LuckyGunner has published an article about Tula and Ulyanovsk Ammunition (branded as TulaAmmo in the US market). The article is very interesting and well worth reading.
Tula and Ulyanovsk current president Alexei Solovov I was very surprised to learn that Tula is 100% privately owned. I had always assumed it was part of the Russian government. Another interesting fact is that Tula plan on switching to steel-free bullets for the US market so it can be used at ranges that ban steel-core ammunition.
The fact that they are switching away from putting any steel in their bullets makes this practice-ammo only for me. Instead of doing modifications to increase terminal performance, they are actually making them penetrate LESS to deal with fussy range officers? No thank you. They don’t even use sealant on case necks and primer pockets anymore. I will stick with Golden Tiger, which is real military grade ammo, not commercialized crap. I had 8 duds out of 100 rounds of Ulyanovsk 7.62×39 I shot recently.
On another note, does this mean that Wolf will cease to exist as it becomes consolidated under the TulAmmo brand name?
Pls pls make some none magnetic 5.45×39 so I can shoot competition with a AK-74.
Here’s a dumb question. Why do ranges ban steel core? My local outdoor range does, and I don’t quite understand the rationale. The target stands are made of plywood and the backstop is dirt. What does it matter the type of bullet you are shooting at it?
According to TulAmmo:
– They will be offering two projectile jacket options at the end of 2011. They are keeping their traditional jackets that contain steel inside of the jacket (bi-metal) as their main line and will be introducing a copper/zinc option to meet certain non-magnetic range requirements.
– TulAmmo is currently not using sealant on the primer pockets and case necks.
– Wolf continues to manufacture ammunition at Russian plants other than the Tula and Ulyanovsk factories.
I live in Northern VA and probably the only shooting club that’s not private or crazy expensive to join, and has a 1,000 yard range, the Quantico Shooting Club, prohibits use of about all Soviet calibers “in case” they are steel core. I also don’t understand this.
http://www.quanticoshootingclub.com/rules.php
“The following ammunition is restricted from use until the Marine Corps can complete dispersal area testing and determine the allowable safe usage. These include, but are not limited to:
5.45 x 39 mm
7.62 x 25 mm
7.62 x 39 mm
7.62 x45 mm
7.62 x 54 R
9 x 18 mm”
762,
I don’t understand your concern. How will copper jacketed ammunition penetrate any less than steel? Penetration isn’t lacking with FMJ bullets using either jacket material.
@Bill The issue isn’t with the jacket but the core, Russian ammo tends to be steel core while US made ammo is lead.