AMMO QUESTION

[KW]

Has anyone tried either the Russian TulAmmo or the Silver Bear ammo? I see some in a catalog that’s a VERY good price on the .40 caliber, about half of ‘normal’. It’s non-corrosive. . . . but non-reloadable.

[Serk]

Caution - Holy War Topic!

Just my personal philosophy, but I use the steel cased com bloc stuff in my com bloc firearms that were meant for it, and use ammo with a softer metal case for my non-com bloc firearms.

The thinking is thus - A tighter tolerance firearm, the case is going to be rubbing hard against the chamber. If the case of the ammo is a harder metal then the weapon was designed for it could (COULD) scrape away bits of the chamber, whereas a softer metal like what the firearm was designed for (I.E. Brass) would give way instead of harming the chamber.

This is just theory, and yeah, I know there are people who've fired tens of thousands of rounds of steel cased ammo through their quality western arms, but I'm not willing to feed cheap ammo through a $500 or $1000 or whatever firearm.

My AK's, or Makarov's? Steel cased all day long...

My XDs or AR15's? Brass only...

Just my opinion...

[Jess from VA]

I am in agreement with Serk on this.  Generally, the risk to a high dollar firearm is not worth the ammo savings.  (revolvers are more able to shoot about anything than autos) 

However, one thing I have found useful in shopping ammo (especially for a particular firearm) is to read customer reviews.  You go to Cheaper-Than-Dirt, Midway, Cabelas, Aim Ammo, Palmetto State Armory, Wideners, and after selecting a particular ammo, you may find 30-100 customer comments.....and while some guys don't know what they are talking about, others clearly do. 

For instance, while I have avoided soviet ammo for my ARs, it appears a number of people use it.... especially Silver Bear which apparently does not have the lacquer or polymer coating on the shells, which gomms up the action in short order.   I still haven't ever used any, but I have been tempted, based on numerous customer reviews.   

[RoadKill]

It's good stuff for stockpiling and ammo is always a good investment IMHO but I agree with Serk and Jess otherwise.

[KW]

Thanks guys. All good points. The TulAmmo is the pistol ammo. I had never heard of it. I've heard good things about the Silver Bear stuff though. It's Berdan primed, but does have a 'coated' case.

I was also thinking about some 7.62 x 39 for my SKS. It's called Ulyanosk (Never heard of it?) They have sealed tins (FMJ 122 grain) of 640 for a great price as well. It's Boxer primed and a weird 'copper over steel jacket' '(non-reloadable.) Still, I thought having a couple of them in the back of the closet would be a good idea. My SKS is a Russian I purchased back in. .  . 90 or 91 I think. I wish I would have picked up about 6 of them. They were so stinking cheap then. Now, the 'Russian' ones are through the roof on price. The thing is solid as a brick; way superior to the 'knock-offs' and even the Warsaw ones.

[Jess from VA]

I was also thinking about some 7.62 x 39 for my SKS.

KW, I would shoot about anything in my SKS.  As Serk said, shoot soviet (block) ammo in Soviet (block) guns (here there is no reason to spend a lot more for better ammo.... unless you were planing to take deer with it).  Tolerances in SKS's are not tight. You likely cannot gum one up, but if hundreds of rounds were to be fired, not a bad idea to have your cleaning rod, solvent and patches with you for a mid-shoot clean (If necessary).   

The bargain Tula  ammo is likely very dirty, and you may get some rounds that won't fire after several primer strikes (careful with those), but you will not hurt the SKS.  Depending on timing and price, one way to go is to order a tin, and immediately get out and shoot some.  If it is satisfactory, then get on the phone and buy 5-10 more tins.  Wolf ammo is better than Tula, and still a bargain.

[Kymbo]

once used "wolf" brand ammo(russian made) in my .308 remington .Steel case and full metal jacket projectile.great price but every round had a different point of impact .Ill stick to my reloads from now on

[Marcel]

Amen on the Wolf Steel Cased Ammo.

9mm Ruger did not like it.

Gave it away to whoever would take it with a warning.

AL

Tried some Egyptian 9mm 147 Grain and it was a disaster.

When it sounds too good , you know what they say.

[Brad]

I was also thinking about some 7.62 x 39 for my SKS.

KW, I would shoot about anything in my SKS.  As Serk said, shoot soviet (block) ammo in Soviet (block) guns (here there is no reason to spend a lot more for better ammo.... unless you were planing to take deer with it).  Tolerances in SKS's are not tight. You likely cannot gum one up, but if hundreds of rounds were to be fired, not a bad idea to have your cleaning rod, solvent and patches with you for a mid-shoot clean (If necessary).   

The bargain Tula  ammo is likely very dirty, and you may get some rounds that won't fire after several primer strikes (careful with those), but you will not hurt the SKS.  Depending on timing and price, one way to go is to order a tin, and immediately get out and shoot some.  If it is satisfactory, then get on the phone and buy 5-10 more tins.  Wolf ammo is better than Tula, and still a bargain.

You have to be careful around here with any of the imported stuff.  Some of it is steel core and  has sparked some fires out in the sage brush.  When the wind is blowing and a fire sparks 100 yards down range there is no way to get to it before it gets out of hand.  The County charges you for the expense of fighting the fire so I am afraid to shoot the steel core that I still have left.

[Pete]

I have several customers who have used the steel case stuff.
Everyone had issues, mostly fail to eject, fail to feed.
All have stopped using it.

I personally will not use it. Just FYI.

[T.P.]

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/BrowseAmmoIndex.aspx

Have you tried Sportsmans guide for your ammo needs?

[Jess from VA]

Again guys, I was talking about using Tula and Wolf in a Russian or Chinese SKS (or AK), not a Ruger,  Remington, Winchester, et al.

[RoadKill]

I have a Ruger P95DC that eats anything I feed it ! Wolf just dirties the action but she still goes BANG every time. No two guns are alike. I have had cheap guns that were accurate and dependable and had expensive CRAP (and Vice-Versa ) ! That is why we have gun shows,to thin the herd! YMMV

[Brovietnam]

My AR-10 ripped tha base off some .308 Bear ammo.  I won't use it again.

[torch1972]

I use anything in my AK 47 but Wolf played havoc on my Springfield TRP Operator,jammed,could'nt fully fill the magazine and also had issues with Wolf with my Sig 220 match,also with the mags and jamming.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I run the steel case stuff in my mini-thirty, 30 round clips and cheap ammo just go together and it's not an accurate gun anyway. That's the only gun I run it in though.

[Sorcerer]

I bought 200 rounds of 45APC Tulammo not realizing (not looking carefully) that it was steel cased. My XD45 became a one shot. The next round would not move up in the mag after first round went in to battery or being fired. That was on 4 mags. Tried them in my PT1911. Seams single stack is the only way I am going to get rid of them.