To use Tulammo 38 Special or not?
- Thread starter Orion8472
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MIL-DOT
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If you're getting a deal on the stuff, there's no reason not to use it. The Rusky steel-cased stuff is generally considered to burn a little dirtier, but that ain't a serious concern.
The primers are also found by some to be a little hard, but that also isn't a major concern.
Some people avoid steel cased ammo because they think it's going to be harder on the ejector and extractor than brass cases (which obviously doesn't apply to revolvers), but from everything I've read, going back years, the low-grade steel used in these casings is actually softer than the brass casings in higher quality western ammo.
So, again, there's no good reason to avoid it, as long as it's economically competetive.
That being said, Italian-made, brass-cased Perfecta has been running $15 a box at Wal-mart for a good while now, and me and lots of others have found it to be very consistent and clean.
The primers are also found by some to be a little hard, but that also isn't a major concern.
Some people avoid steel cased ammo because they think it's going to be harder on the ejector and extractor than brass cases (which obviously doesn't apply to revolvers), but from everything I've read, going back years, the low-grade steel used in these casings is actually softer than the brass casings in higher quality western ammo.
So, again, there's no good reason to avoid it, as long as it's economically competetive.
That being said, Italian-made, brass-cased Perfecta has been running $15 a box at Wal-mart for a good while now, and me and lots of others have found it to be very consistent and clean.
Barry the Bear
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If it's a basic steel jacket it's going to be very soft and won't hurt your barrel which is much harder than any ammo plating.
The problem I had with that steel-cased ammo was it was difficult to extract from the cylinder once fired. I put a piece of wood over the ejector rod and hit the wood with a mallet to extract the cases. I went through 1,000 rounds and had a few duds. Some rounds fired on subsequent tries, but the main problem was the sticking cases.
BigJakeJ1s
Member
The bullet jacket is copper or copper alloy, same as any other FMJ. The cartridge casing is steel.
Andy
tubeshooter
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I haven't bought too much .38 Special recently, but around $20/box is what I am used to paying.
So - is the savings worth it to you? It mostly comes down to the math. And whether or not (possibly) sticky extraction would bother you.
I personally don't think the ammo will hurt your gun. I have used TulAmmo in some other calibers here and there. I do this understanding that it is not high grade ammo. For $12, I would say just try a box and see. That would answer a lot of questions.
So - is the savings worth it to you? It mostly comes down to the math. And whether or not (possibly) sticky extraction would bother you.
I personally don't think the ammo will hurt your gun. I have used TulAmmo in some other calibers here and there. I do this understanding that it is not high grade ammo. For $12, I would say just try a box and see. That would answer a lot of questions.
Hanzo581
Member
Tulammo gets such a bad rap. It's dirty to shoot and might cause a little extra wear on your extractor....but the money saved shooting it will quickly cover a replacement when and if it fails.
Reefinmike
Member
No, the bullet jacket material is steel with a thin copper plating aka "bimetal jacket" in tula's standard line of steel case ammo. Their line of brass maxx ammo does have a brass jacketed bullet- no steel. I dont think tula makes 38 in their brass maxx line...
Originally Posted by savage24 View Post
My concern with Tula ammo is the steel jacketed bullets. I cannot provide solid evidence that they are harder on barrels, but it seems like a bad idea to me. Just my opinion. I feel better not sending steel down my barrels.
The bullet jacket is copper or copper alloy, same as any other FMJ. The cartridge casing is steel.
Their 45 acp bullets attract a magnet. Its common for russian stuff to be copper plated steel jacket, even pistol.
My concern with Tula ammo is the steel jacketed bullets. I cannot provide solid evidence that they are harder on barrels, but it seems like a bad idea to me. Just my opinion. I feel better not sending steel down my barrels.
The bullet jacket is copper or copper alloy, same as any other FMJ. The cartridge casing is steel.
Their 45 acp bullets attract a magnet. Its common for russian stuff to be copper plated steel jacket, even pistol.
MedWheeler
Member
^^ I haven't tried a "revolver" load, but I have Tula ammo in three 7.62mm loadings, and they all have bullets that will attract a magnet.
Hanzo581
Member
Wouldn't the copper be the part interacting with your rifling?
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