Brown Bear or Silver Bear .233 AMMO

[Cajun_Chuck]

Anyone have an feedback on this ammo?

Was gonna buy a case...but wanted to check with you guys first...thanks.

Edit: The Brown/Silver/Gold Bear ammo is manufactured by CJSC Barnaul Catridge Plant. Also, this is the 62grain FMJ.

I have fired the Monarch 55grain ammo from Academy, which is also made by barnaul and Prvi Partizan. So for almost a buck cheaper for 20 rounds, I figured it would be a good practice/plinking round.

 

[LACamper]

I haven't tried it. I have no problems shooting Wolf steel case or Monarch though.

 

[#1bambam]

I love it.Even in the ARs.

 

[nola_]

I have some in .308, bought it when I had $ to burn, shot about 200rnds out of my dpms at the BZ a while back, just as good as my south african .308 ball ammo that cost twice as much

 

[nola_]

Wolf steel case is horrible, at least in my bushmaster. I'm guessing the steel casing expanded with heat and that's why it locked up in my gun. I had too many problems and would only use the wolf steel case in a last resort scenario.

 

[LACamper]

Actually, the steel doesn't expand as much as brass does. Box o' truth has a nice writeup on it somewhere... The problem comes when you switch back to brass without cleaning first.

 

[nola_]

Well, all I know is the first time I shot wolf steel case:

Live rounds became stuck in the chamber (firing pin hit but no "boom" and would not eject), had to take apart buttstock and remove bolt/charging handle to finally get it out. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again a few rounds later. Using the laquered monarch from Academy, no problem at all, ever. Just my experience.

 

[Cajun_Chuck]

I was reluctant to get the wolf for the AR. I shot the hell out of it in my glocks, and have put quite a few through the XDM, but after cleaning my RRA last night, lol, figured I would try a different brand of ammo for her.

So I bought only a few (500 rounds) of the Silver Bear 62grain and will give that a try. If it doesn't shoot well in my rifle, I will trade it to my friend & he can shoot it in his rifle. No biggie. If it shoots well, I'm going to buy some more.

 

[Cajun_Chuck]

Oh by the way...what's the deal with storing only brass ammo and not steel casing ammo?

 

[owen502]

I was reluctant to get the wolf for the AR. I shot the hell out of it in my glocks, and have put quite a few through the XDM, but after cleaning my RRA last night, lol, figured I would try a different brand of ammo for her.

So I bought only a few (500 rounds) of the Silver Bear 62grain and will give that a try. If it doesn't shoot well in my rifle, I will trade it to my friend & he can shoot it in his rifle. No biggie. If it shoots well, I'm going to buy some more.

This is the best idea. Who knows. Maybe your rifle won't like it.

 

[jester1787]

all i shoot through my Rock River AR is Brown Bear/Monarch

 

[topgunz1]

I tear up Monarch in my RRA, when I was filling up extra mags for the storm to put in my unit I loaded Monarch, I've never had a malfunction and it zeroes decently.

If brown bear is the same thing for less $, sign me up

 

[Cajun_Chuck]

I tear up Monarch in my RRA, when I was filling up extra mags for the storm to put in my unit I loaded Monarch, I've never had a malfunction and it zeroes decently.

If brown bear is the same thing for less $, sign me up

That is what I have read! I should be getting some in tomorrow.

I was reading everywhere that people get XM138 ammo to store. I do not understand why. If the brown bear has a non-corrosive primer & sealed casing, why wouldn't people go for this? Esp. if it is stored properly?? Is it just the improved MOA/shooting accuracy? Is it the brass casing last longer & holds up better to long term storage? I would think for less than $5 a box, you could get and store more for SHTF preparing.

 

[#1bambam]

Some ppl have a hard time running the steel cases through there ARs and onluy want to run brass cases. In my AR exept for one box of brass case ammo all I have ran through mine is steele case and the round count is over 1500.You just gotta lube it.

 

[Cajun_Chuck]

Thanks #1bam. I had a chance to run 60 rounds through the RRA. Monarch Steel, Monarch brass FMJ, and Monarch FMJ brass soft point all from Academy. No problems. I did shoot the steel first, so the barrel/gun wasn't heated up yet. I am not sure if this makes a difference. The barrel was warm, but not hot. I was shooting about 1 round every 2 seconds roughly but I know the rifle will shoot so much faster than I can pull that trigger. I need to practice speed & accuracy for sure!

I just got in the Silver Bear .233 and it is nickle coated & has FMJ hollow point. Not going to be doing anything today as the wind is still hauling a$$ over here, but will put some rounds downrange & report back. Still on the fence about the amount of Brown bear I will get. I will more than likely get half a case & split is with some friends to compare in different rifles, just for sake of knowledge.

 

[Trent2]

The brown bear isn't bad ammo, but the silver bear is zinc coated and the coating tends to flake off in patches if it gets wet for any length of time.
If you're going to use Bear stay with the brown, it's lacquered coated and weathers better.
Just remember, not all guns like it though.