round was lodged in the so good that I had to use the cleaning rod and slam it out.

 

It's not worth the risk, Buy American, Buy Brass, and Buy in Bulk.

[Lublin 3]

I've read countless posts on other boards of people using NEWER steel cased ammo in DI AR's with no issues. Try it out and see, just make sure you thoroughly clean your rifle immediately after shooting.

[capri_auto 0]

I only use wolf in my ak and never had an issue, I can hit bowling pins at 100yards no prob with the crap too.

[Maksim 1,504]

yes, just to add to this. Wolf had reformulated the casings in their ammo. they were originally lacqured steel, however they switched to a mix, which doesnt have all of the issues that the old stuff had.

[NickySantoro 211]

Some interesting info on this subject here......

 

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu18.htm

[rscalzo 3]

I've used Wolf years ago without any problems. Russian powder is getting popular for reloading as it is sold through some outlets for surplus components. a very experienced friend uses the powder in his 30-06 reloads and it works well. Just a much bigger flash.

[Ray Ray 3,566]

Some interesting info on this subject here......

 

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu18.htm

 

Good read but still don't like that ammo. I needed to use a cleaning rod to get the spent casings (yes casings becuase I still kept shooting after it happened once) out and it was tough.

 

I don't know if anyone pays attention to me, but damn it buy American, buy brass and buy in bulk!

[Maksim 1,504]

I've used Wolf years ago without any problems. Russian powder is getting popular for reloading as it is sold through some outlets for surplus components. a very experienced friend uses the powder in his 30-06 reloads and it works well. Just a much bigger flash.

 

 

Where might this powder be found?