Wolf Reloaded Ammo--Reliability?

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locgo

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Hi all,

just a quick question for the Gun Nutz out there, anyone have really bad luck with Wolf reloaded ammo? I just came back from the range this afternoon, and not one but two :shock: rounds of 38 Special 158 Gr TMJ (Total Metal Jacket) from the same box of 50 both resulted in bullets lodged in the barrel. The first time, the bullet travelled just half an inch beyond the forcing cone of my 686. Luckily for me, two of the more experienced members (Darryl and Bill at the Marksmen Club in Oshawa) came to my rescue by pounding it out gently with a ball peen hammer and a bronze rod. 8) The second time, the bullet just made it to the muzzle with about a quarter inch coming out. :shock: Imagine my shock and dismay. I was like WTF? Again :!: *Argh* In rides Darryl and yet another member, Jim who again gently pound the second bullet out using the same aforementioned technique. :lol: At this stage, I didn't want to tempt the shooting gods anymore and just decided to go home happy that I didn't bulge my barrel or blow up anything. :oops:
What's really weird is that I've shot aoubt 7 other boxes of the same ammo previously without any problems. What should I do with the rest of the dozen boxes remaining?
Thx Gunnutz for your replies.
 
d.bala said:
I would either return or at least weigh each cartridge and dispose of any that are quite a bit lighter.
Click to expand...

Weighing the loaded rounds won't be reliable as the charge is probably only 3-4 grains and there is probably that much variance in the bullet or case weight.
Wolf's QC is pretty poor at best, the case I had (9mm) was extremly inconsistant and seemed like every 3rd or 4th round was a half charge. I was at the range when a guy touched off a Wolf double charge in his Ruger 9mm, the case looked like a mushroom after. I won't shoot it anymore.
 
Unreliable ammo that did work fine

Hello Locqu,, if it's TMJ, or encapsulated ammo, it may be loeded with lead free primers. Check the primer and see if you can see a small 'LF' on the back of it. If so, they are sensitive to moisture, and if it's in a .38 cartridge, which has a lot of volume, the primer won't burn hot enought (13,000 cup) to get a complete burn, and this could cause the blurp.

Make sure you store Leadfree ammo in a dry place (under 80% humidity), and out of the rain. If it get's wet, use it right away, but if it's allowed to seep in, and the cases aren't sealed, then it could de-sensitise the primer some, and not egnight hot enough for a good burn, bang, bang, pop.

You should contact Wolf and discuss this with him and give him a chance to rectify it. I don't think it's from under charges, but I can't say for sure.

I had a similar problem when shooting a minimum load that I used f100 primers with for years and never had a problem, but when I used a WSP winchester, I had a bullet that didn't exit the barrel and the first few shots before it I could tell they weren't hot enough to even make the casing seal in the cylinder. THe primer had a smaller explosive charge in it.

I've just been through the ammuniton approval with Ottawa, Nrcan, and one may think it's a bunch of hogwash, and I was a bit frustrated when they asked me for ethe amount of explosive charge in each primer, as I was using different ones for differnt jobes. This is why! It cost's me $1899.00 to have two, (YES TWO) rounds tested at their lab, dang, but they have to have it done as part of the approval process, to approve for the consumer.

I know Wolfgang from business, I'm not familiar with his ammo, but I'm sure he would appreciate a call on it. www.wolfbullets.com This is his living and I'm sure you will have his ear.

Hope this explains some of what could have happened. Also if the powder can absorb moisture and will transfer it to the primer after loading and stored for a period of time. Wolf is very knowlegable with ammo. Call him with the lot number, and he can check for recalls on powder, or primers, or he can consider the subject further.

Kurt @ www.combatmasters.ca
 
I've never had much luck either...in my case, the rounds were way to HOT...my Model 29 Smith usually ate anything I gave it, but his loads were so hot the primers were almost flat back, and it was a bear trying to eject them from the cylinder...38 seems inconsistent (big recoil then almost nothing). On the plus side, I hear the bullets alone that he sells are quite decent...
 
I've never had a problem with it... for plinking and target shooting it's the cheapest out there (other than roll-your-own) and I've never personally had a problem with it, out of several hundred (possibly thousands) 9mm, .45 ACP and .357 magnum rounds...
like Kurt said, your problem may be storage.

cheers
John
 
I bought a box of 1000 this past summer... no problems at all. 9mm lead all shot well. Mix of brass and nickel plated, but there did not seem to be any inconsistancies with it.

Blue :mrgreen:
 
if you buy cheap you get cheap thats all
thestuff wold sell retail is made fast and cheap
but so is the price.
forthe right price he will custom load you ammo, i know many people in IPSC that have this done by him/his people. and the ammo is perfect.
I think hi ammo is all over the place but thats just me
i do use his lead for reloading and it is the best ive ever seen
I would get in to reloading once you have the brass you can load 38spl for $2 to $3 a box and 9mm for $4 if you buy in bulk
bbb
 
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