There are CRATES, yes - CRATES of the Kalish round at Academy Stores in our area for ultra cheap (like you mentioned). They are all steel cased (no brass) though. My local indoor range bans all ammo unless it is brass - presumably for recycling/reloading purposes. Any significant accuracy problems anyone out there know of associated with steel cased ammo? I’ve bought a couple hundred rounds of 7.62X39 steel at WalMart but haven’t shot any yet so just asking before I commit to bulk purchases.
7.62x39 ammo - a hasty comparison of cheap ammo
Good Morning Gentlemen (and Ladies),I recently started stockpiling 7.62x39 due to the prices dropping to less than I can effectively load for. To this end, I researched articles and videos in an attempt to determine the best bang for the buck. I'll be firing this stuff out of both the AK and SKS platforms so I wanted something that would let me actually hit what I'm aiming at. I've purchased a couple hundred rounds of Tulammo from Walmart recently ($0.25/round) to keep me from having to chase brass from the few reloads that I still have, but was having difficulty hitting anything past 50 yds. I thought it might be my scope but some videos made me think it may actually be the ammo.Tula is one of those that keeps popping up online for around $0.20/round so before I sunk a lot of money into it, I wanted to be sure.The following is simply an accuracy - somewhat rushed, since the wife called me just before I fired to tell me that a circuit breaker had tripped and she had no power to the kitchen and parts of the bathroom and dining area....I tested (and will confirm this at 100 yds if I get a chance today) 4 different brands of ammo, all selling online for around $0.20/round - (1) Wolf Polyformance 123gn FMJ (2) Tulammo 123gn FMJ(3) White Box 123gn Russian FMJ(4) Golden Tiger 123gn BT FMJ All were fired from a bench at 50 yards, temp was ~50 F almost no wind. All shots hit low - I'd been trying to get a zero with Tulammo, but the groups explain why I probably shouldn't have been doing that 
.[EDIT] - the POA was the diamond nearest each group (the four outer corners)
.[EDIT] - the POA was the diamond nearest each group (the four outer corners)Attachments
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I saw Red Army for 18¢ a round in boxes of 20. You could buy as little or as much as you wanted with free shipping. I passed and may be sorry. No idea on quality. Plus I have around 200 rounds of 7.62x39 and don't own a gun in that caliber.
I’ve got about 200+ rounds of Red Army, too. I’ve shot it, though, and it seems accurate enough for what I bought my Kalish for - plinking/fun target - and home defense stuff. Shoots well, no feed/eject issues. It’s one of about 8 - 10 guns I have staged throughout my house. I decided to not scope it and just use the stock iron sights which, with my eyesight challenges, will keep within 25 yards. I’ve got my distant shooting covered with a couple of scoped rifles including my AR.
154 soft point wolf or silver bear or whatever Russian brand is some good stuff. It's steel cased, doesn't cost much if any more than FMJ and it's a hog killer deluxe! It puts numbers up real close to a good .30-30 load in 150 grains. It's also quite accurate in my scoped SKS. I shot a 2" 100 yard five shot group with it after installing my new 3x9x40 Bushnell on it. I had a 1.5x4.5 on it, then took that off and went with the irons for a while. I'd shot 2.5" groups with it with the iron sights, but the scope helps a lot. Now, 2.5 MOA is great for a hunting rifle that is limited to 100 yards by the terrain. I don't guess it'd be competitive at camp Perry, but I ain't really interested in paper with this rifle. I have my tack driver bolt guns and have won a few bench rest competitions with the old club with 'em.
I've shot a lot of rifles that wouldn't do any better than 2.5 MOA, lever guns and such. Heck, I've had a few bolt guns that couldn't do much better. Granted, they weren't hunting rifles, but the SKS offers a fast second or third shot when I have 6 or 8 pigs to try to get before they can get out of Dodge. And, I consider trying to better 2.5 MOA with a handload possible, but sort of ridiculous for the purposes. :rofl:
Now, 2.5 MOA is great for a hunting rifle that is limited to 100 yards by the terrain. I don't guess it'd be competitive at camp Perry, but I ain't really interested in paper with this rifle. I have my tack driver bolt guns and have won a few bench rest competitions with the old club with 'em. I've shot a lot of rifles that wouldn't do any better than 2.5 MOA, lever guns and such. Heck, I've had a few bolt guns that couldn't do much better. Granted, they weren't hunting rifles, but the SKS offers a fast second or third shot when I have 6 or 8 pigs to try to get before they can get out of Dodge.
And, I consider trying to better 2.5 MOA with a handload possible, but sort of ridiculous for the purposes. :rofl:
I suppose I should have clarified that I was using a 1-6x scope (on 6x - can't see for crap anymore). Not sure I understand what you mean about the difference in brass vs. steel case. In most cases, the steel is more malleable and fragile than the brass and the pressure of a particular powder load on the chamber is going to be the same regardless the construction material of the casing. The chamber is what supports the pressure primarily. The big "issue" that I've heard primarily, is that some people have had difficulty with the steel cased ammo in .223 rem when it doesn't eject correctly. Maybe I'm missing or misunderstanding something ...wouldn't be the first time
I shoot steel cased stuff in .223, when I don't wanna mess with the brass catcher and I'm just plinking, in my AR and it handles 'em just fine.
Now, I don't know about the AK, don't have one, but the SKS is adjustable for elevation by screwing the front sight up or down. I have a special tool for 'em made for the purpose, so I sight my weapons in for POI=POA, I don't give a flip what Vlad Putin thinks about it. :rofl: Besides, they're Norincos and not subject to Russian doctrine. Actually, my SKS rifle has a scope on it again and it's sighted in for 100 yards as that's as far as I can shoot out here in the woods. My SKS paratrooper carbine still has irons and I've made use of my front sight adjustment tool on that one.
I can relate. Had the same problem, went to the eye clinic and found out why.....cataracts. I just got 'em fixed and, MAN, my eyes are better than I was born with! I don't even have to wear glasses anymore. I still reach for 'em out of reflex when I get out of bed.I suppose I should have clarified that I was using a 1-6x scope (on 6x - can't see for crap anymore). Not sure I understand what you mean about the difference in brass vs. steel case. In most cases, the steel is more malleable and fragile than the brass and the pressure of a particular powder load on the chamber is going to be the same regardless the construction material of the casing. The chamber is what supports the pressure primarily. The big "issue" that I've heard primarily, is that some people have had difficulty with the steel cased ammo in .223 rem when it doesn't eject correctly. Maybe I'm missing or misunderstanding something ...wouldn't be the first time
I'd worn glasses since the age of 2. I even wear off the rack sunglasses now! You should have that checked out.
Congratulations! I hadn't seen an official update (may have missed it - been busy) on how the peepers are doing. Great to hear. I probably need to get lasered - my eyes don't focus on the same point anymore and the optometrists just don't seem to have any solutions. I'm making an appointment with an ophthalmologist to see about getting blasted (laser cures anything, I've heardI can relate. Had the same problem, went to the eye clinic and found out why.....cataracts. I just got 'em fixed and, MAN, my eyes are better than I was born with! I don't even have to wear glasses anymore. I still reach for 'em out of reflex when I get out of bed.
!).
Same here. When I don't feel like chasing brass or putting the Caldwell sock on it, I'll just hit WallyWorld and grab a few boxes of Tulammo (works a LOT better than the 7.62x39 for me). Also, the AK pretty much borrowed the SKS rear sight so yessir, elevation adjustableI shoot steel cased stuff in .223, when I don't wanna mess with the brass catcher and I'm just plinking, in my AR and it handles 'em just fine.
Now, I don't know about the AK, don't have one, but the SKS is adjustable for elevation by screwing the front sight up or down. I have a special tool for 'em made for the purpose, so I sight my weapons in for POI=POA, I don't give a flip what Vlad Putin thinks about it. :rofl: Besides, they're Norincos and not subject to Russian doctrine. Actually, my SKS rifle has a scope on it again and it's sighted in for 100 yards as that's as far as I can shoot out here in the woods. My SKS paratrooper carbine still has irons and I've made use of my front sight adjustment tool on that one.
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