Brown Bear ammo? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

mnmark · 02-13-2005, 08:44 PM

Hi all, here's my first thread, be nice!

I bought my 9mm XD service model about 3 weeks ago, and have ran about 600 rounds so far. 2 FTEs (I blame stiff magazine springs, but who knows) within the first 100 rounds, but nothing since then...it's eaten mostly WWB FMJ and JHP, and 2 boxes of hydro-shocks just to give them a try.

Like everyone else, I'm looking for cheap, reliable ammo for use at the range, and today I came across "Brown Bear" - I've never heard of it, and searching here and Glock Talk, it doesn't look like anyone else has written about it.

So...does anyone have experience with this Brown Bear ammo? I found it at AIM Surplus for 4.75/50 and 4.50/50 for 20+ boxes. You can check it out here: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Brown_Bear_9mm.html

What do you think?

Son of Norway · 02-13-2005, 09:36 PM

Never heard of it, but for $4.75 / 50, what the hell...splurge on a box. If it's good, buy all they got!

**hobocircus** · 02-13-2005, 11:31 PM

I saw some of this stuff at a gunshow. Sounds like Russian Wolf Ammo with a different name. This Bear stuff is made in Russia too. The current production of Wolf has the same steel case but has a improved polymer coating. Brown Bear has the same steel case and no coating like Wolf used to be. If there is a gunshow soon I would get the current production Wolf ammo. It would be a good idea to pick up a box or two and try it our first. That way you won't be stuck with a bunch of ammo you don't like.
www.ammoman.com can ship you a case of 1,000 for $109 (including shipping)
Good luck, shoot safely.

mnmark · 02-14-2005, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the comments!

I picked up a couple boxes...figure I have to try it given the prices they're offered at.

I'll write back once I get them in-hand, and see how they perform.

Bubstang · 02-14-2005, 08:06 PM

Good feedback here on the new Wolf Polymer coated in the .223 variety.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=177728

These guys sure go through this stuff by the boat load

Gary G23 · 02-14-2005, 08:31 PM

I have had good luck with Brown Bear in my AK-47, AR-15, and Makarov but have never tried it yet in my XD.

mnmark · 03-10-2005, 08:17 AM

Ok, I'm back from shooting Brown Bear

Sent about 100 rounds down range last night...couple of comments:

-Compared to the WWB, I found it very hard to load my 15rd magazines to capacity - these rounds seemed sticky/bigger almost, though by comparison the appear to be in spec for 'standard' 9mm ammunition

-Sparking - shooting low on the target at an indoor range, I noticed these rounds did some serious sparking once they hit the back stop.

-Muzzle flash - holy cow! Again, compared to my usual WWB rounds, these made it look like I was using a flame thrower. Kinda fun, but they were a pretty dirty round.

Overall, nothing really wrong with the ammo - but for the same price, I'm sticking with the WWB.

crushert · 03-10-2005, 08:29 AM

I've used some Brown Bear ammo in my SKS without any problems. I've only put 50 or so rounds of Wolf through my XD9, but it ate it with no problems.....just like everything else I've fed it

.

manygunner · 03-10-2005, 12:15 PM

The Rusky ammo gets a bad rep in these groups but I think it is undeserved. I never shot Brown Bear, usualy used Wolf. I found Wolf to be very good , reliable, accurate and above all, CHEAP on the pocketbook. It is quality ammo and if you do basic care and maintainance on your gun should pose no problem.

**R Dub** · 03-10-2005, 05:13 PM

And I thought this was going to be a post about hunting Brown Bear.

02-13-2005, 08:44 PM	#1
mnmark XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 23	Brown Bear ammo? Hi all, here's my first thread, be nice! I bought my 9mm XD service model about 3 weeks ago, and have ran about 600 rounds so far. 2 FTEs (I blame stiff magazine springs, but who knows) within the first 100 rounds, but nothing since then...it's eaten mostly WWB FMJ and JHP, and 2 boxes of hydro-shocks just to give them a try. Like everyone else, I'm looking for cheap, reliable ammo for use at the range, and today I came across "Brown Bear" - I've never heard of it, and searching here and Glock Talk, it doesn't look like anyone else has written about it. So...does anyone have experience with this Brown Bear ammo? I found it at AIM Surplus for 4.75/50 and 4.50/50 for 20+ boxes. You can check it out here: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Brown_Bear_9mm.html What do you think?

02-13-2005, 11:31 PM	#3
hobocircus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Nevada Desert on a Dry Lakebed. Living in a trailer with thunderstorms looming in the distance. Posts: 3,334	I saw some of this stuff at a gunshow. Sounds like Russian Wolf Ammo with a different name. This Bear stuff is made in Russia too. The current production of Wolf has the same steel case but has a improved polymer coating. Brown Bear has the same steel case and no coating like Wolf used to be. If there is a gunshow soon I would get the current production Wolf ammo. It would be a good idea to pick up a box or two and try it our first. That way you won't be stuck with a bunch of ammo you don't like. www.ammoman.com can ship you a case of 1,000 for $109 (including shipping) Good luck, shoot safely. __________________ Ported V-10 XD9 Service SOLD Tactical XD9 in Basic Black I like to shoot Wolf ammo out of my Hi-Point pistol and rifle.

03-10-2005, 08:29 AM	#8
crushert XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 274	I've used some Brown Bear ammo in my SKS without any problems. I've only put 50 or so rounds of Wolf through my XD9, but it ate it with no problems.....just like everything else I've fed it . __________________ XD9 Service Model "The State is the great fiction by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else." - Frederic Bastiat, 19th century philosopher-economist

03-10-2005, 12:15 PM	#9
manygunner XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pacific North West Posts: 2,036	The Rusky ammo gets a bad rep in these groups but I think it is undeserved. I never shot Brown Bear, usualy used Wolf. I found Wolf to be very good , reliable, accurate and above all, CHEAP on the pocketbook. It is quality ammo and if you do basic care and maintainance on your gun should pose no problem. __________________ CZ-Kadet CZ-52 CZ-83 CZ-75B CZ-85 Combat CZ-452 HK USP Compact Walther P99 XD-9 Service XD-9 Tactical Glock 17 Taurus PT-92 AR Taurus .44 Mag Mossberg 500A Remington 870 AR-15 16\" fluted AMD-65 Dragunov SVD STG-58

03-10-2005, 05:13 PM	#10
R Dub XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Last Frontier Posts: 3,585 Blog Entries: 1	And I thought this was going to be a post about hunting Brown Bear. __________________ Need XD Accessories? Support the XDTalk Sponsors. They support us! Need some competition? IDPA / USPSA

02-14-2005, 03:51 PM	#4
mnmark XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 23	Thanks for the comments! I picked up a couple boxes...figure I have to try it given the prices they're offered at. I'll write back once I get them in-hand, and see how they perform.

02-14-2005, 08:06 PM	#5
Bubstang XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 61	Good feedback here on the new Wolf Polymer coated in the .223 variety. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=177728 These guys sure go through this stuff by the boat load

02-14-2005, 08:31 PM	#6
Gary G23 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 105	I have had good luck with Brown Bear in my AK-47, AR-15, and Makarov but have never tried it yet in my XD.

03-10-2005, 08:17 AM	#7
mnmark XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 23	Ok, I'm back from shooting Brown Bear Sent about 100 rounds down range last night...couple of comments: -Compared to the WWB, I found it very hard to load my 15rd magazines to capacity - these rounds seemed sticky/bigger almost, though by comparison the appear to be in spec for 'standard' 9mm ammunition -Sparking - shooting low on the target at an indoor range, I noticed these rounds did some serious sparking once they hit the back stop. -Muzzle flash - holy cow! Again, compared to my usual WWB rounds, these made it look like I was using a flame thrower. Kinda fun, but they were a pretty dirty round. Overall, nothing really wrong with the ammo - but for the same price, I'm sticking with the WWB.

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