45 ACP - 230 gr FMJ - Wolf WPA - 500 Rounds

Video Transcript:

Wolf Performance Ammunition, or WPA, is manufactured in Russia, and is some of the most affordable center fire ammo available in the US. Wolf is probably best known as one of the largest sources of 7.62 x 39 rifle ammo, but they also produce a variety of other rifle and pistol calibers, like the 45 ACP that we tested for this review.

Like most Wolf ammo, this load uses a steel case. These cartridges are not re-loadable, but are newly manufactured and use a non-corrosive primer. The cases are coated with a thin layer of polymer to help increase shelf life and reliability. The 230 grain bullets have a bi-metal jacket made of copper and steel. But despite rumors to the contrary, the core of the bullet is lead.

Even so, some shooting ranges believe the bi-metal jackets are a little rough on backstops and steel targets, so make sure this ammo is allowed at your range. We used six different handguns to try out the Wolf 45 load. One of the first things we noticed was the mild recoil. Compared to a lot of other 45 loads, this round is pretty soft shooting. That makes it a good load for anyone who may be sensitive to harsh recoil.

It's also not a bad load for smaller guns that tend to be a little snappy with most ammo, like this Kahr CW45. Despite the lower pressure, we didn't have any problems with feeding or ejection in any of our guns. We used our Springfield XDM to fire groups from the bench at 15 yards. Accuracy was not bad for this inexpensive round with most of the shots hitting within and inch or so of the point of aim.

More expensive ammo might provide better quality control and re-loadable brass cases, but if you want to stock up on large quantities of low recoil 45 ACP, Wolf offers one of the most affordable options out there.