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+--- Forum: Ammunition (https://rdaforum.com/forum-44.html)
+--- Thread: Why I don't use Tula Ammo (/thread-1698.html)
Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 07-24-2015
Tula ammo is cheap and readily available but I don't recommend anyone use it. While most of the rounds maybe fine, they do have a history of having sub-par rounds making it out of the factory. I'm not talking sub-par in a dangerous way but they do let them out of the factory with below the required powder levels, which means that they won't cycle a firearm reliably. This can lead to FTE, FTF, and double feed issues. Tula can also have hard primers that result in a soft firing pin hit as well. I've had or seen these issues personally with Tula. For this reason I don't use it. If you want to use cheaper combloc ammo stick with Wolf, Wolf's WPA brand, Golden Tiger, Red Army Standard, or one of Bear's brands (brown, silver, or golden).
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - BelieveIn308 - 07-24-2015
Good to know too!
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - Brian S - 07-24-2015
Thanks for the info
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - Mike25 - 07-24-2015
It's funny you mention that. I was at Walmart in Wheeling about 30 mins ago and they had that stuff on sale for just under $11.00. I thought about it and decided to go with WWB 100 pack, just under 26.00. They probably had 20 50rd boxes of the 9mm on shelf.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 07-26-2015
For only $4 more for the same round count you made the right choice.
If anyone was wondering here's the difference in the Bear brands:
Brown Bear= polymer coated steel casings, entry level
Silver Bear= zinc plated steel casings, medium level
Golden Bear= brass plated steel casings, high level
Other than that they're identical to one another with similar ballistics. If being used in a weapon other than an AK or SKS, the Silver and Golden Bear may run better in your weapon.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - BelieveIn308 - 07-26-2015
(07-26-2015, 01:38 AM)rwhite135 Wrote: For only $4 more for the same round count you made the right choice.
If anyone was wondering here's the difference in the Bear brands:
Brown Bear= polymer coated steel casings, entry level
Silver Bear= zinc plated steel casings, medium level
Golden Bear= brass plated steel casings, high level
Other than that they're identical to one another with similar ballistics. If being used in a weapon other than an AK or SKS, the Silver and Golden Bear may run better in your weapon.
I asked a couple guys shooting AK's at McMiller, and they were very fond of the Silver Bear brand. But said if you store it for longer term throw in a couple extra moisture absorbers. But this is good to know as well.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 07-27-2015
The Silver Bear is great for target shooting. If doing anything else I prefer the WPA I linked to in my C39 thread. While Bear makes hollow point and soft point ammo, they don't have good expansion in soft tissue or ballistics jelly tests. The WPA hollow points expand much better.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - BelieveIn308 - 07-29-2015
Good to know as well. I am absorbing and learning all sorts of things about Russian weapons and ammo. Have to heard anything about how the spam can 7.62x54R spam can corrosive ammo works in a VEPR?
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 07-29-2015
It should work fine. That would be the surplus stuff that would have been used in the SVD Dragunov DMR, especially if it's the old brass cased stuff. Like I said elsewhere, just have some warm water and/or Windex to pour down the barrel to dissolve and wash out the corrosive salts every 100-150 rounds or so. When you get home give the rifle a good cleaning to get the crap out of the internals.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - fromtheplaines - 07-31-2015
It's that reason I have always hated the corrosive stuff. The worst is the steyr m95 with its finicky bolt, not to mention the surplus ammo is more or less a collectible now. But back to the point, I thought I had problems with tips since my ak wouldn't fire it. But the spring that keeps everything in wore out. I replaced it with a metal plate and all is good
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 07-31-2015
Yeah, those shepard's crook retainer springs really are garbage. The plate is cheap and so much more effective.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - fromtheplaines - 07-31-2015
Yea it sucked going to the range loading it up pulling the trigger and nothing happening. I also bought a Spanish mauser who's firing pin was so wrecked by never being cleaned that it wouldn't even strike the primer.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 08-01-2015
When I bought my son his SKS the gastube was so full of cosmoline and powder residue it was hard to work the action. That was real fun to have to clean.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - BelieveIn308 - 08-01-2015
(08-01-2015, 12:51 AM)rwhite135 Wrote: When I bought my son his SKS the gastube was so full of cosmoline and powder residue it was hard to work the action. That was real fun to have to clean.
An uncut pipe cleaner (generally they come in 3' lengths) and mineral spirits should do the trick... but if it was that fouled with powder residue you might have to soak it in Rubbing alcohol overnight. Mineral spirits is very good at dissolving cosmoline. When I did my Mosin, I used a small rubber cork and filled the barrel, and let it soak overnight. Just remember to cover the pan you are soaking your parts in with aluminum foil, and leave it outside.
RE: Why I don't use Tula Ammo - rwhite135 - 08-01-2015
WD-40 followed by a light bath of Dawn and water is good for getting that gunk out, as well when it comes to removable parts. Before it even came to being able to get to either of those steps I had to take the SKS' cleaning rod and push out the gas piston. After that I took the rod from my shotgun cleaning kit and using the smallest brush pushed out some of the slop that was in there. If you've ever seen a goldfish taking a dump that was what it looked like only on a larger scale.