The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Seeing quite a few folks here having issues with Russian ammo...steel cased / lacquered or not... especially in .223. hard /no extraction, misfires etc. especially in AR type rifles.

Anyone using Russian (Brown bear, Silver Bear etc) ammo in straight pull or bolt action rifles having same issues???

I used Russian stuff in my straight pull AK with no problems, unlike with RG milsurp...

We use steel cased 7.62x54R and 7.62x39 in a couple of bolt action rifles and haven't encountered any extraction problems. We buy our canned bangs from www.ammo-zone.co.uk

I shoot copious amounts of Barnaul in my AR Clone, it goes well, is actually quite accurate and absolutely no extraction issues.

ovenpaa wrote:I shoot copious amounts of Barnaul in my AR Clone, it goes well, is actually quite accurate and absolutely no extraction issues.

I used all that Barnault I got from you Dave, and only had one extraction problem, and I suspect the fire-hose level of rain caused the problem not the ammo.

Good to hear Ken as I have a bucket load of the stuff coming this way very shortly.

Chuck, My Bushmaster M17s eats it all day long with never a problem.
Granted, it not a AR, but it does have the same bolt and extractor.

Here are a few reasons many have problems with steel cased ammo.

1, They never used it, but heard about it from someone.

2, Their idea of cleaning a firearm is hosing it down through every opening with WD40 and wiping off the outside parts.

3, They have a 223 match chamber, and the russian case is made closer to milspec 5.56 (little larger)

4, See all of the above, mostly items 1 and 2

Good point Burner, my rifle is chambered in .223 Wylde so takes anything and everything I can fit in it.

Cheers guys, forgot about this thread..

I used Barnaud in my Saiga / Ismash AK74 straight pull, worked a treat..way better than RG for sure. I see Hornady using steel casings for MATCH ammo.

I am also wondering of the issues with (semi auto) AR's could be akin to limpwristing by the shooter...???

I shot some HERTER .308 from Cabela's and it went BANG every time and ejected OK from my .308 bolt action Remmy 700.

Tempted to buy some of their .223 55grn HP ammo at $5.99/20 ($3300/1000) for the Sig in case come...I usually use PMC Bronze in .223/.308 as it is also quite cheap and I have never had a FFF /FTE with it.

ovenpaa wrote:Good to hear Ken as I have a bucket load of the stuff coming this way very shortly.

Dave if you need to pass some on to keep the volumes up I can find a home for 200 or so

Ken, I am in the process of setting up a new website that will list it on line at even more competitive prices than last time along with a full list of reloading components and much more factory and milsurp ammunition. tongueout

Before you ask I do not have any GP11 but I do have the bullets themselves at a rather keen 1000 rate.