Wolf Ammo Keyholes

[Steve Menegon]

I went to the range today with a couple buddies. I was shooting Wolf 115gr. 9mm out of my P01. Every shot keyholed. I tried some S&B, no issues at all. Actually everything I have shot through the P01 has been flawless. The Wolf hit where I was aiming, but my target looked like I was throwing an axe at it. The projectiles measure .3545". The S&B was .3535". I've never shot Wolf until I tested an adjustable trigger change. All I wanted to do was a live fire function! Is this normal for steel cased Wolf?

[Ron M.]

I've had the same issue with Wolf and Tula Steel case ammo, out of a Beretta PX4 Compact. I've only shot 2 boxes of each, so not a lot of data. I can't prove my supposition, but I suspect the bullets are not concentric in the cases.

[Wobbly]

Obviously, the makers of discount ammo have the means and the motive to pull all sorts of tricks in order to make more profit. (Yes, even avowed Communist like Vladimir Putin have a Capitalist side !) Most shooters would simply say "Wow I can't hit the tin can today !". You'd need to be shooting at paper targets to even spot and recognize this phenomena. So kudos for being able to see this.

There are a number of reasons ammo might "keyhole". That is, begin to tumble head-over-heels in flight and strike the paper target sideways, leaving an oblong rather than round hole. The number one contributor is Velocity.

I'm wondering if anyone has put this ammo over a chrono. 

[Steve Menegon]

Thank you for the replies. I plan to set these Wolf rounds off to the side and ask my neighbor if we can use his chrono to see what we have for velocity. I wish I had taken pictures. In any case, no need for JHPs with these. If they penetrated....

[noylj]

IF by keyholing you mean the bullets going through the target sideways, that is almost ALWAYS due to undersized plated bullets. If it happens with several factory ammo loads, it could be a damaged muzzle that is throwing the bullets off.
However, I have heard lots of target issues being called keyholing—even oval holes caused by the target moving in the breeze.
I can tell you that steel cased ammo does not have the same POI as brass cased ammo very often.
Pictures would help.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

IF by keyholing you mean the bullets going through the target sideways, that is almost ALWAYS due to undersized plated bullets.

Keyholing can happen with ANY style bullet. As Wobbly posted above velocity is a key factor. I've seen and had it happen with multiple bullet styles, calibers, etc. over the years while working up loads. Most recently I had some keyholing with a .44 spl load I was working on. Rounds on the low end of the ladder would keyhole due to very low velocity but stabilized and became very accurate at the higher end of the ladder. That was with properly sized and lubed cast bullets and some jacketed rounds as well.

[Steve Menegon]

IF by keyholing you mean the bullets going through the target sideways, that is almost ALWAYS due to undersized plated bullets. If it happens with several factory ammo loads, it could be a damaged muzzle that is throwing the bullets off.
However, I have heard lots of target issues being called keyholing—even oval holes caused by the target moving in the breeze.

Pictures would help.

Noy, I definitely mean sideways bullets through the target. I set my targets up as smooth as possible. I remove old staples in my way. I use the newer mats to get the best backing possible. I am familiar with targets being loose, so to speak. Three different people said the same thing at two different range visits. Again, use of different ammo on the same target punched perfect holes. Using a range member's comp gun on the same target punched perfect holes. My P01 has had Underwood, Federal, S&B, Winchester, Blazer Brass, and others fired through it with zero issues up until I ran the Wolf ammo through it. I do wish I had taken pics. I did not. So be it. When I practice with the remaining Wolf ammo and I see the same thing, I certainly will snap a few pics.