I have a 14.5" 1:9 Bushmaster that has never been reliable with the Tula produced "wolf" ammunition. Even with a light carbine buffer it would short stroke, fail to extract, fail to eject at least one every mag.

Now since the last time i tried that ammo i have installed an H2 buffer and cut the chamber with ned christiansen's  5.56mm+ throat reamer.  I tried the "wolf" (tula) ammo again today (same lot number) and it ran perfectly. No stoppages at all.

I'm thinking its the more generous current chamber dimensions that resolved the steel cased ammo issue. But I'll remove the H2 buffer next range trip to confirm.


ETA: I've read simular reports on TOS. But this is the first brl i have tried it on myself.

Seems to make sense to me.   Might be one of the things that explains why I've never had a stuck case in a my WASR AK, yet they stick constantly in my .223 Golaini.  The 7.62x39 cartrige taper + the looser chamber probabally aids in extraction of steel ammo.

I took it back to the range today with a selection of buffers.  I used the same ammo and used a Carbine buffer, H buffer and an H2 buffer. It was reliable with the crappy Tula/Wolf ammo with all three. So it appears its cutting the chmaber/throat that solved the issue, not the change in buffer weights.

If you have a gun that chokes on Tula consider paying ADCO or Ned $35.00 - $40.00 to open up the chamber/throat.

I'm thinking perhaps your bushmaster barrel was chanbered for .223 not 5.56. If so that may have contributed to the problems you had shooting 5.56 ammo, especially steel cased stuff. Opening the chamber/throat to true 5.56 dimensions very well could have been just what it needed....<><....:)

Of course it was.

But wolf/tula/barnual is .223 spec ammo. Its not 5.56mm pressure, not even close.

After all the arguements I had on about my rifle not extracting steel and all the replies were "its not a 5.56 bore.

Well no shit, its feeding .223 steel anyhow.

I wish I had thought of that reply.  

I do agree with your finding though.  My Del ton wouldnt extract steel for nothing.  Bought a Bravo upper and it eats steel all day long and brass, mixed or otherwise.

All the asshats always said "its a Del Ton the bore isnt 5.56"...

Though a true 5.56mm chamber may be more reliable with Wolf, it has nothing at all to do with the .223 vs 5.56mm pressure differences IMO.  Wolf is on the low end of .223 spec. Not even close to 5.56mm like M193 or M855.

If i has to guess at a reaon its a more generous chamber allows more soot/carbon to accumalate before reaching the point of inducing stoppages. But I dont really know, i'm working with a sample of one here.

Did the chamber reamer cut up the chrome lining?

Of course.