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Posted: 9/3/2004 5:45:20 PM EDT
[#1]
The case is steel underneath the zinc (Golden Bear has copper plating over the steel). Steel cases are prone to Fail-to-Extract malfunctions because of the different expansion characteristics... OK for tapered cases like 7.62x39 but dodgy for straight-wall cases like 5.56x45. Just like with Wolf, I'm sure you will find some who have had "good luck" with it, but I wouldn't touch the stuff.
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Posted: 9/3/2004 6:52:48 PM EDT
[#2]
I tried some several years ago. (5+ yrs.)
Rifle: Bushmaster XM15E2S Ammo: Two boxes of Silver Bear, 20 rnds./box, 55gr. FMJ. Use: Unscientific evaluation during a plinking session. Failures to chamber = zero Failures to fire = zero Failures to extract = zero Accuracy/Precision = not recorded. Comments and impressions. Similar to Wolf ammo (of that manufacturing vintage) in most respects, steel case, lacquer coating, plated bullet and sealed primer. Left more carbon residue in rifle than USGI ammunition. Left a ring of red primer sealant residue on the boltface. Pro: Competitive retail price. Con: The extra cleaning time & resources required after a shooting session. Not bad. A reasonable value for the money. Sincerely, Craig |
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Posted: 9/3/2004 11:26:57 PM EDT
[#3]
www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=16&t=169973
My experience was pretty close to the above posters, I personally just use Wolf for cheap plinking because it runs better in my AR and it's cheaper. |
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Posted: 9/5/2004 12:10:58 AM EDT
[#4]
The first shipments of this ammo, Silver Bear, was made in mid 2001. The rifle ammo is made by Barnaul Machine Tool Plant and some of the 7.62x39 was made my Klimovsk Stamping Plant. The pistol ammo was make by Novosibirsk LVE Plant.
I've shot a great deal of the 7.62x39 with no issue whatsoever as well as the .223 and .308. Take it for waht it is worth... its very affordable Russian ammo. Don't buy a Hyundai and expect it to be a Lexus... I am sure you will find the ammo more than satisfactory. Y- |
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Posted: 9/7/2004 7:49:50 PM EDT
[#5]
If my memory serves me, the two boxes, holding 20 cartridges each, measured approximately 1.5" height, 1.5" wide, and 3" long. The two primary colors printed on the box were blue and red, with some lettering in white and some small print in black ink. The interior of the cardboard box was grey.
~Craig |
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Posted: 9/12/2004 4:10:37 PM EDT
[#6]
With the wide availability of low cost, surplus US military ammo - Lake city, etc - why would you put the least expensive ammo through your weapon? Steel case, Zinc coating - I'm confident this isn't good for a rifle with tigh tollerances like the AR-15.
Not trying to be disrepectful, but just currious. hinking.gif |
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Posted: 9/12/2004 7:46:37 PM EDT
[#7]
Ten cents a round versus seventeen cents a round. As many rounds as I shoot in a year it doesn't take forever to save enough money to buy a new rifle. |
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Posted: 9/13/2004 4:16:17 AM EDT
[#8]
That's exactly right. If you're just plinkin', why waste money with XM193. Save the good stuff for the important uses and use the cheap stuff for shooting cans. I've shots thousands of rounds of the stuff with very good results. The only problem is that damn red sealer that the Russians love. Other than that, it feeds fine and always goes bang. I just need to clean a little more often. The stuff is what it is....cheap Russian ammo. Will it hurt my weapon?.....no, I don't think so. Even if it did, I could buy a new upper once a year for what I save in ammo cost. I've had the same (non-chrome) upper on my Oly since new and I've fired 10,000+ rounds through it and everything looks fine. It will still group around 1moa with match ammo. |
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Posted: 9/13/2004 4:25:56 PM EDT
[#9]
Went through 100 rounds today of the SB 62 gr. HP through my RR 16" carbine. NO FTE or any other ammo related isses. Best group was a shade over 1" @ 50 yards as I was trying to zero a new red dot scope.
For the $, a very good value--$60 for 500 rounds. |
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Posted: 9/13/2004 6:56:04 PM EDT
[#10]
I bought 2000 rds of 62gr Silver Bear and my stock 20" Bushy A3 displayed extraction issues during my first test firing(55 gr might work better in steel cased ammo?). I soon picked up a new 16" SAIGA in .223 for cheap and did the pistol grip conversion. My Silver Bear ammo works great in this AK rifle so I decided to save it for that weapon. My Bushy is getting only the "good stuff" (my reloads and US made ammo).
I am happy with this turning of events. The SAIGA is pretty good on pop cans to 100 yards with the Silver Bear ammo. Filling/emptying my five 30 rd Weiger mags for the SAIGA costs about 20 bucks and very little of my time. My Bushmaster will last a long time shooting ammo that takes more work/money. Your mileage may vary. |
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Posted: 10/22/2004 10:34:52 AM EDT
[#11]
I can't say about Silver Bear but I have used Barnaul name brand (62 HP & 55 FMJ) in my Bushmasters and found it to be accurate, reliable and the price is right (but MORE than Wolf, though).
 Edited for spelling. |
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Posted: 10/22/2004 4:35:41 PM EDT
[#12]
Just got 500 rounds of 62gr HP Silver Bear ammo from AIM. I've only shot 100 rounds of it through my Oly 20" A2, but so far no problems at all. Since I was just shooting up the desert I really didn't note the accuracy, but I should be making a range trip next week.
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Posted: 10/23/2004 5:47:15 AM EDT
[#13]
Former co-worker been getting the stuff in the sealed cans, and use it in M16. Stuff shoots fine, occassional stuck case, nothing a tap with the rod wont take care of.
His ammo has a bunch of the red stuff at case mouth, wonder if contributing factor. |
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Posted: 10/26/2004 1:14:37 PM EDT
[#14]
The red sealant on the neck/bullet of the round is what causes rounds to stick in some weapons. I'd stick with wolf as they got smart and got rid of it a while ago. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 12:58:33 AM EDT
[#15]
I shot a couple hundred rounds through my AR without incident. Probably better than Wolf, but not by a lot.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 2:29:22 AM EDT
[#16]
It sticks in the chambers of both my Bushy's, but when it goes bang it's accurate enough and the price is right.
One word of warning tho.....keep it in a dry place. I left some in my basement, which isn't really that damp, but it still oxidized the cases and made them VERY chalky...so much so that they required tumbling with a mild abrasive to smooth them out enough to chamber and shoot reliably. I won't bother with the stuff again, when Wolf is cheaper and better, IMHO. |
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Posted: 10/28/2004 4:28:02 PM EDT
[#17]
I tried the silver bear 62grSP at 100 yards (scoped 16"RRA) with poor results. 5 rounds in a group about the size of a grapefruit. Gave what was left of my 3 boxes to a fella shooting a mini 14.
Tried this after I shot 3/4" groups all morning with BH Blue Box 52grHP. Accuracy, from my experience, is not a Silver Bear strongpoint(but it is cheap) |
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Posted: 10/29/2004 6:54:27 AM EDT
[#18]
Definitly not a accurate as BH Blue Box. But then again, it's have the price. |
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Posted: 10/31/2004 6:20:30 PM EDT
[#19]
I bought some hollow points and some soft points. Very cheap, but not good expansion on my pumpkin targets.
I will use the Winchester varmint loads next time, but great for plinking. |
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