Hornady 5.56 NATO 75 gr BTHP Match Frontier and steel cased "precision" ammo

[Stickman]

https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/204586

https://vizardsgunsandammo.com/tula-ta223675-223rem-75hp-20-50/

Ammo prices have come down, but I don't think anyone older than 20-25 is thinking they are actually that good. Gone are the days when you could pick order up a case (1,000) of Q3131A 55 grain fmj for $160. No, I'm not an old man shaking my fist at the sun and talking in tongues, but we have to live with the fact that ammo prices jumped, and they never came back down to a level we had seen before.

Move on and suck it up? Sure, I can understand that idea, but it makes me wonder about the steel cased 75 grain ammo which is available for roughly a quarter the cost of its brass cased siblings.

In the case of the Hornady & Tula ammunition, we are seeing specs as seen below:


Hornady 5.56 NATO 75 gr BTHP Match Ammo Specifications

40 cents per round at the above link (found online, I don't know them)

Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Bullet Weight: 75 gr
Product Line: Frontier
Bullet Type: BHTP Match
Muzzle Velocity: 2860 fps
Quantity: 20/Box


TULA TA223675 223REM 75HP 20/50

22 cents per round at the above link (I don't know these guys either)

Mfg Item Num: TA223675
Model Number: Centerfire Rifle
Series: HP
Unit of measure: BX
Caliber: 223 Remington/5.56 NATO
Bullet Type: Hollow Point
Bullet Weight: 75 GR
Muzzle Energy: 1260 ft lbs
Muzzle Velocity: 2750 fps
Rounds Per Box: 20
Application: Target/Competition
Casing Material: Steel


These are the cheapest offerings I've seen in 75 grain ammo. If I can buy 10,000 rounds for the price of 5,000, that is fantastic if it still shoots fine. With the possibility of shooting 10,000 for the price of 2,500 dollars, I really don't care about burning out a barrel as I can stockpile ammo which is pretty darn close to my chosen ammo POA/ POI. In a pinch, I can even use the same ammo and not have worries.

Have you guys tried any of the above? Are you familiar with any other offerings which may be priced similar to these? If so, let us know. I'm not quite set up for reloading yet, and freshening up stock piles of ammo always seems like a wise move.

Thanks for any comments.

[SeriousStudent]

I am incredibly tempted to pick up a half a case of each. I have a carbine/medical class coming up in June, and was thinking about running a suppressed SBR with a 1-6.5 LPVO just for S&G's......

Thanks for the tip, I'll let you know the results.

[vicious_cb]

Tula is no where close to being a match bullet nor do I think that velocity figure is accurate(probably 24" or 26" barrel velocity) . It prints about the same as all their other 62gr and 55gr variety. Dont know much about the frontier stuff, if its loading the 75gr T2 from the pics then at least is loading a very high quality bullet.

Honestly the best 75gr ammo for the money was Hornady Steel Match or Steel Training. Steel cased ammo but loaded using good powder and a good match bullet, performance was about the same as the brass cased 75gr match ammo Ive shot over the years. Tried to keep it a secret but I cant find any for sale anymore.

[everready73]

I have heard good things about about the 75 grain frontier. I would test that over the tula steel case which shot looked cheap steel case when I shot a few boxes

[TXBK]

I have always scoffed at running steel-cased ammo....I just bought 3 cases of .223 55 gr. Wolf steel-cased ammo from sgammo. It came out to $192.83/case shipped ($0.193/round). And, brass-cased 55 gr. Wold Gold comes out to just under $0.28/round, shipped.

I guess I’ll find out if I hated steel-cased ammo for a reason or just because...I’m buying a separate upper for it, so I’m not exactly saving money.

[ggammell]

I had a primer blow out on this stuff last week. Jammed between the new case and the barrel extension lugs requiring tools to clear.

Haven’t contacted Hornady yet since I’ve been on vacation.

57009

57012

[vicious_cb]

I had a primer blow out on this stuff last week. Jammed between the new case and the barrel extension lugs requiring tools to clear.

Haven’t contacted Hornady yet since I’ve been on vacation.



I cant tell if thats a Lake City headstamp or not but anything from the frontier line made lake city has been having pressure issues that are pretty common.

[Stickman]

I cant tell if thats a Lake City headstamp or not but anything from the frontier line made lake city has been having pressure issues that are pretty common.

I've been hearing the same thing for awhile.

[alx01]

That's an amazing price for both offerings.
I generally like and actually prefer a steel-cased ammo for general plinking/training. Never had an issue with it across multiple brands I've tried. However, 75Gr Tula had the weakest recoil of any 5.56/223 ammo I've seen. Barely locked back in 16" middie, but it did lock back.
Should be okay in a clean and/or slightly overgassed rifle or silencer use. I highly doubt it will do anywhere close to a claimed 2750fps.
Depending on your barrel of course, but I would not count on it having the same POI as a quality 75/77Gr.

[Stickman]

That's an amazing price for both offerings.
I generally like and actually prefer a steel-cased ammo for general plinking/training. Never had an issue with it across multiple brands I've tried. However, 75Gr Tula had the weakest recoil of any 5.56/223 ammo I've seen. Barely locked back in 16" middie, but it did lock back.
Should be okay in a clean and/or slightly overgassed rifle or silencer use. I highly doubt it will do anywhere close to a claimed 2750fps.
Depending on your barrel of course, but I would not count on it having the same POI as a quality 75/77Gr.

Good info, thanks!

[IKnowNotEverything]

We have run through several cases of the Tula in our BCM rifles. It groups adequately, but is definitely weak .223 pressure ammo. I've also had a few failures to fire due to hard primers. No failure to lock back with carbine RE or A5.

IMO it's great for short range use, suppressed shooting, and classes in a rifle you aren't expecting great accuracy from. QC is a concern.

Havent tried the Hornady but if it's accurate enough it'd make great competition or training ammo. You'd be hard pressed to reload at that price, and time saved is self evident. QC might be a concern.

POA/POI is several MOA from Tula to Razor Core at 100 yards from my 20" barrel.