Wolf Ammo ok for .223?

[clearanceman]

I have a handi rifle in .223 (also have 25-06 ultra barrel). I see wolf ammo is dirt cheap but steel case. Is it ok? Are pressures ok? Is it really oily so the case doesn' t rust? Just wondering.. thanks!

[mainehunt]

Finally, something that I know an answer to.
I have a handi rifle in .223 ultra, Bull barrel. I have shot about 100 rounds of Wolf ammo through it. I can' t say if exact pressures are + or minus, but by looking at the primers they aren' t flattening out or anything. Accuracy is actually quite good, have shot several groups at 100 yds at 1" or less. The steel cases are painted with a clear coat of some sort. I' ve never had one rust, and many have been wet a few times. The place where I bought my rifle has the Wolf ammo the cheapest I' ve seen. Even cheaper than dirt. It' s called Centerfire Systems, out of Versailles, Kentucky.
I also have an AK variant type rifle made in Bulgaria. Bought it new a few years ago. With Wolf ammo in it, (7.62x39) I can shoot quite accurate at 200yds. (with a very cheap 2.5 power scope attached)
One thing I must add here. In Wolf 223 I used their FMJ bullets. In 7.62x39, I used FMJ' s and their 122 grain hollow points. Yeah, the points are hollow alright, but after shooting a few of them THROUGH a 10" block of dry Red-oak we retrieved a couple of the bullets. Not only did they not expand, but two of them looked good enough to reload. No kidding. Nothing but marks in the copper jacket from the rifling. My buddy and I ground one of the bullets in half, so we had a cross-section of it. Those bullets are all steel except for the lead base.

Just don' t expect them to " open up" on an animal or anything. Let me know how it works for you

[clearanceman]

Thanks! That really helps. I was going to get the .223 hollowpoints but I guess there is no point. Just for plinking maybe. I wonder if all their bullets are steel, LOL never heard of a steel bullet!

Edit: Cheaper than dirt claims that both the .222 FMJ and hollow point bullets are copper bullets. Hard to believe. But they are almost twice as expensive as the ones for 7.62 X 139. Do you think they are actually copper? Or copper coated lead or copper coated steel? 55 grains, probably copper coated lead?

[mainehunt]

I couldn' t answer that Clearanceman. The only other thing that I can add is this. The steel bullets that are in the 7.62x39, can be picked up with a magnet (without case, just the bullet) Also, to just look at the bullet, you would swear that it was a normal copper-jacketed bullet. However, you can take 120 grit sandpaper and with just a few swipes, you can wipe the copper right off. It must be anodized onto the steel or something. Not much thicker than paint. I don' t know why it doesn' t come off in the barrel, but I have no signs of copper fouling in the bore.

[Stephen Grace]

My mini 14 likes it!

[Ruger-Redhawk]

With all the Surplus 223 ammo available for about 3.50 a box I can' t see using a non reloadable steel case.I bought Lake City head stamped 223(Made by Federal) for less then 3.50 a box of 20.The cases are reloadable.If the bullets indeed are steel I know I don' t want to put it through my gun.I' m sure it would shorten the barrels life.That' s MHO anyway?

Ruger Redhawk

[BigBore1895]

The Wolf ammo is the only thing I can afford to keep in my bushmaster! I have never had any problems with it, cycles fine, shoots relatively well. I definitely would not recommend it for hunting though, just targets. Good luck man. BTW, I love those handi-rifles, my friend bought one in 30-06 and it is a shooter.

[mainehunt]

Ruger Redhawk,
Don' t worry about the steel bullets hurting your barrel. As I stated earlier, the bullets that I retrieved from logs didn' t even have scratches other than the rifling marks in the copper coating. So, if the copper isn' t coming off in the barrel, then the steel can' t be touching.

[andy_o]

My mini 14 likes it!

I have one and it will shoot pretty good groups at 200 yards with the stuff.