ASYM Reman Powder v. Wolf Gold Powder

Post by **Whootsinator** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 8:04 pm

I opened up a few rounds of ASYM Precision's new remanufactured 55gr precision training load and Wolf's GOLD 55gr.

Bullets:
Both use cannelured FMJBT bullets, but don't appear to be crimped at the mouth. The ASYM's Hornady FMJBT has a much smaller cannelure, roughly 66% the length of the Wolf bullet's cannelure. The ASYM bullet is seated far enough out of the case that I don't believe a crimp could even engage the cannelure, if it was crimped. The Wolf GOLD bullet's cannelure hardly extends past the mouth of the case. Both cannelures begin at the same distance from the tip of the bullet, but the ASYM Hornady FMJBT stops at about 66% the length of the Wolf Gold. Wolf GOLD is sealed at the mouth with a black sealant and at the primer with a purple sealant. ASYM's load has no sealant.

Powder:
The Wolf GOLD powder is visually very consistent. All individual grains look the same to the ones next to them in regards to size and shape. The powder has a yellow-green hue that resembles the older lacquered steel cases.

The powder used in the ASYM Reman 5.56 varies in both size and shape. There are three rough shapes: balls, smooth cylinders, and teardrops. I say smooth cylinders instead of "sticks" because it doesn't look like extruded stick type powder.

When burned in open air the ASYM is very clean. The Wolf GOLD powder leaves behind what I thought to be a really interesting/strange hard foam residue.

What does any of this mean? I don't know! I broke open some ammo, this is what I found. I wish I had a chrono to test their actual performance, but... I don't!

Post by **Gunsmokin** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 8:52 pm

Interesting.

Post by **Whootsinator** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:02 pm

That's where I'm at with it. Anyone with some cheap steel cased ammo from different manufacturers/product lines want to burn some powder for the cause? See what else leaves behind this foam residue.

Post by **PDM** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:07 pm

I have wolf steel. Bet a box that it's the same powder

Post by **Toddstang** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:10 pm

PDM wrote:I have wolf steel. Bet a box that it's the same powder

I'd be willing to bet it is the same and willing to bet TULA is too.

Post by **PDM** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:13 pm

Toddstang wrote:
PDM wrote:I have wolf steel. Bet a box that it's the same powder
I'd be willing to bet it is the same and willing to bet TULA is too.

Tula is not anymore. Wolf seems to burn cleaner

I've never seen anything like that other stuff. Looks like something molten and dripped. It is definitely not spherical powder

Post by **Whootsinator** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:31 pm

Keep in mind Wolf GOLD isn't Russian. It's Taiwanese. I doubt they use the same components for Gold and the various Russian loads.

Post by **Whootsinator** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 11:36 pm

I pulled open an earlier production ASYM cartridge, a 70gr SDX (Barnes 70gr TSX bullet) ordered in late 2014. The powder kernels were all ball type without any irregular shapes... no teardrops or cylinders. When burned in the open this powder did leave some of the hard foam type residue, but a very small amount... not the completely intertwined pile seen with the Wolf Gold. The irregular shapes in the newer production ASYM remanufactured ammo might be an additive, or a completely different powder all together.

Post by **Toddstang** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 11:39 pm

I still have some very old .223 WOLF ammo I bought back in 2002. I may pull some of those since they aren't worth a shit to shoot. So much lacquer on them they jam more than Van Halen.

Post by **PDM** » Fri Sep 30, 2016 11:40 pm

Whootsinator wrote:Keep in mind Wolf GOLD isn't Russian. It's Taiwanese. I doubt they use the same components for Gold and the various Russian loads.

I'll have to crack one open and burn it then

Post by **Gunsmokin** » Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:00 am

Toddstang wrote:I still have some very old .223 WOLF ammo I bought back in 2002. I may pull some of those since they aren't worth a shit to shoot. So much lacquer on them they jam more than Van Halen.

Ba dum bum, tshhh.

Post by **Whootsinator** » Mon Oct 03, 2016 3:46 pm

So... anyone find anything cool to report back?

Kentucky Armory Club