Tula LR primers?

[Cakes]

Anybody know what happened to the Tula LR primers? Haven't seen any listed for over a year now and some sites have dropped their listing entirely. Not that my supply is low but do like to stay informed about components. I know tula and wolf come out of the same plant and haven't seen too many wolf LR primers either. Small rifle seem to be in descent supply. Eric in DL

 

[savagedasher]

I think Powder Valley sell them. Larry

 

[amlevin]

Foreign Primers are a lot harder to get from your supplier due to all the red tape needed to import them.

I had a large Dealer/Distributor once tell me that he wouldn't carry the Wolf/Tula brand primers for the simple fact that it took well over a year from order placement to delivery, with "Letters of Credit" sent to secure the order.

A lot easier to order and receive US manufactured primers even with the high volumes being sold.


If you do have the opportunity to buy Tula Primers, just order them by the case (5,000) rather than by the box. I just cracked open another case of Tula primers I bought when they were selling in the $20/thousand range. Needless to say I bough more than one case too.

 

[rogn]

Could it also be some degree of strife with Russia or perhaps sanctions? Ive seen a comment on one site where a non military item was specifically restricted for export to Russia.

 

[Laurie]

Could it also be some degree of strife with Russia or perhaps sanctions? Ive seen a comment on one site where a non military item was specifically restricted for export to Russia.

Yes, The US and EC have instituted sanctions against Russia for its illegal seizure of the Crimea and its ongoing role (which it denies) in stirring up the civil war and supporting / training / arming rebel pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine. In theory at any rate, no more Murom primers will be imported while sanctions remain in place.

One of our (UK) match rifle gunsmiths put a selection of F-Class rifles onto the market some months ago - ordered and paid for by Russian client(s) but export licences refused, and no likelihood of their being obtained for the foreseeable future.

 

[savagedasher]

Powder valley has small mag primers for $24.50 plus shipping. Larry

 

[savagedasher]

Thanks for your reminder they have 10,000 less. Larry

 

[IPSCNUT]

Larry, which should I buy for AR-15?

small rifle magnum or 223mag

 

[IPSCNUT]

Larry, sorry I confused the issue!!!!
should I buy 223mag or 556mag for Ar-15

 

[savagedasher]

Larry, sorry I confused the issue!!!!
should I buy 223mag or 556mag for Ar-15

I think the 556 are made for the AR I use the 223 in my bolt guns. Sorry I can't help more Larry

 

[IPSCNUT]

Larry, Thanks for the info.

Does anyone else on the forum know the mechanical differences between the Tula 223mag and 556mag small rifle primers?

 

[spclark]

Does anyone else on the forum know the mechanical differences between the Tula 223mag and 556mag small rifle primers?

I've been meaning to test those two over a chronograph since spring, have yet to do so. Otherwise what I've been going by is in-use results of mine, and what other sources have offered up. They share the same cup (metal alloy, thickness, hardness) but the 556REM features a hotter charge to meet NATO specs. The 223REM and 223 may share the same (lower-than-556REM) charge whiie the latter has a lighter cup.

In use the 223's would crater or pierce in service rifle 223 and later 6.5 Grendel AR loads when I first got my hands on some about 2004, showed same issues in small-primered Palma brass when a friend tried some a couple years back. 223REM do not, and have been my staple choice since the small primer Palma brass appeared.

I have some 556REM I intend to load in Palma rounds and 6HAGAR then shoot at 600 yards over a chronograph to get some meaningful data but it'll be a bit longer before that comes up on my calendar.

 

[spclark]

http://ammunitionstore.com/products/large-rifle-standard-primers-wolf-performance-1000-pc-box.html

... all I could find right now; you need 'em, don't wait too long!!

 

[Cakes]

Thanks for the comments. I did stockpile a bit in 2010 and just dipped below the 4,000 remaining on the LR primers. I use the srm in the AR's, both a Hagar and a 6AR-T40. I'm sure they're the kvb223m but the packaging only states "Small Rifle Magnum" "NCSRM". Have shot thousands of them and they have always had a low es and always go bang. Eric in DL

 

[spclark]

KVB223M is what I use also, box of KVB556M waiting to be tested. Long-gone KVB223's were what showed problems from weaker cups.

 

[asauer]

I don't believe the Russian primers should be unavailable due to sanctions. 7.62x39 ammo is still being imported like there's no tomorrow- are you guys positive on the primer issue??

 

[amlevin]

I don't believe the Russian primers should be unavailable due to sanctions. 7.62x39 ammo is still being imported like there's no tomorrow- are you guys positive on the primer issue??

Russian primers have always been 'feast or famine'. I'm still holding with the longer lead times in their supply chain. Also take into consideration that primer sales take second chair to ammunition sales. If Tula needs primers to produce ammo, guess where they go. If there is a surplus then the component market gets some.

Same thing here in the US.

 

[JRS]

They're simply hard to find. Finding the most popular Federal primers is the same way.

 

[desparr]

Could it also be some degree of strife with Russia or perhaps sanctions? Ive seen a comment on one site where a non military item was specifically restricted for export to Russia.

Yes, The US and EC have instituted sanctions against Russia for its illegal seizure of the Crimea and its ongoing role (which it denies) in stirring up the civil war and supporting / training / arming rebel pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine. In theory at any rate, no more Murom primers will be imported while sanctions remain in place.

One of our (UK) match rifle gunsmiths put a selection of F-Class rifles onto the market some months ago - ordered and paid for by Russian client(s) but export licences refused, and no likelihood of their being obtained for the foreseeable future.

The prospect of sanctions interfering with supplies was pretty clear last year - that was when I stocked up.