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What is caseless ammo?

Caseless ammo is a different approach to the design of ammunition in which all the components including the propellant and projectile are merged into a single block.

The concept has been around for centuries but it became more practical with modern chemical engineering

There is no case. The primer and propellant are not separate. Instead, they are one unit.

The idea is that nothing is left in the chamber once the bullet is fired. Either the propellant is external and completely burns away or the primer and propellant are internal and are carried away with the bullet.

This is done for simplicity, reducing the weight and allowing more projectiles to be carried. But caseless ammo is still more of a dream than reality.

What’s the point of Caseless ammo?

The main idea behind caseless ammunition is the reduction of weight. Military units have to carry lots of heavy gear. They are always looking for ways to reduce weight to carry more or to move faster.

If a soldier could carry more ammo with less weight they could move faster and be more effective.

Is Caseless Ammunition Feasible?

Well, the use of caseless ammunition for small arms has not really taken off. Here are a few examples of caseless ammunition and weapons that never panned out:

The Rocket Ball

In 1848 an inventor named Walter Hunt created the rocket ball. This was one of the first types of caseless ammunition. It was basically a bullet with a hollow in the end. This hollow was filled with propellant and later a primer was added.

It worked and could be fed by a magazine. The downside is the bullet could not hold enough propellant to be powerful. It was considered to be slower than the .25 ACP.

Modern Weapons

The first modern weapons using caseless ammo were developed around the World War II era by Germany and also later by Russia but they never gained much popularity.

The Heckler & Koch G11

During the ’70s and ’80s Heckler & Koch created the G11.

The G11 fired special caseless ammo that was square-shaped instead of round. It was called a propellant block. Being square-shaped allowed the magazine to use all available space to hold more rounds.

The G11 had many problems to overcome, one of which is called “cook off”. Ammunition cook off happens when the temparature inside the chamber is so high the propellant ignites before being fired by the shooter.

In some cases this would set off a chain reaction where the remaining caseless rounds would continue firing without pulling the trigger. In more extreme cases the gun could explode causing serious injury or even death.

When using typical cased ammunition, the case absorbs and carries away much of the heat when it is ejected from the gun. When the case is ejected the chamber is exposed to air. This also helps to cool things down.

With a caseless rifle, there is nothing to eject so the chamber never opens, and the case does not carry away the heat. Therefore the heat just continues to build up.

This is especially a problem for automatic guns with high sustained rates of fire. Engineers had to use a heat sink to reduce temperature. This adds more weight and complexity.

The more complex a weapon is the more points of possible failure. This is not ideal for military units as they need reliable guns that don’t break down.

What is a Caseless rifle?

A caseless rifle fires caseless ammunition. They do not have an ejection cycle because the bullet exits the gun and the powder is all burned up. But this does not mean they are less complex.

The Heckler & Koch G11 caseless rifle was one of the most complex rifles ever made. The system required to load a propellant block was very different to that of a normal rifle. Although it is reported that the G11 was actually quite reliable.

Many manufacturers have tried but none of these caseless rifles ever gained widespread use or large-scale production. They were all experimental or prototypes used by military units for testing purposes.

How Does Caseless Ammunition Work?

Most of the ammo we use today is cased. This means there is a primer placed at the back of the cartridge, and a bullet seated in front. The case holds everything together until the round is shot from the gun.

This allows for more consistent performance as it keeps everything properly lined up as well as allowing for proper pressure buildup so that the bullet can achieve sufficient velocity to hit whatever it is you’re aiming at.

But caseless ammunition is a lot different. There is no case holding everything together.

So how does it work?

Well, there have been several different approaches tried.

The H K G11 used an external propellant block. The primer and bullet were packed inside the propellant block.

Most modern caseless ammunition has a primer similar to cased ammunition. When you pull the trigger a hammer hits the primer causing the propellant to ignite. This explosion pushes the bullet down the barrel just like normal.

There have been other methods tried such as the Daisy V/L. The Daisy V/L was a very interesting little gun that used air heated to 2,000 degrees to ignite the propellant.

It used a .22 caliber bullet with propellant stuck to the back. It did not have a primer. When you pulled the trigger, the compressed air was pushed through a small hole which caused the air to heat up very quickly.

The propellant ignited and a shot was fired.

Unfortunately the ATF considered this a firearm. Since Daisy was only licensed to make airguns and did not want to become licensed for firearms they had to discontinue the V/L.

Does caseless ammo work?

Well, that’s a good question! Yes, it does function like ammunition should. It goes bang! But it does not meet enough of the requirements of a modern military unit. Therefore it has never gained widespread popularity.

A major drawback to caseless ammunition is that it does not hold up to adverse conditions well. The primer and propellant are exposed to the elements. Soldiers must survive in harsh weather and terrain. They need ammo that can survive in those conditions as well.

What is caseless ammo good for?

The whole idea behind a caseless cartridge is less weight. Less weight means a soldier can carry more ammo.

But this is just theoretical since it has never really been put to use. Another theoretical benefit is lack of the need to eject a case. This means a firearm could be less complex because it has fewer steps to complete.

Regular ammunition has an ejection process which helps to reduce heat in the chamber. A caseless rifle or grenade launcher builds up way too much heat potentially causing ammo to cook off.

In the case of the H K G11 it was actually more complex because of other steps that had to be added to handle the caseless ammunition.

Internal propellant caseless ammunition

A caseless round using an internal propellant is basically a bullet with a hollowed out end. The propellant and primer is stored in the hollow. It has special vents that allow the powder to propel the bullet forward.

Think of this type of cartridge case like a rocket. The gas vents out the back propelling it toward the target.

External propellant caseless ammunition

A solid propellant can be used externally. This solid propellant would be stuffed with a primer and a bullet.

The H K G11 rifle famously used a heat resistant square ammo. This solid block of propellant was then externally ignited. This would propel the bullet away from the gun.

What are the Benefits of Caseless Ammo?

The biggest advantage of using caseless ammunition is that it reduces weapon weight because there is nothing needed to hold the cartridge together except the propellant and bullet.

This is in contrast to traditional rounds where you need both an outer metal casing and an inner propellant material. This also means that you don’t need a heavy machine gun tripod or other large weapon mounts for stability.

Ammunition size is another benefit of caseless ammo because it can provide the same power as other cartridges while being much smaller.

This means that weapons could be made to have a higher rate of fire without having to increase the size of the weapon.

With this reduced size you would only need something like an assault rifle instead of a full out machine gun. This allows soldiers to carry more ammunition and not have to worry about carrying heavier, bulkier weapons into battle.

Although currently caseless ammo isn’t used too often because it hasn’t been perfected yet, it is still a promising technology for the future.

Companies are trying to make it more reliable, but many setbacks need to be figured out before it can be put into real-world use.

Caseless ammo disadvantages include

The technology isn’t advanced enough to be used in every weapon and cartridge that needs it.

The use of caseless ammo can increase the chamber temperature, which sometimes causes a “cook off”. Ammunition cook off is an event where the primer will ignite from the heat caused by normal firing.

This would possibly cause an explosion within the gun and could injure or even kill someone. This effect does not happen all of the time. Sometimes it will happen to rifles, sometimes not.

The fillers inside the cartridges are very flammable and would be dangerous in case of fire or an explosion. The caseless rounds are more dangerous to use in enclosed spaces because of the lack of a barrier between the gunpowder and your face when using this type of ammunition.

Caseless ammmo can easily get contaminated and rendered useless through exposure to moisture or dirt while having no barrier between the ammunition and the elements.

There are no caseless guns on the market that are for sale so if you have this type of ammunition you would either have an experimental firearm meant for testing or be using some form of illegally created weaponry.  

There are many disadvantages to caseless ammunition that just won’t be solved anytime soon.

It may have seemed like a great idea, but it isn’t as practical as current ammo technology at this point.  

Conclusion

I love new technology, especially when talking about guns and ammunition. But I’m afraid widespread use of caseless ammunition is a long way off.

Even if it did come to fruition I can’t see the use to civilians. The reduced weight would be great for military use. But normal people don’t carry around that much ammunition while out on a hike.

So here’s to all those inventors who are trying to perfect caseless ammuntion. Keep at it!

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

What is TMJ Ammo?

TMJ stands for “Total Metal Jacket” Ammo. It is a specific type of ammunition that coats the lead projectiles completely with copper. FMJ ammo or full metal jacket bullets only have a copper coating on the top. If you pry an FMJ round out of the cartridge you will see the exposed lead core at the base.

TMJ Ammo is a popular choice for those who require low lead exposure. Some shooting ranges only allow TMJ bullets because they are concerned about lead exposure in the air.

But is TMJ ammo really better than FMJ ammo when it comes to lead exposure? Let’s find out.

Let us first understand how lead gets in the air when you fire your weapon. When you fire a gun, lead is vaporized from the base of the bullets and exits through the barrel (fragmentation). Some of the lead is burned up in the air (pyrolysis) and some of it is deposited directly on the ground (primary deposition).

What percentage of lead is burned in the air vs. deposited on the ground?

The percentage varies depending on how much smokeless powder you are using to fire your weapon. If you use more smokeless powder, you will get more fragmentation and pyrolysis.

What are the benefits of TMJ over FMJ?

The benefits of ammunition that use a total metal jacket design include:

1. Reduced lead exposure to shooters and those in the vicinity of the shooting activity. There is 33% more surface area on FMJs for exposure to lead.

2. Improved feeding in autos, semi-automatics, or any firearm with an automatic ejection system.

3. Reduced barrel fouling due to the low surface friction of the TMJ bullet against the bore.

4. Improved accuracy and consistency of bullet performance since the bullets are more uniformly manufactured.

5. Enhanced bullet integrity – it resists deformation, even when chambered or fired in a dirty firearm.

Is TMJ ammo bad for your gun?

No, TMJ bullets are actually cleaner for your guns.

When you shoot normal jacketed or plated bullets, the exposed base leaves lead particles in your barrel. TMJ bullets are completely coated on the back, so they leave no lead traces in your barrel. This is called “bore safe” ammo.

When you shoot traditional ammo, it leaves behind scrapes of metal (called “trim”) in your firing chamber and barrel. These pieces also end up in your receiver and firing pin channel .

TMJ doesn’t cause this problem since there’s nothing to scrape off inside the chamber when it fires.

For very high volume shooters, who may shoot hundreds or thousands of rounds at a time, this can really make a difference to their gun.

What is the difference between FMJ and TMJ?

FMJ stands for Full Metal Jacket, which is a type of ammunition used in both pistols and rifles. FMJ bullets are the most common type of bullet.

It has a copper jacket that encloses a lead core except for the base. There is exposed lead at the base. FMJ rounds are good for target practice because they are accurate and have average stopping power.

TMJ stands for total metal jacket. These bullets have a total metal jacket including the base of the bullet. This type of bullet reduces barrel fouling and doesn’t leave lead particles in the air due to their construction.

Indoor ranges love TMJ ammo. It is better for their patrons and way better for people who work in that atmosphere all the time.

Is TMJ ammo good for self-defense?

No, total metal jacket bullets are not good for self defense. They will penetrate an attacker’s body and hurt innocent people behind the attacker.

Always use jacketed hollow points for self defense. This type of round will expand upon impact which means more stopping power. They will also be more likely to stay inside the attacker’s body and not hit an innocent bystander.

Is tmj ammo good?

Yes, TMJ rounds are great for target practice. They are especially good for indoor shooting ranges.

TMJ bullets have a lead core that is completely coated in copper. This means the harmful lead dust cannot escape into the air.

You probably won’t be able to tell a difference in the way a TMJ bullet shoots compared to an FMJ bullet.

Effects of lead dust in the air

The following effects can be observed: Respiratory and nervous irritation, emphysema, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Lead dust in the air leads to agitation, irritability and insomnia. The lead dust passes through the alveoli of the lungs into the blood stream where it is distributed through out the body.

The nervous system becomes agitated due to this. Children get hyperactive at such times which could lead to anti-social behavior later on in life.

There are many cases where children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) etc., after measuring their Pb levels. Such children may not be able to control any oral urges and they tend to put things inside their mouth without even thinking about it.

Here are some links to TMJ ammo at Lucky Gunner

9mm TMJ bulk ammo

Blazer TMJ ammo

Speer Lawman TMJ ammo

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

What is Non Typical Ammo?

Federal Non-Typical Ammo is a new and innovative ammunition type that is designed for deer hunting. This ammo features bullets with the classic shape of the round nosed design but they are designed to fly straighter than traditional rounds.

The following sizes are available:

• 30-06 Springfield
• 450 Bushmaster
• 308 Win
• 30-30 Win
• 7mm-08
• 350 Legend
• 7mm Rem Magnum
• 270 Win

Features of Federal Non Typical Ammo

The flight of these rounds is not affected as much by crosswinds; they fly straight out of the barrel and into their target.

One of the most important advantages this ammunition offers is that you can go farther distances without worrying about losing accuracy.

These rounds also offer increased penetration on your targets and retain more energy than traditional rounds at long distances.

Another feature of this ammunition is that it is lead-free and offers a very low flash, so you can hunt in dense forests without worrying about scaring away your prey.

It also creates less of a mess while out hunting. The reduced noise and lack of residue help ensure that your trip outside will be clean and easy to clean up after.

The Non Typical line has become popular because they use an optimized soft point bullet to create consistent lethal wound channels.

These cartridges are designed so there is little damage to the meat, but are still effective for taking down game.

Federal Non Typical rounds are also lead-free and produce less residue, so they are better for the environment around you.

Consistent Lethal Wound Channels

If you want to know why consistent lethal wound channels are important when hunting, it is because they will ensure that the animal dies cleanly and quickly.

When an animal sustains a fatal wound, it is important that they die in the most humane way possible. For ethical reasons alone, hunters want to make sure this happens when they are in the field.

Unfortunately, wind plays a role in many hunting scenarios. Often times it will influence the path of the bullet and cause it to deviate from course.

Many long range rifle shooters understand how important it is to take wind into account when making a long range shot. All too often, hunters will blame their equipment rather than admitting that wind was a factor when a critical shot fails to land precisely where intended due to weather conditions at the time of firing.

Optimized Soft Point Bullet

An optimized soft point bullet is one of the most efficient bullets on the market. They are designed with a flat nose and special coating, which enables them to expand on impact for incredible stopping power. The SP round puts up less resistance than round nose or hollow point rounds.

Small arms ammunition manufacturers are constantly researching and experimenting to develop the most effective soft point bullet, but that`s not all. The bullet can be of various weight, dimensions and density (depending on the game), while it must always deliver devastating results upon impact.

Bullet drop is also more noticeable with smaller calibers like .22LR because of low fired velocity and small cartridge size. Especially when we speak about rifles, where aerodynamic lift isn’t a factor at all.

When a round leaves the barrel its course may be slightly different than what the scope shows you.

What is precision drawn Federal brass?

Precision drawn federal brass is a type of metal that has been drawn to specific tolerances to become the body of a cartridge.

For instance, when looking at a fired cartridge for crimped in primer brass you will notice that the bottom is flat. If this same case was drawn with no outside force into a belled shape you would have drawn brass.

A lot of reloaders cannot tell the difference between drawn and extruded cases just by looking at them but the two are completely different. Drawing does not add to or take away from any dimensions of the brass.

We all know that there are many ways to make almost anything out of metal and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Extrusion is one method of making metal into various shapes such as tubing (copper water pipe) and wire (nails made from steel).

When we think about ammunition we automatically think about the projectile being made of metal also. Therefore, there must be a way to do this without having to form it into a new shape every time.

One method is known as “drawing” which is where you use force on something to stretch it out or decrease its size. For instance if you grab both of your hands together with the fingers intertwined and essentially stretch them apart they will become more elongated than before they were stretched.

This is because of the surface area of your hand increasing perpendicularly from the direction that you are pulling. This movement creates more surface area on an object than what was present before pulling.

This same principle is applied to the metal of our case: we are taking the metal of the case and pulling it into a smaller shape. This process is done many times over to achieve the correct size of the cartridge.

What makes a deer non typical?

A non typical deer has asymmetrical antlers. It can have a different number of points on each side or different sizes of points. A trophy hunter is usually looking for a typical deer with perfect symmetry and the same number of points on each side.

What is an antler?

Antlers are made of bone and shed each year. They look like tree branches with many points, or tines (singular: tine), growing out of them.

Some deer species’ antlers grow into one large point called a main beam, with smaller “tines” coming off of it.

They are dead bone, like our finger- and toe-nails. These tines are covered in a sheath known as velvet, which supplies blood to the developing antler for growth.

Once the antler reaches its full size, this supply of blood stops and the velvet dies away so that it can be rubbed off by bucks.

Who Makes Non Typical Ammo?

Federal Ammunition makes non typical ammo. Federal is owned by a parent company called Vista Outdoor. It is located in Anoka Wisconsin and employs 1,500 people. They are one of the largest manufacturers of ammunition in the world.

Read our article about the most popular brands of ammo.

Is federal non typical ammunition any good?

Yes, Federal Non Typical ammunition is excellent for harvesting deer.

Federal Non Typical ammunition is designed to be as uniform as possible from bullet to bullet within a given box. This uniformity leads to consistant accuracy and performance.

The uniform nature of Federal Non Typical ammunition also allows for great penetration and quick kills on deer sized game animals. Another great aspect of Federal Non Typical ammunition is the affordable price for this premium hunting product.

As with any non typical ammunition, Federal Non Typical ammo needs to be placed precisely in the vital zone of the animal to ensure a humane kill.

Federal non typical ammunition for sale

You can buy these accurate hard hitting bullets directly from Federal: https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/non-typical/

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

What is Remanufactured Ammo?

Remanufactured ammo is ammunition that has been reassembled and recharged with gunpowder. It is essentially “reloaded” or “handloaded” ammo produced at scale in a factory.

Re-manufactured ammunition can be cheaper than factory new. Although it may not work well in all firearms. Therefore, you might want to try the same brand of new ammo in your weapon before using the reman version.

If you’re going to use hand load or re-manufacture a cartridge then please follow these safety precautions: – Never alter a military round by adding more powder, changing bullet types, altering primer type, etc.

Some re-manufactured loads have been known to have more powder than the original load that it came from. This can cause major issues while firing these re-manufactured cartridges in some firearms.

How does remanufactured ammunition work?

Remanufactured ammunition reuses spent or fired shells, which are collected at shooting ranges. The shell casings are collected and analyzed to see if they can be used again.

All components of the remanufactured ammo are inspected for damage and replaced if necessary.

The remanufactured cartridge is then reassembled with brand new bullets, powder charges, and primer caps. Identifying marks on the remanufactured cartridge casing that show it has been re-loaded are stamped into the metal with a special tool.

A remanufacturer buys primed empty cartridges (shell casings) from bulk suppliers who sell cases by weight–typically about $100 per 1000 9mm Luger cases; but the price per case depends on the remanufacturer’s order size.

The remanufacturer uses a re-loadable case trimmer to ream out the interior of the cartridge or cases in preparation for re-loading. Many re-loaders use a factory crimp remover tool to remove these crimps from reformed military cases.

A primer pocket reamer is used to clean up and ream out any burrs inside the primer pocket before priming again.

An automatic prime system ensures that each new cartridge casing can be placed on a press automatically and loaded with ammunition components in one go.

Is remanufactured ammo safe?

The remanufacturing process requires the ammo to be reassembled and re-tested, as well as re-loaded using brand new powder and components.

Remanufactured rounds can be safer than reloading your own because manufacturers put the cartridges through much more stringent tests. This happens via expensive equipment that most individuals cannot afford.

After reassembly, all remanufactured ammo goes through additional quality control testing before being sold again.

Is remanufactured ammo good?

Since the early days, manufacturers and consumers have been asking if remanufactured (reloaded) ammunition is safe to shoot in their guns. This question may be partially due to some misconceptions about the process involved in making new ammunition. It is also because of a lack of understanding what “remanufactured,” or reloaded ammunition really is.

Remanufacturing involves taking a cartridge that would normally be sold as an empty shell with no primer, powder, or bullet and then disassembling it for inspection before completely cleaning and polishing all its components. The case gets inspected for cracks and condition. After inspection all foreign material such as dirt, oil, or corrosion are removed from inside the case. The primer pocket and flash hole are also checked for damage or obstructions.

The bullet is cleaned and polished before getting checked for proper dimensions and weight. If the cartridge passes inspection, it is re-assembled with a new powder charge and bullet, but not necessarily to factory load specifications.

Depending on who is doing the remanufacturing, this process can lead to cartridges meeting most of the specifications of what would be considered factory new ammunition. This type of quality control limits possible sources of problems in your gun when you shoot reloaded ammunition.

Can I sell remanufactured ammo?

We won’t get involved in legalities, but this is our opinion: No, you can’t sell remanufactured ammo. At least not if it’s remanufactured by a private party/home reloader.

If you really want to be in the business of selling reloaded ammo you will need to be properly licensed and have a good insurance policy. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble.

Most likely the licensing process and insurance costs will price you out of the business to start with.

Can you reload remanufactured ammo?

Yes, provided the cartridges are still in good condition. Empty cartridges can easily be reloaded 4 or 5 times and sometimes even as much as 20 times. It takes a trained eye to know when a cartridge should be thrown out.

Remanufacturing ammunition can save you a lot of money.  But be aware of what you are buying because not all remans are created equal.   If someone tells you or advertises to you that their remans are just as good as factory new rounds then run away.  It simply isn’t true.

Can I use Remanufactured ammo in a Glock?

Sure, there is nothing wrong with it. Reman ammo is just like shooting reloads but the manufacturer is almost certainly going to have tighter tolerances than individual reloaders.

If you want to find out for sure, just test the pistol with Reman ammo after having used your reloads. If it malfunctions then there’s something wrong with either your gun or your handloads and not necessarily the remanufactured ammo.

At least one organization (Pirate Shooting Club in Germany) is using G19s and G26s exclusively loaded with Reman and they report no problems at all.

Here is our article answering the question: Is it bad to dry fire a Glock?

Remanufactured ammo vs reloaded ammo

When it comes to remanufactured ammunition, many consumers are concerned about the quality of the product. While there’s nothing wrong with being cautious before purchasing a new type of ammo, you may be surprised to learn that most remanufactured ammunition is made up of cartridges that have been used only once before.

This means they’ve already been fired from a customer’s gun – hence the term “remanufactured” – meaning that they were proven to work at least once. The manufacturer also takes care to resize and reshape any cartridges with deformities.

Reloading has now become increasingly popular with shooters who are looking for relatively inexpensive ways to feed their guns. The idea behind this practice is simple: take spent cases, discard anything beyond the brass itself, and fill them back up again with fresh, newly manufactured gunpowder and lead or copper, depending on the caliber of the cartridge.

However, just like with remanufactured ammunition, many shooters are unsure whether or not it’s okay to shoot reloaded ammo. Let’s discuss this topic more to clear up some of the confusion.

Some people are worried about reloaded ammunition. It might not be the same as a new cartridge because it was made by hand instead of by a machine. But most major manufacturers test fire their original cartridges through a sophisticated electronic firing process before discarding them for resale or refurbishing them for a second use.

Remanufactured ammo companies

Here are a couple of trusted places to get remanufactured ammo:

Freedom Munitions

Federal Armament

Federal Armament has a great explanation about their quality control procedures for every round they sell.

Fedarm Remanufactured Ammo Review

Ammunition is a limited resource, and stockpiles are dwindling. This means that ammo is going to become more and more difficult to find. This will gradually raise prices on the consumer end, and eventually, we may even see some shortages (if we haven’t already).

But there’s another way to get your hands on ammunition: repurposed casings from gun ranges. The process of recycling the metal from old casings into new ammunition is called “remanufacturing.” In my area, most remanufactured products are sold by an innovative company called fedArm.

The concept of recycled ammo has been around for many years now, but fedArm was one of the first companies I have seen who combines low pricing with quality products.

I’ve tried their 9mm remanufactured ammo for a while now, and I think it’s time to give an honest review of my findings.

One thing you should know about fedArm’s product is that they strictly adhere to all safety standards for ammunition production. This comes as no surprise because they sell to military personnel, who would not accept anything less than compliant ammo.

What I’ve found over my time testing this product is that it burns relatively cleanly, doesn’t seem to have an issue with chambering, feeds properly, and ejects without any problems.

The accuracy of the rounds is just fine, although they are not quite as accurate as some other range-quality ammunition I’ve tried (like Winchester White Box). But you’re getting what you pay for: if you want top-quality ammo, you need to pay top dollar. And I think we all know that solution is not practical for most people.

All in all, I am pleased.

How much remanufactured ammo should cost?

It seems like factory new ammunition prices are always going up. There is always a panic these days driving prices ever higher and making your favorite rounds hard to find.

You can expect to save between 15% to 20% when you purchase remanufactured ammo. That might not seem like a lot but it really adds up if you shoot all the time.

Sometimes you can find good deals on brand new Tula ammo at Lucky Gunner that come close to matching remanufactured prices.

Here is a great deal on 9mm Tulammo on Lucky Gunner.

Summary

So if you want to save some cash and shoot more often I think reman ammo is a great way to go. As long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer you should not have any problems.

Reman ammo is still factory ammo and should fire great in most of your guns.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

Over the years, I have tried many different brands of ammunition in order to find the best one to use at the range, and I have ended up deciding that Tulammo is great for plinking.

I go shooting as often as I can. Now, the number one problem I have when hitting the range is that ammo can be so expensive. The cheap price is a huge plus when it comes to buying Tulammo, but it is not the whole reason to purchase this ammo.

History of Tulammo

The company that makes Tulammo is known as the Tula Cartridge Works, and it is one of the largest manufacturers of small arms ammunition.

The company was founded in 1880 when Emperor Alexander II proclaimed that an ammunition factory was to be built in Tula. It only took the company two years to hit the production capacity of over 30 million cartridges with over 25% of the ammunition being used by the Russian Army during World War I.

In World War II, the Tula Cartridge Works ended up being one of the biggest suppliers for the Russian Army.

Tulammo is now one of the best-known brands of ammunition all around the world, especially in its home country of Russia. This brand of ammunition is greatly enjoyed by people who love to shoot lots of rounds. Yearly, this company is known to export well over 500 million rounds.

What is Tulammo made out of?

When Tulammo originally started manufacturing ammunition, they made them with brass cases, but that changed in the 1920s. They decided that they should do more to help conserve precious metals, such as copper, and started using steel.

Russia was already known to have large reserves of steel, and they made use of this cost-effective metal to make their ammunition cheaper, which meant they could sell them cheaper than a lot of their competitors.

The casing of the ammunition is made out of soft steel that has been heated and cooled in order to make it softer, but it does not make the casing weaker and more likely to cause problems as some people believe.

The ammunition is loaded with powder and primers that are non-corrosive in order to prevent damage to your gun. I can assure you that I have never had Tulammo damage any of my guns.

Here is an excellent description of Tulammo from Ammo.com:

The cartridges themselves have polymer-coated steel casings, bi-metal bullets and non-corrosive primers. Polymer coating on the cases, as opposed to lacquer coating, increases shelf life and provides more reliable functioning. The bi-metal bullet has a lead core wrapped in steel and is coated in copper. TulAmmo meets the specifications of SAAMI and CIP.

Does Tulammo actually damage your gun?

The short answer is no. Although some people say they have to clean their guns more often when using Tulammo.

First, as I have said, the casing of the Tulammo is made out of steel that has been carefully softened. This means the ammunition will be safely ejected from your gun without causing damage.

Secondly, Tulammo uses noncorrosive primers and powders which prevents corrosion from the propellants of the ammunition.

How is Tulammo’s accuracy?

The accuracy of any ammunition will be a little different for each gun. It’s certainly not match grade ammunition but it’s good enough for a fun day of plinking.

How reliable is Tulammo?

Tulammo is great ammunition for someone who loves to go to the shooting range and wants to save some money. It may not be the best choice for hunting or defending your home.

I have not had any failures to fire(FTF) but I have had a few failures to eject(FTE). But I believe the main cause for this is that I was shooting a dirty gun.

I’m a terrible procrastinator when it comes to cleaning guns and because of that I have had FTE’s with other ammunition such as Winchester and Federal as well.

What do other reviewers think of Tulammo?

Below are several Tulammo reviews done by different people about their most popular round, which is a 223 Remington 55 Grain Full Metal Jacket (Bi-Metal) with a steel case.

Most Liked Positive Review

This review was given by a man named Dan that lives in the United States of America, and he gave the review over 3 years ago.

“I been shooting this for a while now and really like this stuff. I like that you can buy these by the 1000s. Spend a day at the range and not feel guilty about it.

I do notice that you have to pay extra attention to certain areas of your rifle for this to run 100%. Most particularly the chamber walls, and your extractor groove where it catches the rim. If you are having trouble with stuck shells in the chamber, I recommend trying to clean these areas.

Best way to clean the extractor groove is with a pick and brush. Make sure it is clear of old buildup.

Best way to clean the chamber is with a non-rotating t-handle rod and a brass chamber brush. Just put it in the chamber, and rotate several times with a good solvent.

Use beauty cotton swabs (ear swabs) and patches in between cleaning the chamber with the brass chamber brush for a few times, even if you can’t see anything. At the range I can shoot 200-300 rounds no issue whatsoever and could continue so but didn’t brought enough ammo.

I have a partner at the range who cannot run this until he did the above steps because it got stuck in the chamber and had to hit it out with a rod. It ran 100% the next time.

He’s buying Tulammo now as well since it’s so cheap and has been running 100% since he’s been paying attention to those cleaning areas.

As far as how dirty this ammo is, I found the following with my rifle. The bore is not as dirty as brass (maybe even cleaner), however, the chamber and the locking lugs are dirtier than using typical American ammo.

The bolt face and extractor grooves are very dirty as well. I believe it has to do with the fact that the steel case is not expanding like brass, so carbon is building up around that area more because there isn’t as much of a seal.

The bolt carrier group appears like normal build up as well as everything else. Otherwise I recommend this. I hope I helped some folks who are having trouble. Don’t give up, you can save a boat load of cash at the range with this ammo.”

Most Liked Negative Review

This review was given by a man named Bret that lives in Colorado, and he gave the review over 2 years ago.

“Got this ammo for the price point since I put a lot of rounds down range every month. Shoots pretty well, accuracy not too bad for sub 100 yards.

However, it is steel cased and will wear gun parts faster than brass. Also this ammo is filthy dirty! Shoot a couple hundred rounds of this and you’ll be cleaning your rifle for a while.

If you’re ok with the dirty powder and ok with the excessive wear, it’s cheap for sure. I’m reloading 223 now so I can reload cheaper than steel case Tul Ammo.

If you shoot high volumes of rounds I’d look into reloading as your long-term solution.”

Another Negative Review

Why I don’t like Tula Ammo

I hear a lot of people say to stay away from Tula ammo due to reports of it being steel cased and causing issues with extraction. I have experienced those exact things myself. It’s been the only brand that has ever caused me problems, but it could be a fluke thing.

However, I still don’t like tulammo because the primer pockets always get loose and start causing failures to fire. I’m not talking about one or two bullets, but every other bullet in a box has issues. This has been the same for me no matter if it was .308, 7.62×39, .223, 9mm etc.

Another Positive Review

Why I like Tula Ammo

I am not trying to convince people that tulammo is the best ammo in the world.  It’s low cost and it works.  Just like a Toyota or Honda, tulammo is reliable.    

It is well known that tula ammo is made with a metal jacket. This is why it is so inexpensive compared to other ammo. If you are on a budget or just shooting for fun, you will see savings with Tula Ammo.

Closing Thoughts

When it comes to plinking or blasting ammo, Tulammo is one of the best you can find. You just need to make sure your local gun range will allow steel-cased ammo before you purchase it.

It might be very cheap ammo, but after reading this Tulammo review, you can now see that it is great ammo that works great at the gun range and should not damage your gun.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —

Last updated on June 17th, 2023

Ammo, the short form of ammunition, is a set of assembled components fired from a firearm. These components include propellant/gunpowder, projectile, cartridges, primers, and ignition tubes, manufactured separately before being assembled into the cartridge. Whether you need ammo for your hunting or personal defense firearms, selecting the right type is an important decision as it ensures optimal performance.

Many types of ammunition can be confusing when you are new to handling firearms. But worry no more, for in this article, we will tackle 24 different types of ammo, and all the bits and pieces that you need to know about them.

What is Ball Ammo?

Ball ammo, also known as a full metal jacket bullet, has a soft core made of lead, and is encased in an outer jacket/ shell made of harder material like copper. Ball ammo is one of the most used and least-expensive types of ammo in the world.

It is very accurate and readily available to civilian gun owners. It does not expand upon impact, but it is designed to go through the target with precision. It comes with the possibility of hitting objects behind it too.

The fact that the projectile can go through the target and cause unintentional collateral damage behind it, can be a disadvantage. Ball ammo is not recommended for concealed carry.

Ball ammo can be flat nose, truncated cone, or boat tail types, all of which are made for penetration while leaving less residue in the barrel. Less residue means increased velocity rate of the shot and increased accuracy. Here is our more in depth article about ball ammo.

What is ACP Ammo?

ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. ACP ammo is a rimless straight-walled cartridge that has headspaces on the case mouth for accuracy. The Colt Pistol was designed between 1900 to 1908 by John Browning. He also developed the ACP ammo for use in the automatic pistol. The Automatic Colt Pistol remains one of the most accurate designs for law enforcement officers and civilians. Here is our more in depth article about ACP Ammo.

What Is the Difference Between 115 Grain and 124 Grain 9mm Ammo?

Grain stands for mass’ unit of measurement, and ammo grain is a measure of the bullet weight. In simple terms it means how large is the cartridge’s projectile. Each caliber has different grain sizes, ranging between 5 grains to 750 grains. If the packaging of the ammo says 124-grain FMJ, it means that the actual bullet weighs 124 grains. Grains also measure gunpowder (or propellant) but is not indicated on the box.

The choice of ammunition will depend on a person’s need, and each caliber has a range of bullet weights. The 9mm, for instance, loads 115, 124, and 147 grain, and sometimes the 110 grain. Under the same caliber, lighter bullets’ velocity is higher than that of heavier bullets.
9mm is one of the best guns for home defense, with a perfect expansion and penetration power balance.

The main difference between the 9mm’s 115 grain and the 124 grain is velocity. The 124-grain bullet has lower velocity compared to the 115 grain one, but maintains it longer and transfers more energy into the target.

What is Plinking Ammo?

Plinking ammo is the inexpensive ammo that people use in informal target shooting for pleasure. The term plinking comes from the sharp, metallic sound that is made by the projectile when it hits the non-standard targets like cans, water bottles, logs, and the like. My favorite plinking ammo is 22 caliber. 22’s are easily available and relatively cheap. Here is our more in depth article about plinking ammo.

Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?

I’m telling you it’s so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.

“Okay, so far I’ve dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!

Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who’da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones – Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela’s, et. al. – will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner – I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this “shortage”) – and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.

Yes, I’m telling my friends! I’m constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, “No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won’t be sorry!” Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service.”

— Walter J., Silverdale, WA —