Yesterday evening I was in Wal-Mart picking up a few items with my wife before she left for the airport. Given that we were near the sporting goods department (i.e., we were only on the other side of the building), I happened to walk by the ammo display case. In a moment of brilliance, I picked up two boxes of Tula 180 gr. 40 S&W ammo and one box of Tula 230 gr. .45 ACP. All of this ammo was FMJ w/ steel cases.
I fired the .45ACP this afternoon in my S&W 625-2 at 15 and 25 yds. Results were excellent. POI = POA as with any other FMJ ball ammo. Later shooting across a farm pond resulted in normal hits on a medium sized pine stump sticking up at the edge of the water. The .40 S&W ammo was fired in my G-22. Results were again excellent. Function, etc., were identical to that experienced with Fed. Champion and WWB ammo. I did notice that it seemed slightly more difficult to load all 15 rds. in the magazines. Feeding and ejection were fine. Shooting across the pond I was amazed at how the rounds seemed to shoot relatively flat all the way out to the stump (a distance of at least 100 yds.). I usually shoot at a harrow blade that I spray paint with white paint so that I can see my bullet hits at whatever distance I am firing. I noticed that the bullet mark of this Tula ammo was very "black" compared to what I am used to seeing when using WWB or Fed. ammo. I thought that was sort of odd.
Recovered .40 bullets fired against the harrow blade were little more than lead smears on what was left of the bottom of the copper bullet. Recovered .45 bullets were more substantial... about 1 inch across and fairly heavy. I have no chronograph. However, judging from recoil and comparing POI with POA, I suspect that the velocity of these two loads is typical of nominal loadings by Winchester and Federal. Since it is significantly less expensive and since I have many thousands of pieces of brass for reloading, I expect I will be firing more of this Tula ammo until I am able to set up and begin reloading ofr my handguns.
As an aside... I also had my 4" S&W 686-1 in the car with a box of Rem. 125gr. JHP. I had sent my 686 back to S&W to have the bolt spring replaced and while they had it in the shop I also had them do a action job. The results are stunning. The single-action is delightful. The double-action is smooth and perfectly timed. I had just about forgotten how nice it could be to shoot a well fitted S&W revolver. I decide to finish the day by doing some nice double-action shooting at some thick steel plates picked up along a abandoned railroad line. Shooting at 25 yds., it was not difficult to get hit after hit shooting single handed double-action. I think this if I could only have one revolver, it would be very difficult for me to not take the little 686. It is just about perfect.
Hope everyone had fun today. Me... I have to take opportunities for shooting when they come along. Today gave such an opportunity. No telling when another chance will come along. Cheers!
I fired the .45ACP this afternoon in my S&W 625-2 at 15 and 25 yds. Results were excellent. POI = POA as with any other FMJ ball ammo. Later shooting across a farm pond resulted in normal hits on a medium sized pine stump sticking up at the edge of the water. The .40 S&W ammo was fired in my G-22. Results were again excellent. Function, etc., were identical to that experienced with Fed. Champion and WWB ammo. I did notice that it seemed slightly more difficult to load all 15 rds. in the magazines. Feeding and ejection were fine. Shooting across the pond I was amazed at how the rounds seemed to shoot relatively flat all the way out to the stump (a distance of at least 100 yds.). I usually shoot at a harrow blade that I spray paint with white paint so that I can see my bullet hits at whatever distance I am firing. I noticed that the bullet mark of this Tula ammo was very "black" compared to what I am used to seeing when using WWB or Fed. ammo. I thought that was sort of odd.
Recovered .40 bullets fired against the harrow blade were little more than lead smears on what was left of the bottom of the copper bullet. Recovered .45 bullets were more substantial... about 1 inch across and fairly heavy. I have no chronograph. However, judging from recoil and comparing POI with POA, I suspect that the velocity of these two loads is typical of nominal loadings by Winchester and Federal. Since it is significantly less expensive and since I have many thousands of pieces of brass for reloading, I expect I will be firing more of this Tula ammo until I am able to set up and begin reloading ofr my handguns.
As an aside... I also had my 4" S&W 686-1 in the car with a box of Rem. 125gr. JHP. I had sent my 686 back to S&W to have the bolt spring replaced and while they had it in the shop I also had them do a action job. The results are stunning. The single-action is delightful. The double-action is smooth and perfectly timed. I had just about forgotten how nice it could be to shoot a well fitted S&W revolver. I decide to finish the day by doing some nice double-action shooting at some thick steel plates picked up along a abandoned railroad line. Shooting at 25 yds., it was not difficult to get hit after hit shooting single handed double-action. I think this if I could only have one revolver, it would be very difficult for me to not take the little 686. It is just about perfect.
Hope everyone had fun today. Me... I have to take opportunities for shooting when they come along. Today gave such an opportunity. No telling when another chance will come along. Cheers!
