Is there any ammo you won't shoot in your AR?

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Having had an upper wrecked after a Wolf case head failed, I will never (given a choice) load Wolf or any other steel cased ammo in my AR.

Also, every instance an AR-15 catastrophic "I hope the shooter is OK!!!!" failure I have seen documented involved reloaded ammo (not that it can't happen in production ammo, I just haven't seen it in a detailed write up of events, so it seems to be EXTREMELY less common). So I'd rather throw money at cheap russian made steel cased than reloads.

Now you have a documented case that doesn't involve reloads. After approximately 150 rounds fired in a Colt SP1, all Wolf ammo, a Wolf case failed. The upper was spread at the bottom, ejection port dust cover blown off, bolt driven back into the carrier (all parts destroyed), magazine follower/spring/baseplate/ammo ejected. Magazine body remained in the weapon and was belled outward at the base. The barrel exhibited no visible damage and the front half of the case was lodged in the chamber. Luckily, the lower receiver survived intact.

Good enough reason for me never to allow that garbage in any AR that I own. Anyone else can make their own choice.

[NorCalSJ]

my BMC upper cycles everything with no problem, I shoot it all including Wolf.

[mlaines]

Nope i shoot it all with no issues

[metalliman545]

Having had an upper wrecked after a Wolf case head failed, I will never (given a choice) load Wolf or any other steel cased ammo in my AR.



Now you have a documented case that doesn't involve reloads. After approximately 150 rounds fired in a Colt SP1, all Wolf ammo, a Wolf case failed. The upper was spread at the bottom, ejection port dust cover blown off, bolt driven back into the carrier (all parts destroyed), magazine follower/spring/baseplate/ammo ejected. Magazine body remained in the weapon and was belled outward at the base. The barrel exhibited no visible damage and the front half of the case was lodged in the chamber. Luckily, the lower receiver survived intact.

Good enough reason for me never to allow that garbage in any AR that I own. Anyone else can make their own choice.

documented? pics or it didnt happen

[hnoppenberger]

i used to use silver bear and it was great stuff, but i'm going with brass only now because i want to reload my spent casings. Also, domestic stuff groups tighter than the russian stuff i have noticed.

[aslowdodge]

So what are the best deals on brass .223 and 7.62 ammo. I have been buying reloaded .223 for $250/1000. The was a great deal on new Fiochi brass a while ago. I wish I would have bought more than the 2000 rounds. I think it was $269/1000 wit free shipping.

[Solidsnake87]

That's not good news to hear (just bought some). I tried doing my research before buying but everything I read about it was decent. It's pretty standard stuff, sucks to know you have such bad experience with it. And just to validate, this is the American Eagle (Federal manufactured) stuff, not the infamous American Ammunition (aka: AMERC) you are talking about right??

Yes, that is the stuff I'm talking about. I've personally never had any kaboom because I check all ammo for flaws before I fire it. I've seen 5 instances of kabooms with American Eagle and American Eagle Tactical 193 series. It comes as no surprise though. I've had several instances of loose neck tension and poor rim condition--shooting ammo with such defects is asking for trouble. I throw away any round I think can cause me a problem. I've had the best luck with PMC ammo. I only have to toss out about 1 per 100.

[chino]

Old steel cased Lacquered Wolf.

No issues on a Colt AR, however on my DCM DPMS and a match RRA the cases would get stuck after a few rounds. Since the later two most likely have tighter chambers any material build up would cause a FTE

[metalliman545]

where do you find corrosive .223?

[thevic]

Dumped a couple hundred tula rounds, 1000 pmc, and some xm193. With 0 issues so far.

Must be a Noveske thing

[damndave]

My AR gets everything EXCEPT corrosive ammo.

[nagorb]

Dumped a couple hundred tula rounds, 1000 pmc, and some xm193. With 0 issues so far.

Must be a Noveske thing

You can get the same thing for a few hundred less

[CSACANNONEER]

Having had an upper wrecked after a Wolf case head failed, I will never (given a choice) load Wolf or any other steel cased ammo in my AR.



Now you have a documented case that doesn't involve reloads. After approximately 150 rounds fired in a Colt SP1, all Wolf ammo, a Wolf case failed. The upper was spread at the bottom, ejection port dust cover blown off, bolt driven back into the carrier (all parts destroyed), magazine follower/spring/baseplate/ammo ejected. Magazine body remained in the weapon and was belled outward at the base. The barrel exhibited no visible damage and the front half of the case was lodged in the chamber. Luckily, the lower receiver survived intact.

Good enough reason for me never to allow that garbage in any AR that I own. Anyone else can make their own choice.

+1 I'll shoot brass or plastic cased .223 or 5.56 but, I won't shoot steel.

Yes, that is the stuff I'm talking about. I've personally never had any kaboom because I check all ammo for flaws before I fire it. I've seen 5 instances of kabooms with American Eagle and American Eagle Tactical 193 series. It comes as no surprise though. I've had several instances of loose neck tension and poor rim condition--shooting ammo with such defects is asking for trouble. I throw away any round I think can cause me a problem. I've had the best luck with PMC ammo. I only have to toss out about 1 per 100.

We can't forget about the Remingtom .223 ammo a few years ago which was sold without flashholes. Several Calgunners had KBs and lost their rifles due to it.

[Josh3239]

Most AR I've seen kaboomed, were from factory ammo. Mostly PMC and XM. Most handgun I've seen kaboomed, were from reloads.

Also, every instance an AR-15 catastrophic "I hope the shooter is OK!!!!" failure I have seen documented involved reloaded ammo (not that it can't happen in production ammo, I just haven't seen it in a detailed write up of events, so it seems to be EXTREMELY less common). So I'd rather throw money at cheap russian made steel cased than reloads.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

documented? pics or it didnt happen

I was firing it at the time. Enough for you? If not, too bad.