Thread: Wolf 556 Primers......a TEST

Being both a reloader and a volume shooter, I am always searching for ways to shoot more for less. I recently picked up some assorted Wolf primers to give them a try. They are approximately half the cost of the major names. I loaded up 1k of their small rifle primers specifically labeled for .223 this week with a mimicked m193 load.


Mixed Remington and PMC Once-fired brass
55gr FMJBT
25.5 grains 844 pulldown
OAL 2.25

The first 90 test rounds fired flawlessly. This was last week in temperatures around 14 degrees.

Today was a different story. I had 3 misfires in my first mag of the day. This was with a different rifle, so I ran them back through another AR thinking they were light strikes. No luck......the primers were dead. Later on that day, I had 2 more misfires during some move and shoot drills. I now have approx 800 rounds of this stuff left so we'll see.

Overall, I'm very disappointed in the Wolf primers performance today. I certainly would not trust my life to them. I still may grab a few K for "safe keeping" or if I'm in a pinch, but this is because of the price alone. The extra $10/K for Winchesters, CCI, or Federals is money well spent.

I also just loaded up a batch of 100 .45acp rounds using the Wolf Large Pistol primers. Hopefully that goes a bit better
I plan on shooting the rest of these reloads throughout the spring, so I will update this thread with new information

Keep us posted.

I have had the same experience with a couple SR Wolf primers. I would say maybe 1-2% of the ones I have loaded have FTF. For plinking ammo, IMO it isn't a big deal, if anything it is a bonus as it helps with failure drills, but you are right I am not sure I want to trust my life with them when I want them to absolutely, positively go bang every time.

I don't remember any issues with their SP or LP primers and I have ran through a couple thousand of them.

Originally Posted by millsusaf

I have had the same experience with a couple SR Wolf primers. I would say maybe 1-2% of the ones I have loaded have FTF. For plinking ammo, IMO it isn't a big deal, if anything it is a bonus as it helps with failure drills, but you are right I am not sure I want to trust my life with them when I want them to absolutely, positively go bang every time.

I don't remember any issues with their SP or LP primers and I have ran through a couple thousand of them.

I agree with the training thing. I had 2 misfires during a two-man drill today and I was taken by surprise. I can see how it would be great practice for malfunctions and such.

Thanks for the write up Groov. I only have experience with CCI primers.

Originally Posted by U.S. Patriot

Thanks for the write up Groov. I only have experience with CCI primers.

No problem. I have had nothing but good experiences with CCI's.

Two more dead primers out of 60 rds.

So that's 7 bad primers out of 210 so far for a 3.3% failure rate.

So far, so bad.

That's weird, I've not had a problem with them. Are they small rifle magnums? They claim the small rifle magnums are intended for use in AR type weapons. I've ordered many boxes of the magnum boxes and I've been through right under 3k of then without a hitch...either way you should have ignition.


I hope the rest of my stash of Wolf do not have your problems...sounds like I'll have to stick to CCI when I can.

Originally Posted by whiskeytangofoxtrot

That's weird, I've not had a problem with them. Are they small rifle magnums? They claim the small rifle magnums are intended for use in AR type weapons. I've ordered many boxes of the magnum boxes and I've been through right under 3k of then without a hitch...either way you should have ignition.


I hope the rest of my stash of Wolf do not have your problems...sounds like I'll have to stick to CCI when I can.

They were the SR223 specifically made for .223/5.56. I will buy another K when I get a chance and see if I didn't get a bad batch.

To tell you the truth, I think they are great for drills and training. It's excellent malfunction practice lol. Especially when your shooting with a partner.

Originally Posted by groovatron

They were the SR223 specifically made for .223/5.56. I will buy another K when I get a chance and see if I didn't get a bad batch.

To tell you the truth, I think they are great for drills and training. It's excellent malfunction practice lol. Especially when your shooting with a partner.

Hey man the price is right for training. Have at it.

I think Wolf has issues with batches because I've been through about 5k assorted ones and I learned to look at the anvils before I load them because I get an occasional inverted anvil in the cup and they'll all be in the same box of 100, there might be 2-3 of them and the rest of the boxes in that case are fine.

Check the ones you had fail and see if they have inverted anvils because once I have weeded those out I've not had any issues with them.

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life. I've been considering them because of the price. I still may try them.

Originally Posted by redbaron

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life. I've been considering them because of the price. I still may try them.

Yeah.....I wouldn't hesitate to use them on plinking ammo, but for SD, I'd stick with what's more proven.

That's all it would be for me. As of right now, I use factory SD ammo.