Tula's .380 Auto pushes a 95-grain FMJ bullet at 1,017 fps with 218 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Those are impressive numbers for a .380 load. Most brass-cased competitors in this caliber run between 920 and 960 fps, so Tula is delivering roughly 60-100 fps more velocity and 24-40 extra ft-lbs of energy. The catch is the steel case. It is Berdan-primed and lacquer-coated, which means you cannot reload it. Once you fire it, it goes in the trash.

Russian-made steel case ammunition has a specific place in the market: cheap, high-volume practice. Tula has been producing military and commercial ammunition since the 1880s, and their steel-case loads are widely available at lower price points than brass alternatives. The trade-off is real, though. Steel cases do not expand and contract the same way brass does, so extraction can be slightly harder on some pistols. Some indoor ranges ban steel-cased ammo because the bimetallic jacket can contain a steel core that damages backstops. Check your range rules before loading up. The lacquer coating on the case helps with feeding and rust prevention, but it can leave residue in the chamber over time.

If your goal is to burn through the most rounds for the least money, Tula .380 gets you there. It is strictly a range and plinking round. The higher velocity gives it a flatter trajectory and more authority on steel targets than softer-shooting brass loads. Just know what you are buying into: this is disposable ammunition for high-volume practice. It will not win any beauty contests, your hands will smell like a Soviet surplus depot afterward, and you should plan on a thorough cleaning session when you get home. For the price, that is a fair deal.