Feed problem with Wolf ammo... - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

INSTIGATOR · 03-23-2008, 10:56 AM

I switched over from Remington to Wolf for price reasons recently. Before I had no problems with my Bushmaster with PMags. First weekend with Wolfs was ok had a couple no feeds but overall I was happy. Now all of sudden with Wolf's it seems to be hit or miss on feeding it into the chamber. I have to cycle the charging handle almost every time. I tried a different mag, same results. I tried loading 10 Wolfs and then 10 Remis in the same Mag. Shot all 10 Remis no problem, when it got to the first Wolf, click, no bang, empty chamber...

So...I belive it's a Wolf problem. I clean my rifle every weekend after shooting it. I know the Wolfs have a coating on them. Would this cause them not to feed? What about lubing the Magazine itself? They're about two months old.This may sound riduculous but, lubing the bullets?? (Load magazine and then drop some lube on top and let it trickle down?)I have found a local gun shop that sells Wolf pretty cheap and I bought 500rds. So I'd like to keep shotting them.

faawrenchbndr · 03-23-2008, 11:15 AM

Wolf ammo has a bad reputation for being "laquer" coated to cut down on corrosion. What you are getting is a build-up of the laquer in your chamber causing the feed issues. Clean your chamber, with a chamber brush and carburator cleaner. Lube with some CLP, wipe clean and you should be ok.
I might suggest doing a search either here or on AR15.com for Wolf ammo and see the issues with this ammo.

Buzzfuzz · 03-23-2008, 12:07 PM

Take another brand... put them side by side... then feel with you fingernail the sharp rear of the casing... it has a very sharp edge??? I was told this sharp edge migh be snagging and causing lots of issues with 45 ACP and others> Dont know, but it is an iteresting idea? Thanks, Buzz

bigun · 03-23-2008, 03:51 PM

Actually it is not the lacquer that is depositing in your chamber, its carbon fouling. Scrub the chamber good and reliability will return. The steel cases dont expand to seal the chamber like brass does which allows the fouling to build up around the case. Also make sure you are cleaning the bolt & Carrier well.

EricCartmann · 03-23-2008, 04:22 PM

Since everything works with the same mag, the same rifle, and the only thing different is the ammo, then you are correct it is indeed a Wolf problem. But there are some things you can do to get this to work.

1) Is it past break in? How many rounds through your rifle? In general Wolf is underpowered and for break in, it is recommended normally you shoot hotter rounds.

2) Chamber dirty maybe? You said you clean your rifle regularly but have you given the chamber a good scrub down? The chamber area is where the brass sits and is bigger in diameter than the rest of the rifle. The under powered Wolf means weaker jection and this could cause the next round not to properly feed. A cleaner chamber might help.

3) Another thing you can do is try a different mags, yeah I know your PMags work with Remi, but maybe the spring in it is too weak for the underpowered Wolf?

4) Bad batch of Wolf maybe? I normally don't have problems with Wolf, but you never know, sometimes you can get a bad batch where it is too hot or too weak. This goes for all ammo. Try another batch of Wolf or try that particuliar Wolf in another rifle to see if it works. If that ammo has the same problem in another rifle maybe you could contact Wolf and ask for an exchange.

FYI: The word is Wolf tends to shoot dirtier than brass ammo as the steel case does not expand to creat a seal like brass does. I don't know how true this is but it seems to make sense to me since I have found Wolf does indeed shoot dirtier and my chamber does indeed get filthy when I shoot Wolf.

Polymerhead · 03-23-2008, 04:34 PM

I bite the bullet and run brass through my AR. Wolf is great for AKs but I hear way too many people say it won't run through their AR. I'm sitting on 2K rounds of it in 223 for my AK in that caliber, but I stock brass ammo for my AR separately. The AR is so much more accurate, it's hard for me to marginalize that to save a little bit of cash.

As for your issue, I would suspect that the combination of the weaker ammo and some gas port/tube fouling from the dirty-burning Wolf means less forceful cycling (short-stroking). If you want to keep using wolf you might have to look into a lighter spring or buffer.

danish · 03-23-2008, 04:57 PM

I had this same problem last week. Shot 20 rounds of Remington fine and got around 20 rounds of Wolf down range before it started to act up. I could not get one round of Wolf to feed, I constantly had to pull the charging handle to feed another round. I then got a case stuck and had to push it out with a cleaning rod. I tried Remington again with no problems what-so-ever. I thought it might be a mag problem and tried a few different mags with the same problem. I did notice they weren't as hot as the Remington's and if the steel doesn't expand to make a tight seal, am I losing gas that would be used to push the bolt carrier back?? I clean my gun after every outing and just did a thorough cleaning before this happened...

EricCartmann · 03-23-2008, 05:15 PM

Your rifle either likes Wolf or it does'nt.

Word is if you have a chamber that is within spec, then you will have no problem with Wolf, but if you chamber is out of spec, then it will have issues.

My XCR has problems cycling Wolf too. But at least with the XCR, I can increase the gas pressure to get it to cycle properly. You can't do this with an AR.

Good news is there is never a shortage of Wolf users so you can easily sell your ammo if your rifle does not like it.

Dam... I just sold an upper that reliably eats Wolf up to. Maybe I should have kept it for an extra plinker

INSTIGATOR · 03-23-2008, 05:40 PM

I bought it used, it's a post ban from 2001. So I think it's past break in.(I know I've put 700 through it.) I have shot Wolf through it before with marginal problems. But today I had to cycle it every other time. The rounds that I was using today came from a different shop, so maybe it was a weaker load. I saw on AR15.com that has been an issue with them. I'll give Wolf a call tomm to see waht they say. As far as cleaning I think I do a pretty job but I'll be really thorough this time around.

danish · 03-23-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricCartmann

Your rifle either likes Wolf or it does'nt.

+1...I'm taking my AR (RRA) out again tomorrow and see what happens...

03-23-2008, 10:56 AM	#1
INSTIGATOR XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MIAMI Posts: 73	Feed problem with Wolf ammo... I switched over from Remington to Wolf for price reasons recently. Before I had no problems with my Bushmaster with PMags. First weekend with Wolfs was ok had a couple no feeds but overall I was happy. Now all of sudden with Wolf's it seems to be hit or miss on feeding it into the chamber. I have to cycle the charging handle almost every time. I tried a different mag, same results. I tried loading 10 Wolfs and then 10 Remis in the same Mag. Shot all 10 Remis no problem, when it got to the first Wolf, click, no bang, empty chamber... So...I belive it's a Wolf problem. I clean my rifle every weekend after shooting it. I know the Wolfs have a coating on them. Would this cause them not to feed? What about lubing the Magazine itself? They're about two months old.This may sound riduculous but, lubing the bullets?? (Load magazine and then drop some lube on top and let it trickle down?)I have found a local gun shop that sells Wolf pretty cheap and I bought 500rds. So I'd like to keep shotting them.

03-23-2008, 12:07 PM	#3
Buzzfuzz XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 205	One More Possible Wolf Issue?? Take another brand... put them side by side... then feel with you fingernail the sharp rear of the casing... it has a very sharp edge??? I was told this sharp edge migh be snagging and causing lots of issues with 45 ACP and others> Dont know, but it is an iteresting idea? Thanks, Buzz __________________ Buzz

03-23-2008, 03:51 PM	#4
bigun XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 2,713	Actually it is not the lacquer that is depositing in your chamber, its carbon fouling. Scrub the chamber good and reliability will return. The steel cases dont expand to seal the chamber like brass does which allows the fouling to build up around the case. Also make sure you are cleaning the bolt & Carrier well. __________________ Springfield Loaded Stainless,Kimber Pro CDP 2, Kimber Custom Target, Beretta 92D Centurions x2, 92FS, SIG 229 SAS, CZ75, and several other weapons that give Liberals nightmares.

03-23-2008, 04:34 PM	#6
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,408	I bite the bullet and run brass through my AR. Wolf is great for AKs but I hear way too many people say it won't run through their AR. I'm sitting on 2K rounds of it in 223 for my AK in that caliber, but I stock brass ammo for my AR separately. The AR is so much more accurate, it's hard for me to marginalize that to save a little bit of cash. As for your issue, I would suspect that the combination of the weaker ammo and some gas port/tube fouling from the dirty-burning Wolf means less forceful cycling (short-stroking). If you want to keep using wolf you might have to look into a lighter spring or buffer. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

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03-23-2008, 11:15 AM	#2
faawrenchbndr XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 596	Wolf ammo has a bad reputation for being "laquer" coated to cut down on corrosion. What you are getting is a build-up of the laquer in your chamber causing the feed issues. Clean your chamber, with a chamber brush and carburator cleaner. Lube with some CLP, wipe clean and you should be ok. I might suggest doing a search either here or on AR15.com for Wolf ammo and see the issues with this ammo.

03-23-2008, 04:22 PM	#5
EricCartmann XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: My Mom's Basement Posts: 1,398	Since everything works with the same mag, the same rifle, and the only thing different is the ammo, then you are correct it is indeed a Wolf problem. But there are some things you can do to get this to work. 1) Is it past break in? How many rounds through your rifle? In general Wolf is underpowered and for break in, it is recommended normally you shoot hotter rounds. 2) Chamber dirty maybe? You said you clean your rifle regularly but have you given the chamber a good scrub down? The chamber area is where the brass sits and is bigger in diameter than the rest of the rifle. The under powered Wolf means weaker jection and this could cause the next round not to properly feed. A cleaner chamber might help. 3) Another thing you can do is try a different mags, yeah I know your PMags work with Remi, but maybe the spring in it is too weak for the underpowered Wolf? 4) Bad batch of Wolf maybe? I normally don't have problems with Wolf, but you never know, sometimes you can get a bad batch where it is too hot or too weak. This goes for all ammo. Try another batch of Wolf or try that particuliar Wolf in another rifle to see if it works. If that ammo has the same problem in another rifle maybe you could contact Wolf and ask for an exchange. FYI: The word is Wolf tends to shoot dirtier than brass ammo as the steel case does not expand to creat a seal like brass does. I don't know how true this is but it seems to make sense to me since I have found Wolf does indeed shoot dirtier and my chamber does indeed get filthy when I shoot Wolf.

03-23-2008, 04:57 PM	#7
danish XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Freeport, IL Posts: 191	I had this same problem last week. Shot 20 rounds of Remington fine and got around 20 rounds of Wolf down range before it started to act up. I could not get one round of Wolf to feed, I constantly had to pull the charging handle to feed another round. I then got a case stuck and had to push it out with a cleaning rod. I tried Remington again with no problems what-so-ever. I thought it might be a mag problem and tried a few different mags with the same problem. I did notice they weren't as hot as the Remington's and if the steel doesn't expand to make a tight seal, am I losing gas that would be used to push the bolt carrier back?? I clean my gun after every outing and just did a thorough cleaning before this happened...

03-23-2008, 05:15 PM	#8
EricCartmann XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: My Mom's Basement Posts: 1,398	Your rifle either likes Wolf or it does'nt. Word is if you have a chamber that is within spec, then you will have no problem with Wolf, but if you chamber is out of spec, then it will have issues. My XCR has problems cycling Wolf too. But at least with the XCR, I can increase the gas pressure to get it to cycle properly. You can't do this with an AR. Good news is there is never a shortage of Wolf users so you can easily sell your ammo if your rifle does not like it. Dam... I just sold an upper that reliably eats Wolf up to. Maybe I should have kept it for an extra plinker

03-23-2008, 05:40 PM	#9
INSTIGATOR XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: MIAMI Posts: 73	I bought it used, it's a post ban from 2001. So I think it's past break in.(I know I've put 700 through it.) I have shot Wolf through it before with marginal problems. But today I had to cycle it every other time. The rounds that I was using today came from a different shop, so maybe it was a weaker load. I saw on AR15.com that has been an issue with them. I'll give Wolf a call tomm to see waht they say. As far as cleaning I think I do a pretty job but I'll be really thorough this time around.