I have shot about 90 rounds of the 55 gr. FMJ with exactly zero problems so far.

Since 01 Aug 2010 I have fired 1,985 consecutive rounds of steel-cased Russian ammo, with one (1) dead cartridge. The primer was squashed when seated, and it detonated then.

That cartridge went merrily along through the rest of the production line and came out the end fine.

A friend of mine also had one

Uncommon, but not unique.

That was the only malfunction so far.

I'm not sure what you call a dead cartridge. I really hate to call it a malfunction, though, since neither the rifle nor the magazine screwed up.

ive used the WPA 55gr Military Classic and have mixed reviews

my 16" spikes M4LE loves it and fired it like no tomorrow.
it extracted every time and never gave me issues

my 10.5" LMT had some slight issues locking the bolt back
it may be the 55gr or it could be my buffer is too heavy but ive decided to only use M193 and M855 for my 10.5"

I've currently shot 1000 rounds of the WPA 55gr FMJ total through 3 different 16" barreled rifles, one with a SS barrel/Wylde chamber.  No problems at all.  Accuracy seems to be around 3 MOA.  Shot side by side with Brown and Silver Bear (even mixed in the same mag) it all feels the same and shoots the same, and shoots to the same point of impact (unsurprisingly).  Good stuff; I will continue to use Brown/Silver/WPA interchangeably.

I have no problems with WPA black box or Mil-Classic in my PWS MK114
Dirty and less accurate than my reloads or IMI but that is expected

In my FNH FS2000 I had one FT-Fire and if I leave it on 5.56X45 gas setting or normal it will not operate the action 50% of the time. These Bull-pups have an adjustment for lower pressure 223 and once engaged it works fine.

I initially had some various problems with WPA in my Keltech SU16CA and have no tried to retest.

Les Baer M4 carbine functioned fine but in a DI gun this stuff is just too dirty to bother with, IMO

I just put a Dillon 550B online so the cost advantage of reloads and the fact they are more accurate and cleaner means little reason for Wolf. If I did not load I would use it for the PWS and FS2K for close combat training so certainly have to recommend to non loaders as it is still a good value

Wulfmann

I had wpa fte on several times in my bcm upper, my dd upper runs it fine.

I've been through exactly 1000 rounds of the 62 grain WPA now, zero failures on my Daniel Defense Middy. It is without a doubt my favorite plinking ammo.

2.5 cases of it so far with zero problems.



Spikes M4 LE.

DD for the most part homebuild.

BCM 16" MidLength Upper.

Armalite/Stag build.

I've not shot as much wolf since I switch to SB, but I have blazed through 8 cases (8K) through a LWRC 10" piston with no problem on a M16 lower (mostly mag dumps).



Its dirty, not as accurate as brass 223 ammo, but goes boom and hits the steel plates.

no issues.

g21sf
fn 45 tac
fn scar

Close to 3000 rounds 55 grain through my rifles, most going through my BCM Middy.  Shoots pretty decent groups from my BCM SPR build too!

I've noticed the same thing running any Russian steel in my 16 inch LMT MRP Piston with extra heavy buffers or extra power buffer springs.  LMT informed me that they optimize their rifles and carbines for M855 5.56. The gas port on both the DI and Piston weapons are drilled as such.  If you are intereseted in shooting lower-powered ammo through the LMT, I would try a H1 or standard buffer.   H2 works well for me with the bears and WPA, with the rare short stroke.  I used a old standard buffer for the really low-powered Tula or Uly ammo I got a deal on a while back. I no longer shoot Tula or Uly due to extremely poor quality of the ammo (and WPA or the Bears aren't that much more expensive.)

They seem to zing out the barrel just fine, and for when I am just doing simple close quarters drills or letting the daughter put rounds into the targets, they work just fine for me.

Early days yet with it, only shot  ~150 rounds of 55gr .223 through a Spikes Hammer Forged Middy. No failures so far, was getting about a 50% hit ratio on an 8" plate at 300 yards.  I'm very happy with that.  

Have another 850 left bought specifically for use in this rifle. Should give me a good reading on the WPA ammo.

Del-Ton M4 w/ JP springs

200+ rounds fired

55gr FMJ

Multiple, like 1-per-mag FTF's. Will not buy again.



For what it's worth, this rifle has eaten Tula with zero problems in the past.

WPA 55gr .223
Rock River Middy - Eats it like candy

Rifle is a Spike's LE carbine length upper, Doublestar lower, Rock River LPK.

Fired about 2000 rounds of WPA.



I've had a couple of backwards primers, and a few stuck cases when the rifle got too dirty.  Otherwise, it's been good blasting ammo for training.

Seems a little gutless, as some others have reported.

ETA:

PWS Mk116
500 rds
55gr ball

<This thread is for reviews only - Z>

500 rounds of WPA "Military Classic", ten different rifles, mixed reviews:  55gr WPA "Military Classic" polymer-coated rounds, lot number K60-11.

300 rounds of '08 vintage Brown Bear 62gr FMJ, fired after each primary test for each rifle, as a control.

Rifle 1:  10.5" DPMS "heavy machine gun barrel" upper with "5.56 chamber" and a triple-x warrior suppressor.  Chrome lined.
Rifle 2: 7.5" DPMS "kitty kat" heavy barrel with "5.56 chamber" and chrome lining.
Rifle 3: 20" Sako "SAK MP B" 20" M16A1 contract spares barrel with chrome lining and 1:12 twist
Rifle 4: 20" Colt "C MP CHROME BORE" M16 A1 contract spares barrel with chrome lining and 1:12 twist
Rifle 5: BCM factory 14.5" upper 1:7
Rifle 6: 20" Colt AR-15 A2 Sporter II upper 1:7 with chrome bore and chamber and "5.56 chamber"
Rifle 7: 14.5" Colt "C MP CB 5.56" barrel - presumed 1:7 with chrome bore and chamber and "5.56 chamber"
Rifle 8: 20" Bushmaster "gov't profile" chrome bore and chamber 1:9 with "5.56" chamber
Rifle 9: FN FNC factory (presumed 1:7, chrome bore, chrome chamber)
Rifle 10: Daewoo DR-200 factory (presumed 1:12, chrome lined, chrome bore, chrome chamber)

Rifle 2: 20rd mag, flawless performance in semi and auto mixed
Rifle 1: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi and auto mixed
Rifle 5: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi and auto mixed
Rifle 7: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi and auto mixed, noticeably higher report and recoil than normal
Rifle 9: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi, 3rb, auto mixed
Rifle 3: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi and auto mixed
Rifle 6: 30rd mag, flawless performance in semi
Rifle 10: 30rd mag, 2 short strokes (failed to extract, eject and chamber a new round) in semi.  Adjusted gas and no problems after that
Rifle 8: 30rd mag, 4 short strokes, fed the rest of the mag to Rifle 4, 1 short stroke, fed rest to Rifle 2, 26rds, no problems
Rifle 8: 10rd mag, 1 failure to feed. 9 flawless semi and burst after lubing chamber with wd40 spray
Rifle 8: 10rd mag, 5 failure to feed, no lock-back on mag empty, in 3rb mode
Rifle 8: 10rd mag, 3rb mode, no problems
Rifle 4: 30rd mag, lubed chamber with wd40, 2 ftf, otherwise OK in semi
Rifle 1: 30rd mag, 2 ftf, 7 stuck empties on auto
Rifle 5: 30rd mag, 1 ftf on auto, otherwise OK
Rifle 7: 30rd mag, 1 stoppage (hammer down on live round) on auto
Rifle 9: 30rd mag, 2 ftf, 2 FTX stuck empties out of mag
Rifle 3: 30rd mag, 4 straight ftf, abandonded and fed 26 through rifle 1, flawless on mixed semi and auto
Rifle 2: 30rd mag, flawless in semi and auto
Rifle 7: 30rd mag, flawless in semi and auto

Observations:  Performance was fine until the mags and/or ammo heated up in the noonday sun.  After that, reliability went to crap without lube.

Ammo hotness/rate of fire was faster on one rifle than brass or brown bear, the 14.5" colt (rifle 7) and otherwise slower, or noticeably less recoil.  Personally perceived inconsistency between loads.

After each test cycle, the test rifle was fired with a full 30rd magazine of 62gr FMJ Brown Bear, with no other mods or cleaning done, and fired the entire magazine flawlessly in a mix of semi, auto (where applicable) and 3rb (where applicable).

My conclusion:  better than black box wolf, not ready for prime time.  Might consider it now, on a really good deal, for certain rifles and mg blaster shoots.  Brown Bear still rules, IMNSHO

I tried the Wolf WPA 55 Gn in a 14.5" 1:9 with Carbine gas system and Carbine buffer.  This carbine does NOT have M4 feed ramps.  This rifle fails to feed with Tula 55 Gn JHP.

With Wolf WPA 55 Gn FMJ There were no stoppages of any kind and the failures to feed, using the same magazines, disappeared. So far I'm happy with WPA 55 Gn FMJ

Update:
Today i installed an H Buffer to see if it would short stroke with a heavier buffer.  Fired 112 rounds with no stoppages. Next I'll try an H2 buffer.

Another 350 rds of 55gr down range through the 16" Spikes Elite upper.  Had 0 problems in 500 rounds so far.  

Accuracy is good, was getting easy hits on 12"x12" steel at 200 yards.  

Just ordered another 1000 rounds today.

Once I finish off these 2 cases I'll make a final decision and vote in the poll, but so far the WPA seems to be a much better product.

I own four AR's. Three (BCM CL 1/7, RRA SS 1/8 w/ Wylde chamber and Del-ton CMV 1/9) of the four run WPA just fine. The last AR is a my first build and  was a mid length w a nordic/wilson 1/8 w/ wylde chamber. It runs 100% on AE, PMC, IMI M193 and brown bear  55gr FMJBT, but it short strokes on WPA.

funny, my experience is exactly the opposite. Danny Defense M4V1 would begin to choke after about 150 rds in a training environment but switched to my BCM middy and it ran the rest of the day...

I know this is the review thread where comments should be kept to a minimum.....but I think this is relevant to all Russian steel cased ammo and especially so to this comment above here.  On my Nordic/Lilja barrel with essentially the same specs as yours, when the BCG got a bit dry/dirty, that would also short stroke on occasion with WPA.  I run a fixed A1 length stock on that rifle.  I switched out the 5.2oz rifle buffer for a JP LMOS 3oz buffer - and never have an issue with it.  If I use a different lower with a collapsible stock, I seem to be able to run a carbine buffer without issue; again a H would also cause the occasional short stroke.

500 rounds,  no problems at all.

400 rounds, 11.5/12.5 sbr's with H3 buffers. Cycles perfect with and without can suprisingly. Love it.

Finished my first 500 of WPA today. I had several failures to feed when using some really old magazines and a upper without feedramps.  No failures to extract. After 500 rounds the bolt was very dirty under the extractor.

I'll likely buy more for plinking and close range drills.

1. Firearm used was a SIG 556 Classic Patrol (16" barrel with a 1/7" twist)
2. Just under 1 case, approximately 960 rounds
3. 55gr FMJ WPA

I've had no problems to date. The SIG was on the "normal" gas setting. Positive ejection at around the 3 o'clock position about 20 feet out a little pile was made.
Mags used were Lancer 20rd smokey-clear mags, PMAG 30rd, and some assorted 30rd and 20rd Aluminum mags made by C-Products, Colt, etc.

Ammo seemed to be a little underpowered as compared to say M-193 which has the same bullet weight. This was expected. Accuracy was consistently around 4moa or so, but this isn't benchrest ammo.

I can still make consistent hits at 350 yards on human sized targets which is good enough for this paper puncher.
I am ordering more 55gr WPA fmj right now. Its priced cheap and works well for making holes in paper.

150 rounds into my pile of 1k. No issues so far.

1) 16" Spike's Tactical midlength. Running an H2 buffer. Had a few rounds that felt marginal as far as recoil goes with the H2, I may have to switch to a H or CAR buffer as the rifle gets dirtier.
2) 150 so far, plan to be through all 1k by November. Will try to remember to edit my post with an update.
3) WPA Military Classic 55gr FMJ


ETA: Another 540 rounds through my 14.5 Mid BCM with zero issues.

ETA: Shot it all up. Zero issues.

I've shot about 2,000 rounds of WPA through 3 different rifles in the last year.  Rifles are all mutts with good components, one with a 14.5" Bushmaster M4 barrell, one with a 14.5" DD midlength, and one with a 16" DD midlength.  I've had about 6 rounds that wouldn't fire.  All had good primer strikes, but no ignition.  For the price, I'll keep using WPA and deal with a few duds.

While I shoot mostly tula, I have shot a few hundred rounds of WPA mostly through a 16" DSA M4 upper on a spikes lower with J&T internals, no problems.

No problems, shot 500 rounds through my DPMS flattop upper (spikes lower) and so far 320 rounds in My BCM upper (same spikes lower) both are 16inch carbines. Its my goto plinking ammo

Had one FTF while shooting on full auto.For the most part though,it's very good plinking ammo.

Hi guys I am new to the forums and impressed with how much information can be derived from this site.  Anyway I have seen alot of posts on this Russian ammo firing well and it being somewhat dirty however, unless I missed it, has anyone gotten a good baseline on how this ammo chronos?  Is it consistent (speed wise) and do you guys feel it can be relied upon to fragment well <100 meters ?  Is it cannelured?  Thanks all.

I have been a brass only guy for many years.  I finally broke down and bought 1000 rds of WPA from AIM.  I stopped by the range and did a quick function and accuracy check.  All 20 rounds fed and fired without a single issue.
Shooting hand loads or quality ammo under the same conditions, I would expect 4"-6" group of 20 rounds at 200 yards.  With this rifle, a different scope and Hornady 75 gr match ammo, I hit 4" plates at will at 300 yards during a match.  
The overall group was 12" and if I don't count the 3 "fliers", it was 8".
Rifle:

Widest 12" @ 200 yds:

Leave out the 3 "fliers" 8" @ 200 yds:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I've shot about 200 round of 62gr HP out of a 1/7 barrel.  Good for plicking.

Fired 80 rounds thru a new Huldra 5.45x39mm carbine. Used ACS and Stoner mags.  None one of them cycled properly.  Most were stuck cases, rest were FTE's.  Don't think I'll be using anymore Wolf WPA.  I will try some Russian surplus next.

One time, I had a case FTE.  Inexpensive upper from M&A, no chrome anywhere.  Rifle had been run hard, and was really hot, case stuck in the chamber, and the extractor ripped a chunk out of the rim.  Let it cool enough to bag it, took it home, and an hour later, the case poked out with minimal force from a rod.

My theory is that, as the chamber got very hot, metal expanded, and the chamber's ID was reduced.  The steel case wouldn't give, like brass would, and so remained stuck until the steel of the chamber cooled, and receded.

I still support shooting it wholeheartedly, just might not be the best idea for a prolonged firefight.

I've been using this stuff on my past few outings. The accuracy is ok, good for plinking. I like to joke that WPA is great if you want to have failure drills, because you are guaranteed to get at least one or two . It's the cheapest thing around that I can buy locally and its decent so I will continue to use it. I would mention that it seems like every box I buy has a random HP round in the mix.....odd

*Edited to add* The upper is an FN m-16a1 upper

Just went thru another 350 rnds no issues. Then followed it up with 150 rnds of AE 223, still no issues. Spikes 14.5 middy. I'm loving this ammo. I feel bad for the guys that have issues. NOT.  More fer me....

I'm over 700 rnds no fte, ftf, nothing, even while following with brass. All I do is wet the bolt down with CLP before range session and blast away. I don't scrub the chamber afterwards before the brass, nothing...rip off 20 rnds, then do a tactical reload, and blast another 30. Plus the accuracy has been better than I expected. Rifle gets friggin hot and still cycles like a banshee. so happy.

I thought the WPA was made by Ulyanovsk, not Barnaul...?

Half a dozen different rifles with most of them 16" middy's and carbine. One rifle has a Lilja barrel another a 24" SS ?
WPA is dirty ammo from my experience especially if you have a tight chamber or has been already stated...a heavy buffer. I can run several mags, probably around 200 rounds before things start to bind up.
Accuracy is great at 50 yards, have shot nickle sized groups regularly, but after that it really opens up.

I usually shoot WPA at an indoor 25-Yard range

Today I tried it at 100-Meters from a Bushmaster 14.5" Chrome Lined M4 with 2MOA aimpoint, fired from prone using the magazine as a monopod.

10-round 100-Meter group with Wolf WPA 55 Gn FMJ measured 5.13"

That is typical of the accuracy I have gotten out of it.



I shot 100 plus rounds in a local carbine clinic with it last weekend.  I only had one issue.  At the end of the clinic I had to use the forward assist to completely close the bolt on a charged round.  

Just tried Wolf WPA for the first time in my BCM 14.5" middy.  60 rounds, 4 failure to feeds, 1 round stuck in the chamber with the bolt out of battery.  Bolt did not lock back on either mag.    I'm running a carbine buffer, and have never had a malfunction before.  What gives?

My guess is a 14.5" w/ a midlength gas system combo'd with weak ammo.  WPA is underpowered, you need all the oomph you can get.  How heavy is your buffer?

There is a problem with your gun or mags.

Where would you start looking for the problem?  I'm running newer pmags, and have never had a previous malfunction.

I'm running a carbine buffer.