The Tula Myth

[Kramer1113]

They myth is self perpetuating and even spread by many range masters.

Once upon a time TulAmmo was Lacquer coated. In the last couple of years the ammunition has been coated in a polymer coating.
The polymer does not burn off in your chamber and cause your rounds to stick (For those of you that have heard this story) what happens with the Steel case is it does not expand like brass and it does not cool as fast.
What you end up with is some blow-by and more carbon in your weapon. If the rounds are getting stuck it is generally because the weapon is fouled up.

Unfortunately my Colt AR is a 1 in 7 twist so the 55gr tends to keyhole around 100+ yards.

 

[S&W645]

5 rounds of Tulammo and my AR-15 stops working. Get that sucker out and run brass cases the rest of the night. My Mosin-Nagant likes brass or copper washed cases but doesn't like the poly coated rounds either. Dirty or not, it isn't worth the trouble to hassle with. My ARs are 1:9 and 1:10 for the 9mm version.

 

[spiral]

I have shot well over a 100 rounds of it through my SR9C and about 75 rounds through my S&W M&P 15 ..No problems at all, so far..

 

[BUmmedic]

Just picked up 100rds of Tula 45ACP today as part of an ammo bundle from a seller on armslist. Never shot it before, maybe run out to range tomorrow to shoot it all. We'll see how it goes in my XDm.

 

[gunnerbob]

Got problems with tula in your ar...?

They myth is self perpetuating and even spread by many range masters.

Once upon a time TulAmmo was Lacquer coated. In the last couple of years the ammunition has been coated in a polymer coating.
The polymer does not burn off in your chamber and cause your rounds to stick (For those of you that have heard this story) what happens with the Steel case is it does not expand like brass and it does not cool as fast.
What you end up with is some blow-by and more carbon in your weapon. If the rounds are getting stuck it is generally because the weapon is fouled up.

Unfortunately my Colt AR is a 1 in 7 twist so the 55gr tends to keyhole around 100+ yards.

BUY AND AK........... THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SHOOT! Heh...

I shoot lacquer, polymer, nickle, brass...... anything and everything, doesn't matter. I shoot wet, dry, dusty, muddy, rusty, greasy, oily and after not being cleaned after a few thousand rounds. Gotta love a good AK!

 

[Kramer1113]

My Colt LE6920 ran 4 boxes of it no problem. Ran 5 boxes of Winchester 5.56 no problem, ran a box of 50 brassmax, no problem... So far... No Problem!
I posted this because as I was shooting the TulAmmo the range master came over and told me to slow down the fireing rate. He said if it got to hot the TulAmmo would stick in the chamber, so, I researched it and learned why the problems exist.

I'll get an AK one day, just needed my AR fix first.

 

[gunnerbob]

My Colt LE6920 ran 4 boxes of it no problem. Ran 5 boxes of Winchester 5.56 no problem, ran a box of 50 brassmax, no problem... So far... No Problem!
I posted this because as I was shooting the TulAmmo the range master came over and told me to slow down the fireing rate. He said if it got to hot the TulAmmo would stick in the chamber, so, I researched it and learned why the problems exist.

I'll get an AK one day, just needed my AR fix first.

I, maybe suprisingly, don't own an AR... my only .223/5.56 platform is a Kel-Tec SU-16b. It's a gas-piston simular to the AK, so it's pretty reliable in function... the only down side may be it's got a bolt like the AR, so the tolerences are tighter on lockup.

 

[Timothy Bryant]

I've shot Tula in 45 acp, 380 auto, 40 S&W, 9mm, and 223. I have never EVER had any problems whatsoever so I just grin and nod when an "expert" tells me to stay away from the stuff and then proceed to buy them out when said expert has left. I don't doubt that there are some guns out there that have problems (some guns are already very picky about what they'll feed) but the "truths" of Tula have been greatly exaggerated.

 

[BUmmedic]

Range update: 100rd 230gr through my XD(M) compact today. Dirty... very dirty. Definitely had to clean the gun more than usual. Shoots low. No feed or eject problems. Issues feeding into mags though. Seems like friction between steel casings and steel mag causes them to "catch" a little. As the final rounds are being fed, they are loose until you shake/tap the mags slightly to release the built up slack the spring. Definitely will try to stay away from them unless abolutely necessary.

 

[Kramer1113]

Range update: 100rd 230gr through my XD(M) compact today. Dirty... very dirty. Definitely had to clean the gun more than usual. Shoots low. No feed or eject problems. Issues feeding into mags though. Seems like friction between steel casings and steel mag causes them to "catch" a little. As the final rounds are being fed, they are loose until you shake/tap the mags slightly to release the built up slack the spring. Definitely will try to stay away from them unless abolutely necessary.

If nothing else an inexpensive way to build up a SHTF supply.

 

[Warbirds]

I've shot Tula in 45 acp, 380 auto, 40 S&W, 9mm, and 223. I have never EVER had any problems whatsoever so I just grin and nod when an "expert" tells me to stay away from the stuff and then proceed to buy them out when said expert has left. I don't doubt that there are some guns out there that have problems (some guns are already very picky about what they'll feed) but the "truths" of Tula have been greatly exaggerated.

It's not that the guns are picky, cheap ammo trends to be underpowered and dirty. That's why it's cheap.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Axeanda45]

Some ammo is cheap only because it is steel cased, warbirds, that does NOT make it underpowered or dirty........ Tula is a perfectly fine ammo to buy, I have NEVER in over 2k rounds had a solitary failure or any problems at all with it. (and I have yet had to clean the firearm...)

 

[Warbirds]

Some ammo is cheap only because it is steel cased, warbirds, that does NOT make it underpowered or dirty........ Tula is a perfectly fine ammo to buy, I have NEVER in over 2k rounds had a solitary failure or any problems at all with it. (and I have yet had to clean the firearm...)

"It works for me, so it's fine"

The calling card if those that are too lazy to even Google something.

Here you go, towards the bottom of the article they specifically discuss tula.

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

Try to educate yourself so others don't have to point out your opinion is worthless.

You get what you pay for, if it works for you fine, but, it is what it is. Cheap ammo.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Axeanda45]

warbirds, I thank you for reminding me why you are on my ignore list... You just replied to me with your opinion (and implying that only yours could be the correct one),while accusing me of giving my own.... wow, just wow.....

 

[Warbirds]

warbirds, I thank you for reminding me why you are on my ignore list... You just replied to me with your opinion (and implying that only yours could be the correct one),while accusing me of giving my own.... wow, just wow.....

So you are too lazy to click a link and read real tests. Not opinions, facts based on tests that anyone can replicate. That is true arrogance and ignorance.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Axeanda45]

No, I actually trust my own tests over whatever article you found that just happens to agree with your opinion....

MY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE trumps your google fu every single day of the week...... deal with it.

 

[gunnerbob]

I love cheap ammo, for the obvious reasons. Perhaps not for CCW but, for my "combat" arms... it's GOLDEN. Cheap ammo has been killing the sh!t out of people for decades, I don't see a reason to not use it in that sort of scenario.

 

[Warbirds]

No, I actually trust my own tests over whatever article you found that just happens to agree with your opinion....

MY REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE trumps your google fu every single day of the week...... deal with it.

How enlightening.

Next time I am asked why an AR15 with a rifle length gas system (like mine) short strokes with Tula I can give them your answer "It go bang" or a true answer of because of low pressure at the gas port it doesn't fully cycle the action.

When someone mentions that the rifle is more dirty after using Tula I can use your answer of "It go bang" or the true answer that steel cases don't expand like brass and it allow crap back into the chamber.

In both cases your real life experience isn't worth printing to use for toilet paper. Now the non arrogant answer is Tula is dirty and underpowered.


The funny thing is that for months when I first joined and read your posts it thought to myself "boy she must be new to guns, because she sure doesn't know much, and she sure is grumpy" The day I realized your username was AxeAndA45 not Alexandra45 I laughed and laughed and laughed.

 

[Kramer1113]

I love cheap ammo, for the obvious reasons. Perhaps not for CCW but, for my "combat" arms... it's GOLDEN. Cheap ammo has been killing the sh!t out of people for decades, I don't see a reason to not use it in that sort of scenario.

That is a "No $hit" Statement and I Like it!

I ran 200 rounds of TulAmmo in 223 today, Dirty Colt AR but not one problem.
Ran 50 in my Ruger 1911, I could feel the powder blowback on my face. I don't think I'll do that again!

 

[Makarovii]

I choose to use Tula ammo, if and when I buy it, in my Eastern Block firearms. It is inexpensive, but dirty. Has anyone heard if the steel case ammo is hard on an extractor? That is an old story I heard years ago but have never heard of any real data on the topic.