Anyone use Brown Bear?

[ladder13]

I got a bunch of 9mm's real cheap. I know they have steel cases not brass or nickle, what's the harm in using em'?

 

[OKFC05]

In what gun?
I don't think I'd try them in a match chamber.

 

[Watergoat]

I have used several cases in various SIGs, CZs,Walthers, etc. Always ran well. Until the ammo price run-up, I could shoot BB cheaper than reloading with jacketed bullets, and didn't have to pick up the cases. Wish I had more.

 

[Forester]

Ladder, I only have experience with the Brown and Silver Bear lines in 7.62X54. It functioned fine and was fairly accurate.

 

[ladder13]

Originally posted by OKFC05:
In what gun?
I don't think I'd try them in a match chamber.

Sig P226 or Smith 940.

 

[sjmjax]

I've shot a lot of it about 100k rounds so far... in subguns. Runs fine in my Swedish K, M11/9 and Sterling. My beat up Browning HP also runs fine but isn't very accurate with it.

Causes problems with failures to extract in various other 9mm especially my 59 & 39. Have to beat the cases out of my 940 with a mallet.
YMMV

 

[OKFC05]

Haven't seen any troubles in SIG; never saw it used in a 940. Have seen stuck cases in a couple of SAs.

 

[anchors]

The 9x18 works great in my East German Makarov.

 

[Noah Zark]

LAdder:

I bought 3000 rds of lacquered steel cased BB 9x19 about 1.5 to 2 yrs ago. I like to use steel case ammo when shooting in the winter; I don't have to go poking around in the snow for cases.

The good news: It runs great in "large" chambers, such as those in my semi-auto Uzi, Sterling MkIV subgun, Browning High Powers, and Springfield XD9.


The bad news:

1) In tight chambers like my Smith & Wesson 76 subgun or 940 revolver, fuggedaboudit. Sticks after only a few rounds' shooting warmup, and keep a cleaning rod and urethane-faced hammer handy.

b) In about 2000 rds I had maybe four squibs. Not "duds" but true squibs that went "pop" and lodged the bullet in the end of the chamber or just into the rifling. A second round would not chamber, but in the Sterling twice it resulted in an OOB. If you shoot open bolt subguns, sooner or later you will experience an OOB, but it was still exciting. No damage to me or the Sterling, thanks to that BIG ejection port on the right side.

Would I buy it again? Only if the price was right. I'd take steel cased Wolf before lacquer-cased BB in future, because the Wolf functions in the S&W 76. Nothing but brass or nickel will extract from the 940.

HTH,

Noah

 

[animalmother]

No. I have stayed away from the steel case and cheap bulk import ammo. Only quality factory brass cased ammo for my guns.

 

[flop-shank]

Originally posted by animalmother:
No. I have stayed away from the steel case and cheap bulk import ammo. Only quality factory brass cased ammo for my guns.

+1. I'd rather buy american products anyway.

 

[ladder13]

Originally posted by flop-shank:
+1. I'd rather buy american products anyway.

Yea, me too, if I can find any.

 

[gatorhugger]

I've Shot brown, silver, golden bear, never an issue with any despite the gloom and doom I read everytime a thread is brought up.
The only ammo I have had problems with is Rangesafe brass washed steel ammo, and blazer aluminum in certain guns.

 

[Firehouse]

I've shot plenty of the Wolf. I'd rather have good old American brass, but for just good old fun shooting with no regard but to see how fast I can shoot my weapon it serves the purpose.