7.62x39mm gel test: Tula 154 gr soft point

[chopinbloc]

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Tula 154 gr soft point fired from 16" WASR 10/63 into calibrated 10% gelatin.

BB: 592.2 fps, 3.3"


Impact velocity: 2,177
Penetration: 15.8"
Retained weight: 142.5 gr
Max expansion: 0.754"
Min expansion: 0.603"

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Thanks for posting this. The results were pretty close to what i was expecting, but it is good to see some numbers and the gel results.

I have used the Herters 154gr SP ammo on deer once or twice from my Saiga, with good effect. I am pretty sure it's the same stuff as Tula with different labeling. These results match the wound channels I've seen pretty closely.

If you do another test with some of the Herters version of this load, be sure to post it. I'd be interested to see if there is a difference.

Thanks for posting this. Data is good =)

 

[Dr.Rob]

That mushroomed nicely.

 

[dvdcrr]

I really enjoy these posts.

 

[MCgunner]

The stuff works well from a 20" SKS on hogs.

 

[joneb]

I have found the Tula 154sp to be accurate in my Russian SKS, more so than the 123gr stuff.

 

[Gtscotty]

Cool test, these 154 gr always seemed to have pretty good reviews from SKS hunters, the performance looks excellent in your test.

I know you already had a thread gathering requests, but I'd really be interested in seeing some testing of Hornady's SST bullets in .270 or 30-06. I've had good results, but some folks report inconsistent performance, it would be interesting to see exactly what's going on when they hit gel.

Thanks for your efforts on these tests!

 

[chopinbloc]

I'd really like to but I would need more gel. Full power rifle cartridges make huge cavities and push really deep.

 

[nathan]

Thats pretty good. Its almost similar with a .30 30 .

 

[Panzerschwein]

Dang, sure did a number on that gel. I bet it would be a good pig or whitetail load. I'll have to pick up a box of these for my Yugoslavian Zastava made M59/66A1 self-loading carbine.

 

[nathan]

Who has them on stock right now? They are hard to find during hunting season...

 

[MCgunner]

I have found the Tula 154sp to be accurate in my Russian SKS, more so than the 123gr stuff.

Yup, ditto my Norinco. It shaves a good inch off the 123 grain groups at 100 yards. Quite accurate enough for hunting.

Who has them on stock right now? They are hard to find during hunting season...

I got some at www.ammotogo.com a while back, but since then, we had all this Russian embargo stuff going on, so I can't say it's available right now.

Thats pretty good. Its almost similar with a .30 30 .

Yeah, I kinda think of the SKS as a semi auto .30-30, but a good lever gun is lighter and handier in the field. If I had to buy one at today's prices, though, I'd spend a bit more and get a mini 30. The mini 30 is pretty awesome. Some say the mini 30 doesn't feed steel cased ammo, but I know a guy with one and his works just fine with it. No matter, the SKS isn't an UNhandy rifle.

 

[chopinbloc]

I bought this box at Sportsman's Warehouse. They had quite a bit of Tula but the 154 gr seems to move more slowly. The big disadvantage is a different POI if you zeroed for 124 gr.

 

[MCgunner]

I bought this box at Sportsman's Warehouse. They had quite a bit of Tula but the 154 gr seems to move more slowly. The big disadvantage is a different POI if you zeroed for 124 gr.

Depends on the rifle, I guess. Mine shoots it to same POI.

 

[chopinbloc]

At what range? My AK was much lower at 250. It wasva while ago so I could be mistaken, but I want to say it was like a foot or more low.

 

[illinoisburt]

Cabelas carries the Tulammo 762x39 rebranded as Herters. (Can be verified by headstamps.) The 154gr SP are usually in stock for around $7 per box.

 

[chopinbloc]

Are you saying that the Herter's there has Tula head stamps?

A couple caveats on my test: As always, this is an unprofessional test done my a singularly unprofessional man in field conditions and it is not a statistically significant sample size. It's also worth noting that Russian manufacturers change projectiles often. If you intend to use it for defense or game, I recommend firing it into a row of water jugs to verify the recovered bullet looks something like the one in my test. Based on the appearance of the expanded bullet, I think it might have pre-fail cuts on the inside like some of the Russian HP ammo* if the manufacturer switched to a bullet without those cuts, it might not expand at all and there would be no way to tell without cutting it open or firing it into water, wet pack, gel, etc.





*except for the 8M3 bullet, those bullets appear to function just like FMJ, despite the cuts.

 

[illinoisburt]

Yes the Herter's 762x39 steel cased 154 grain SP ammo I bought last month is rebranded russian ammo. It has the Tula headstamp.

 

[chopinbloc]

Cool. Thank you.

 

[MCgunner]

At what range? My AK was much lower at 250.

100 yards. I have no interest in what it does at 250. I have bolt rifles for that in better cartridges. I never tried the 154 at 200, probably should have, but took the scope off the gun by the time I was messing with the 154 stuff. I don't really shoot it that much, into hunting with black powder at the moment.

 

[beeb173]

now if only i could get that ammo to fire out of my son's Rossi single shot. great deer round.

 

[MCgunner]

now if only i could get that ammo to fire out of my son's Rossi single shot. great deer round.

light hammer strikes the problem? The Russian stuff have pretty hard primers. That's a good thing with an SKS, though, as the firing pin has no return spring. With reloads, I see little tiny dents on primers after feeding a round, kinda spooky. Never had a slam fire, though.

 

[moxie]

Nice work. Thanks.

 

[beeb173]

MCGUNNER light primer strikes is exactly it. it's a shame too cause gel tests like this one make me think this is one helluva Michigan deer round.

 

[ssyoumans]

Try the Federal Fusion MSR for 7.62x39. That stuff expands like an HST pistol bullet. Shoots closer to point of aim as well. It would be my choice for deer or hog, followed by Hornady 123gr SST.