Wolf Ammunition
- Note: While this article is categorized under "ammunition manufacturers," Wolf does NOT actually make ammunition. Read on for more details.
Wolf Ammunition is a Russian clearinghouse company that sells ammunition produced in former state-owned (USSR) factories. The company is known for providing decent quality ammunition at extremely low prices. Wolf produces ammunition in the most popular rifle and pistol calibers. Almost all of it comes in polymer-coated (previously lacquered), steel cartridge cases. Unlike some foreign suppliers of such bargain-price ammo, Wolf's is non-corrosive. Russia is the world's largest source of 7.62x39 mm ammunition, which is used by the AK-47 and SKS family of rifles.
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[edit] Current events
In 2005/2006, there was a shortage of 7.62x39 ammunition in the United States. This had the effect of causing prices to almost double in some cases and Wolf's ammo to nearly disappear from the U.S. market in late 2006-early 2007. The ammunition shortage was due to Russian production lines struggling to fill a massive order placed by the United States to supply the fledgling Afghan army. [1] Even so, Wolf's 7.62x39 is available in standard full-metal-jacket configuration, as well as hollow point and soft point bullet loads suitable for hunting.
In 2007/2008, supplies of Wolf steel cased .308 ammunition became increasingly rare. Cabela's, who sell bulk Wolf ammunition, along with other major distributors were completely sold out. As of 2008, Wolf .308 is still out of stock and back-ordered. This along with diminishing supplies of military surplus 7.62x51 has driven .308 prices to an all time high. This shortage is exacerbated by the strain of filling the Afghan Army order. As Wolf catches up with demand, new supplies will become available in the US. When these new supplies hit the market, it is unknown how much the prices will have increased.
[edit] Potential Problems with Wolf Ammunition
[edit] Lacquer coating
Wolf no longer manufactures ammunition with a lacquer coating on the cartridge casing due to issues concerning lacquer-coated steel cartridges becoming stuck in the chamber of a firearm after firing, with difficulty in ejecting the spent cartridge afterwards. This appears to be more of a problem with cartridges with narrowly tapering walls (e.g. .223 Remington) than those with rather steep case walls such as 7.62x39 mm cartridges or pistol ammunition. This also does not seem to pose much of a problem for Soviet or East Bloc designed weapons that tend to have looser chamber tolerances than Western designed weapons.
Tests have shown that steel-cased Wolf cases do not obturate sufficiently to form a good gas seal against the chamber [2] when compared to brass-cased ammunition. As a result, when Wolf cartridges are fired, some of the combustion by-products are deposited between the case and the chamber, causing a build up of carbon that is well in excess of normal. Firing a brass case (that does expand fully) after using Wolf ammunition can result in the brass case being "glued" into the chamber by the carbon buildup. This issue has nothing to do with the lacquer coating vaporising or melting, as has mistakenly been suggested. The problem is one of carbon deposition, which creates the same end result i.e. a stuck cartridge that has jammed in the chamber. It is important to emphasise that Wolf ammunition is perfectly safe to use because it conforms to all SAAMI standards. However, it is recommended that firearms are thoroughly cleaned after using Wolf ammunition due to the increased rate of carbon build-up within the chamber. Most users are content to accept increased rates of gun cleaning in return for being able to purchase more ammunition per dollar. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the looser chamber dimensions of Soviet designed weapons allow for more room during firing and extraction. Soviet or East Bloc weapons do not experience these problems.
Note: all ammunition currently manufactured by Wolf has polymer-coated or brass cartridge cases and any obturation problems have been radically reduced.
[edit] Steel cases
Despite popular misconception, steel-cased ammunition does not increase wear on the chamber or extractor of firearms. This is because the steel used in cartridge cases is mild steel which is very soft in comparison to the type of steel used in firearm components. Also, steel cases are often given a thin coating of lacquer or polymer, so there is no direct steel-to-steel contact with the chamber. The only disadvantage to using steel cases is that steel is not as "elastic" as brass, and therefore does not create such an efficient gas seal when a fire-arm is fired.
[edit] Steel-jacketed bullets
Not only the cases of Wolf rifle ammo are steel. Most of Wolf's rifle cartridges use steel jacketed bullets, though they look like copper jacketed. The copper exterior of the bullet is only about .005 inch thick, (about twice the thickness of a sheet of paper) with a steel jacket underneath about 1/32 inch thick. Only the cartridges in the yellow and black boxes, which have become almost unavailable as of 2/08, have real copper jackets. The core of the steel jacketeted bullets, sometimes marked "bimetal", are lead. Some rifle ranges have started magnet testing shooter's ammunition to determine if bullets are steel jacketed. The steel is said to be more likely to ricochet, and also to cause sparks on impact, which can be a problem when shooting in dry grassland, or forest areas.
