5.56 TulAmmo quality

HordesOfKailas · Mar 27, 2016

I've bought a 5.56 upper for general range use and was wondering about the quality of TulAmmo rounds. I've been looking at TulAmmo TA223550 rounds that run $4.99/20. Seems like the cheapest option out there, but I'd like some input before ordering 1000 rounds.

I've seen mixed reviews, some FTF, bad primers, metal shavings stuck in the cartridges, etc. That said, $0.25/rnd is pretty good. Does anyone have experience with TulAmmo? I just don't want to drop a wad of cash and be severely disappointed.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

mopar92 · Mar 27, 2016

Good blasting ammo, make sure you clean the chamber well before switching to brass cased ammo.

rdc · Mar 27, 2016

I've used it with no problems. Not the most accurate but decent plinking ammo. I've switched between it and brass with no problems.

Melnic · Mar 27, 2016

rdc said:
I've used it with no problems. Not the most accurate but decent plinking ammo. I've switched between it and brass with no problems.

Been my experience as well, not had any functional issues but ran no more than 100 in a range trip at a time. There was a big test done where they blasted away for 1,000s of rounds. But I don't heat mine up that much.

zombiehunter · Mar 27, 2016

Basically all I shoot. No complaints.

HordesOfKailas · Mar 27, 2016

Alright then. Seems like it'll fit the bill for range time. Don't plan on using it for hunting or HD, so all I want is reliable, fun ammo. If I don't see any dissenting opinions soon, I'll make my order.

Thanks everyone!

PhoenixRizing · Mar 28, 2016

Lucky gunner did a cool torture test conparing Federal brass to Brown Bear, Wolf, and Tula steel cased 223.

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

The thing I found most interesting was the effect of the bi-metal jacketting prematurely wearing out the barrel compared to the all copper clad Federal rounds. Its a trade off of spending more for ammo or using the savings of steel to potentially having to buy a new barrel sooner.

Bottom line, I run Tula in my Mini 14 all the time. Since I overpaid for my AR during the panic I choose to only run copper clad brass cased rounds through it.

The only problem Ive ever had with Tula was on one outing where I got casings stuck after firing which Ive chalked up to me not getting the gun as clean as it should have been. Otherwise its been great blaster ammo for the range.

HordesOfKailas · Mar 28, 2016

PhoenixRizing said:
Lucky gunner did a cool torture test conparing Federal brass to Brown Bear, Wolf, and Tula steel cased 223.

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

The thing I found most interesting was the effect of the bi-metal jacketting prematurely wearing out the barrel compared to the all copper clad Federal rounds. Its a trade off of spending more for ammo or using the savings of steel to potentially having to buy a new barrel sooner.

Bottom line, I run Tula in my Mini 14 all the time. Since I overpaid for my AR during the panic I choose to only run copper clad brass cased rounds through it.

The only problem Ive ever had with Tula was on one outing where I got casings stuck after firing which Ive chalked up to me not getting the gun as clean as it should have been. Otherwise its been great blaster ammo for the range.

So what you're saying is, if one has a cheap (not bad, but cheap) barrel, using TulAmmo makes sense. You wouldn't advise using it in a high end/expensive build?

HordesOfKailas · Mar 28, 2016

DOUBLE POST. SORRY.

Crab Bait · Mar 28, 2016

It is the least accurate of any ammo that I have used in my AR. This may not be important to you, but it was not accurate for me beyond 50 yards. At fifty, I figure it's on me to be on target, beyond that it is a combination of my ability and the ability of the ammo. Using it at 100, 150, and 200, it was not accurate.

tommy gunn · Mar 28, 2016

I've have no problems using it in my ar's. My ak eats it up all day long. The only issue I had was using it in my plr-16. The extractor would rip the rim of the shell off every shot so every round would get stuck in there. Had to break it down and use a dow rod to knock the shell out. Took 3 times doing that and I quite using it for that gun.

jimbobborg · Mar 28, 2016

Some ranges do magnet tests, so you can't shoot it at every range you go to. Most outdoor ranges don't care, but if you shoot indoors, too, they're going to say no.

Capt Skup · Mar 29, 2016

I bought two 500-round boxes of Tula 5.56 a couple of years ago, super cheap (less than $3 for 20 rounds) at Walmart. Just happened to be sitting on the floor next to the register. Asked the man how much, he scanned it, told me, I told him ring me up. It shoots great, is a bit dirtier, no issues in Mini's or AR's. Nice to have on hand for mass Zombie strike.

omegared24 · Mar 29, 2016

I buy it all the time and works great. No issues at all.

My take on it is for plinking/practice it is great. If you are looking for accuracy you would consider other options. I am also a firm believer that my guns should be able to handle all ammunition. If it can't then it is trash and can't be trusted.

DoubleTap007 · Mar 29, 2016

Only issue is that most ranges do not let you shoot it (indoors).

The wear on the barrel is a concern. But here is my take. Let's say you have a $200 barrel. The cost difference is usually about $.10 a round. So, in shooting 2000 rounds of this ammo, you will have saved $200 bucks, enough to buy a new barrel. Obviously the barrel is good for more than 2000 rounds. So lets say, 10,000 on average. You would have saved $1,000 bucks, so when you get to that road, you can just buy a new barrel or a whole rifle, etc.

HordesOfKailas · Mar 29, 2016

DoubleTap007 said:
Only issue is that most ranges do not let you shoot it (indoors).

The wear on the barrel is a concern. But here is my take. Let's say you have a $200 barrel. The cost difference is usually about $.10 a round. So, in shooting 2000 rounds of this ammo, you will have saved $200 bucks, enough to buy a new barrel. Obviously the barrel is good for more than 2000 rounds. So lets say, 10,000 on average. You would have saved $1,000 bucks, so when you get to that road, you can just buy a new barrel or a whole rifle, etc.

I mostly shoot outdoors, so I'm not too concerned about the indoor range issue.

I saw the Lucky Gunner article discussing barrel wear and TulAmmo (as well as other Russian ammo) did do substantially greater damage. But then again, I have <$600 in my completed AR, so if I have to get a new barrel in a few years, no big deal.

Erno86 · Mar 29, 2016

About two years ago...I had a squib load {primer detonated but powder failed to ignite}, with a bullet stuck in the first lands of the rifling --- using a TulAmmo 7.62x39 in one of my AK's. The gunpowder was clumpy looking.

That incident turned me off to TulAmmo some --- including --- you can't use bi-metal jacketed bullets on steel targets at AGC --- which is a big cash downer for me.

Pwilliams1 · Mar 31, 2016

I haven't used a ton of it, probably only a couple hundred rounds, but it's been fine for range use.

campns · Mar 31, 2016

I personally have issues with ejection and FTF with my AR with it, but I'm running a rifle length 20" bushmaster upper. now 5.56 or PMC brass .223 no issues with FTF.

tkd4life · Mar 31, 2016

HordesOfKailas said:
So what you're saying is, if one has a cheap (not bad, but cheap) barrel, using TulAmmo makes sense. You wouldn't advise using it in a high end/expensive build?

This... I would never put steel cased ammo though my shilen barrel or even my WOA barrels. I've put steel cased ammo though my chrome lined M&P with no problems. Now I can reload for less than $0.25/round with really cheap 55 grain pills so it's a non issue anymore. I don't shoot steel ammo now that I reload.

5.56 TulAmmo quality

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