Wolf Ammunition
Encyclopedia
WOLF Performance Ammunition is a registered trademark owned by SSI a corporation in the USA. WOLF Performance Ammunition has several lines of ammunition which include:
WOLF PolyFormance (Black Box)- Polymer coated steel case ammunition from Russian factories
WPA (WOLF Performance Ammunition) Military Classic - Polymer coated steel case ammunition from Russian factories
WOLF Gold - Reloadable brass case ammunition
WOLF Rimfire - Match grade .22LR ammunition from Germany
WOLF Shotshell
WOLF Performance Ammunition also has WOLF Performance Primers and WOLF Performance Gear.
Unlike some 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, as well as the American
-made Ruger Mini-30.
to supply the fledgling Afghan
army. Even so, Wolf's 7.62x39mm 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. This along with diminishing supplies of military surplus 7.62x51mm NATO 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 United States. When these new supplies hit the market, it is unknown how much the prices will have increased.
In 2010/2011, Wolf discontinued the use of the red sealant used around the primer and case neck intended to keep moisture out and prolong shelf life. They received too many complaints from end users of a build up from the red sealant on their firearms thus all new ammo produced from both plants will no longer have any red sealant.
) 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 clearances 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 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. 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.
WOLF PolyFormance (Black Box)- Polymer coated steel case ammunition from Russian factories
WPA (WOLF Performance Ammunition) Military Classic - Polymer coated steel case ammunition from Russian factories
WOLF Gold - Reloadable brass case ammunition
WOLF Rimfire - Match grade .22LR ammunition from Germany
WOLF Shotshell
WOLF Performance Ammunition also has WOLF Performance Primers and WOLF Performance Gear.
Unlike some 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
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
and SKS
SKS
The SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. SKS-45 is an acronym for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 Simonov system, 1945), or SKS 45. The Sks is a scaled down version of the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle also...
family of rifles, as well as the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-made Ruger Mini-30.
Current events
In 2005/2006, there was a shortage of 7.62x39mm 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 StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to supply the fledgling Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
army. Even so, Wolf's 7.62x39mm 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. This along with diminishing supplies of military surplus 7.62x51mm NATO has driven .308 prices to an all time high. This shortage is exacerbated by the strain of filling the Afghan Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
order. As Wolf catches up with demand, new supplies will become available in the United States. When these new supplies hit the market, it is unknown how much the prices will have increased.
In 2010/2011, Wolf discontinued the use of the red sealant used around the primer and case neck intended to keep moisture out and prolong shelf life. They received too many complaints from end users of a build up from the red sealant on their firearms thus all new ammo produced from both plants will no longer have any red sealant.
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.223 Remington
The .223 Remington is a sporting cartridge with almost the same external dimensions as the 5.56×45mm NATO military cartridge. The name is commonly pronounced either two-two-three or two-twenty-three. It is loaded with a diameter, jacketed bullet, with weights ranging from , though the most common...
) than those with rather steep case walls such as 7.62x39 mm cartridges or pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The 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 clearances than Western designed weapons.
Tests have shown that steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
-cased Wolf cases do not obturate
Obturate
Obturate means to block or obstruct. With reference to firearms and airguns, obturation refers to the process of a bullet or pellet, made of soft material and often with a concave base, flaring under the pressure of firing to seal the bore and engage the barrel's rifling...
sufficiently to form a good gas seal against the chamber when compared to brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
-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
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
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
Saami
Saami or SAAMI can stand for:*Sami people*Sami languages*Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute...
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. 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
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
-coated or brass cartridge cases and any obturation problems have been radically reduced.