A member here sent me a box of this stuff to inspect.  This is *imported* by Wolf but the ammo is produced by Prvi Partizan in Serbia / Montenegro.  They have a very good reputation in rifle ammunition.

The ammunition is sold boxed, 20 rounds per box.  Some vendors have it in sealed battlepacks, 200 rounds per battlepack.  Other vendors have it in 20 round boxes, overboxed, no battlepack.  It is selling for around $209/K plus shipping, or $0.21 per round.






The ammunition is bright, shiny, and clean.  No evidence of dings or dents.  The case neck is obviously annealed.  The bullets are all crimped into the cannelure as expected.  The cases are boxer primed, and crimped.





I measured the weights of 20 loaded cartridges.  They spread from 178.5gr to 180.2gr.  Average was 179.5gr.

Bullets were pulled from the heaviest and lightest loaded rounds, to see if the difference was in case, bullet, or powder:

The 178.5gr cartridge was composed of a 97.6gr primed case, a 54.9gr bullet, and 26.0gr of powder.
The 180.2gr cartridge was composed of a 99.8gr primed case, a 54.5gr bullet, and 25.8gr of powder.

This was the largest spread.  Not very consistent, especially in the bullet.  However, this is NOT match ammunition either.


The powder was examined.  Suprisingly, it is a stick/extruded variety.... with odd/random shaping:



A typical Q3131A round from a 2004 lot, contained 27.8gr of a flattened ball powder.  Quite a difference.




The bullet and case were examined.  The bullet is a 55gr FMJ projectile, with boat tail, and an open base.  This is consistent with other M193.  The cannellure is sharp and well defined.  The bullet was sealed with the typical black tar neck sealant, consistent with other military loads.  The projectile was tested with a strong magnet, and as expected, no magnetic material is present.  This is not steel core or jacket.



The bullet was then compared to known M193, from a pulled round of Winchester Q3131A, made by IMI in Israel.




Note the open base of IMI M193 is larger.  The jacket appears thicker on the Wolf, but it could simply be a difference of bullet construction, with the bottom of the jacket being rolled in.



Therefore - a cross sectional cut was made just after the cannelure on both bullets:



Note - the jacket thickness appears identical to IMI M193.


The loads were chronographed in two different barrels:  A 20" chrome lined Bushmaster, and a 16" Chrome lined Bushmaster, both having NATO chrome lined chambers.  (gratuitous weapon porn included:)




Results:  60 degrees, sunny, mild breeze.

20" barrel
3247*
3347*
3249
3223*
3295*
AVG: 3272
ES: 124
SD: 49.3

16" barrel
3153
3161
3117
3116
3112
AVG: 3131
ES: 49
SD: 23.2

I also measured several other rounds, as a control... Q3131A gave an avg. velocity of 3343 from the 20" barrel.  Black Hills gave an avg. velocity of 3056.  BOTH had MUCH lower (better) ES and SD results.

The conclusion on velocity:  This is within the expected velocity of M193, to be 3250fps at the muzzle from a 20" barrel.  However, it was not as consistent as other rounds tested at the same time, or as fast as my lot of Q3131A.

I must note the "*".  4 out of the 5 rounds fired from the 20" barrel short stroked.  All rounds were test fired in a EXTREMELY dirty and dry 20" Bushmaster.  I wanted to perform this test - because this weapon is notroious for choking on lower powered ammunition, when it is dry and dirty, yet will run 100% on Q3131A even under the same conditions.  Q3131A produced NO short strokes of any kind.  As I stated, this Wolf short stroked 4 out of 5 times, even though it is only running about 71fps slower than Q3131A.  I also tested Wolf polymer 55HP, which short stroked on every round, as expected.  But it gets worse... in addition, I tested Federal AE223, which yeilded an avg velocity of 3157fps..... a full 115fps slower than the Wolf M193.  However - NONE of the AE rounds short stroked.  Now, this isnt a fully scientific test, so dont draw too much information from this.... but it must be noted, this ammo, in a weapon under less than desireable conditions, underperformed other choices... even lower velocity ammunition.  I expect this has something to do with the burn rate of the stick powder chosen.  

I experienced zero failures on the 16" weapon, which was cleaned and lubed properly before firing.

Please keep in mind - I only fired 5 rounds in a finicky, neglected weapon, to evaluate failures.  5 rounds is NOT enough to make a full reliability determination.  This is JUST my observation.... use the information as you will.



Lastly, I tested fragmentation.  A box was constructed to contain a large plastic tub, with plastic bags filled with water.  I fired into this box from a distance of 25yds.  The results?




Basically, I blew the shit out of my box.    The hydraulic pressure blew the tub to bits, and blew out the bottom of the box with such force, it splintered the wood base.  In addition, the force of the wood was so great it shattered by plastic sawhorse stand.  

All was not lost, however - I was able to recover a few fragments:




The bullet did fragment in water.  It did not violently fragment, but did shear at the cannelure, shed the copper jacket, and deform greatly.  I dont know if this is consistent with gel, so my plan was to fire a round of Q3131A into the box and compare.  However, the damage was done.... so I will need to redesign the box if I want to try that again.



Conclusion:

This is JUST my opinion based on this evaluation.  

The bullet is M193.  The velocity is in spec.  However, given the fact that it short stroked in my finicky, neglected weapon, when Q3131A and AE223 did not, makes this less desireable ammunition, to me.  I didnt see any other glaring issues with it.



UPDATE 3-11-06

A generous member sent me some more of this ammo to test.  I fired 60 rounds today.

I set up a chrony and confirmed my previous AVG FPS data.  Muzzle velocities were almost identical.  www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=273003&page=1

This time - my previously neglected 20" Bushmaster test weapon, was cleaned, and lubed per the TM.

In 60 rounds fired - I experienced ZERO short strokes, as were previously experienced.  This is not surprising to me.... as the weapon was no longer in a "less than desireable" testing state.

However, out of 60 rounds, I DID experience one failure to extract.  The extractor slipped off the rim, and damaged the rim of the case in doing so.  The case was left entirely in the chamber.  Interestingly, when I dropped the bolt down a second time, it extracted easily.  This leads me to believe the pressure was too great at the time of extraction, with the case walls still expanded to the chamber walls.  Again, potentially, a burn rate powder issue.... in 20" rifles




Overall, I fired several hundred rounds today in the 20" and 16" AR's.... including Wolf M193, Q3131A, SA, Guatemalan, Fed AE223, Black Hills, and Wolf russian polymer, and the ONLY failure experienced of ANY kind, was this one round of Wolf M193.

I also fired 5 shot groups of several 55gr loads, and the Wolf M193 was surprisingly accurate, pulling in a 1.7" group at 100yds, which was second only to Black Hills 55FMJ, at 1.6".  Compare this to Q3131A, which pulled a 2.5" group.

Thanks for the excellent review FALARAK.

FWIW (in case you missed the other thread), here is how they come packaged...

Great preliminary review! and Awesome pics, MANG!

I'm shocked to see stick powder.  

I can't wait for more info!

Thank you, great initial review.  Very thurough.  Any chance you could section one of these bullets and compare it's jacket thickness, etc. with either South African, Federal or Winchester M193?

tag for info.Thanks

TAG TAG TAG

Tag.

Nice beginning report. How does this compare in weight consistency and powder to other M193 or commercial loads?

Good report.  Thanks!

Can't wait for the frag test and chrono result. Good post.

So its looking good!  Thanks alot Falarak you are the man! Im glad I bought 1000rds already

NOTICE THE 26.2grs came up alot?


Q3131 1999 26.2grs ball type powder

Q3131A 25.8 grs ball type powder

SA 26.2grs ball type powder

LC M855 26.2grs

santa barbra ss109 26.2grs

win m855 1988 link ammo 27.1grs

IMI m855 99 25.6grs


all done on my dillion scale!

Tag for range report.

Seydou

Never mind sorry

This is great!

Keep it coming FALARAK

Thanks!

Hey Fal, thanks for the pix, and especially the cross-sectional cut... the jacket thickness at the ass-end had me worried.... When you to the water/frag test, are you going to do a few Q3131A's for control and comparison?  This stuff is looking pretty fine, and competitively (though not AWESOMELY) priced....

High pricing seems odd for a "newcomer" to the market..... or it could be classical "skimming" (anything 'new' priced higher than normal to get those "early adopters" who are willing to pay more to be first on the block - Marketing 101)     I'm hoping its the latter and the glamor/clamor will be over when its time to replenish my stockpile.  

Nice work Falarak!

Thanks.

Tag.

tagish

tag

Tag!!   Hoping this stuff is as good as it looks....

Quoted: Nice work Falarak! Thanks.

+1...and TAggage

FALARAK, Thanks a lot for the report, it's great.

Thanks for the info!

tag for test results

ROCK ON!

Eagerly tagged for chrony and water frag test.

Excellent job!!!!
Thanks FALARK  

Tagged for test results thanks alot

tag for frag results.

Thanks for your work, looking forward to your range report.
Free to the top

.

Thanks FALARAK.... looking forward to range report.

Great job, FALARK!

Much appreciated, especially the great DEEE-TAILS!

---Woody---

Thanks for the work...

Looking forward to hearing more..

Thanks again..

Nice work.

Tag

Cool

Tag for future consumption...

Great report! Tagged for updates

TAG

Thanks for your efforts so far, nice pics and details.

TAG and thanks.  

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Quoted: Thanks FALARAK.... looking forward to range report.

+1

I like the battle pacs, I guess I can dig up my old SA stock, and and replace it with fresh wolf

well detailed report, tagged for speed

Nice report FAL! It's going to be interesting how the stick powder works out.
Anyone know if this could be Vihtavuori powder? N120/N130.


EDIT: looks like N133 would have equivalant burn rates for WC844 or H335, but don't know if it's stick or ball.  

Cool work.  I just got mine today as was going to pull some bullets too.  I'll skip that now.  I'll also be getting some chrono results this Sunday.   I bought 200.  If this works out to be good stuff, I may buy a 1000 of it and cycle out my old Q3131A.

Is it normal for bullet, cartridge and powder mass to deviate that much?