Turan Ammo Review: Turkey's Hit or Miss FMJ?
Turan ammo isn’t an American household name, so don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of it and have questions about how good it really is. Turan is a Turkish company that only produces three calibers of range ammo (full metal jacket rounds); 5.56 NATO, 9mm, and .223 Remington.
A lot of shooters have asked us if Turan ammo is any good, and as experts on the subject, we decided to bring you this Turan ammo review. Naturally, most of us want reliable loads that are available and for a good price.
If you’re looking for 9mm or 5.56 range ammo at a great price, you may be interested in Turan ammo. However, finding it is a little challenging, so you can check out what’s in stock HERE. Moreover, if you just want to learn about Turan ammo, keep reading!
Is Turan a Good Brand for Ammo?
Asking whether Turan cartridges are good ammo or not is about as subjective as asking someone if the .40 or 10mm is a better caliber; you won’t get a straight answer. However, we can give you the facts to help you make the decision whether stockpiling 1,000 rds or more of Turan ammo is an endeavor you should pursue.
You can pick up a 50-round box of 9mm FMJ Turan ammunition for less than $17 (at the time of writing) when you can find it in stock. All of the ammo has lead cores encased in a bimetal jacket (a brass alloy with copper and zinc) with Boxer primers. You won’t get anything fancy from Turan, like JHPs or polymer-tipped rounds. But if we’re being entirely honest, ammo isn’t cheap, and it’s challenging to come by, so Turan ammo may be an excellent option for your range ammo.
While the company only offers a few calibers, and we wouldn’t use its ammo for hunting or daily carry ammunition, it does have some upsides. For example, you can get different grain weights and styles (M1855, M193, etc.).
Finally, any ammo you get from Turan has a brass case. So, if you’re into reloading, that’s a solid plus. We say all of this also to say it’s pretty run-of-the-mill ammo, but we don’t necessarily recommend jumping headfirst into a 1,000-round investment. Let’s take a deep dive into each ammo-type so you can get a clearer picture.
Turan Centerfire Handgun Ammunition
Turan makes handgun ammunition for the range. Shooters can get 9x19mm NATO (124-grain), 9x19mm Luger (124-grain), or 9x19mm 115-grain FMJ rounds.
Specs:
- 9x19mm NATO 124 grain FMJ- 1,213 fps muzzle velocity and 405 ft-lbs muzzle energy
- 9x19mm Luger 124 grain FMJ - 1,131 fps muzzle velocity and 352 ft-lbs muzzle energy
- 9x19mm Luger 115 gr FMJ - 1,150 fps muzzle velocity and 337 ft-lbs muzzle energy
It should be noted that 9mm NATO and 9mm Luger are two different rounds as the NATO load has a higher chamber pressure and muzzle velocity, even though they fire the same diameter bullet. To read more about the differences, check out this article: 9mm vs 9mm Luger.
Although Turan 9mm ammo is great for target practice and plinking, it isn’t great for self-defense (you’d much rather have a Jacketed Hollow Point or projectile specifically designed for 2-legged varmints).
We should also note that we’ve heard horror stories about the rounds failing to fire. While we haven’t personally experienced this, another low-cost brand like PMC, Winchester, or Blazer 9mm might be a safer bet if you're planning on taking a training course or plan to shoot competitively.
Turan Centerfire Rifle Ammunition
Those who prefer blasting 5.56 NATO rds through their AR-15 carbine or Ruger Mini-14 will be happy to know that Turan also makes M855 (SS109), M193, and .223 Remington. The company’s M855 ammo has a muzzle velocity of 3,165 fps and muzzle energy of 1,380 ft-lbs.
The company’s M193 55-grain FMJ ammunition has 3,160 fps muzzle velocity and 1,204 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Similar to the ammunition discussed previously, it’s a standard full metal jacket round with a lead core and brass alloy jacket.
Finally, the company offers a 55-grain full metal jacket in .223 Rem. Similar to the cartridges above, it also has the Tomback (brass-alloy) jacket and lead core. As opposed to the issues with Turan’s 9mm ammo, we haven’t heard many horror stories about the company’s rifle ammo.
The main drawback to Turan 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem is that it’s nearly impossible to find in stock these days. If you’d like to keep checking for it, you can see what we have in stock. Our entire inventory of 5.56 ammo is here, and our .223 Rem ammo is here.
Pros and Cons
Naturally, all ammo companies have ups and downs. Turan ammo is no different. Check out the pros & cons:
Pros
- Brass cases that are great for reloading
- Non-corrosive Boxer primers
- Standard full metal jackets with lead cores
- It’s cheap
Cons
- Availability
- Mixed reviews on FTFs and reliability (misfires)
- Limited calibers
Which Calibers are Available?
Turan Ammo History and Important Information
Turan is a small ammunition company that specializes in FMJs, and blank ammunition. The company’s goal is to supply small-caliber rounds across the globe. Turan began manufacturing 9X19mm ammo in 2019 and has made millions of rounds since.
The company also focuses on 5.56 NATO 55-grain FMJ bullets. Turan’s facility in Turkey is located underground and acts as an underground explosive tunnel. The company also uses a two-tier quality control department to ensure each cartridge meets strict standards.
Where is Turan Ammo Made?
The Turan manufacturing plant is located in Uzumlu, Turkey. Not only does the company produce millions of rounds of ammunition, but it also has the support of the Turkish government to maintain and expand its operations.
FAQs
Is Turan ammo corrosive?
No, Turan ammo isn’t corrosive as it uses standard non-corrosive Boxer primers.
What’s the difference between M855, M193, and SS109?
M855, M193, and SS109 are the military designations for standard issue 5.56 NATO ammunition. M855 and SS109 are the same, loaded with a 62-grain mild steel core penetrator bullet. The names are different due to military designations, M855 is the U.S. military name for the round while NATO countries call it SS109. M193 5.56 NATO ammo is loaded with a lighter 55-grain full metal jacket round.
Is Turan’s M855 ammo armor piercing?
No. Contrary to popular belief, M855 ammo is not armor-piercing. Rather, it’s capable of penetrating barriers that M193 can’t. Because M193 has a softer projectile than the steel-core M855, it won’t penetrate as well as M855. But that doesn’t mean that M855 is armor-piercing. It just pierces common objects better.
Can I use the 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Luger interchangeably?
Absolutely! The 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Luger ammo are the exact same round (just with different names and excluding variations in bullet weight or design). They have identical specs and are compatible with the same 9mm handguns (everything from Glock to Sig Sauer, etc.).
Is Turan 9mm ammo good for self-defense?
No, full metal jacket bullets are not ideal for self-defense due to the risk over penetration. If you’re looking for low-cost personal defense 9mm ammo, get a high quality jacketed hollow point round like the Sellier & Bellot 115-grain JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) or Fiocchi 115-grain JHP. These rounds are designed for semi-automatic handguns and it’s specifically designed for self-defense.
Does Turan make .45 ACP ammo?
No. At the time of writing, Turan doesn’t make .45 ACP or any handgun ammo outside of 9mm. However, the company has been expanding over the past few years, so perhaps it will produce more calibers in the future.
Parting Shots
Overall, Turan ammo is great if you want low-cost ammunition that may or may not fire. We wouldn’t recommend it for serious shooting activities like hunting or personal defense. We also wouldn’t invest in Turan as our go-to bulk ammo before trying it in all of our rifles and 9mm handguns. Solely because it doesn’t have a great reputation.
Fortunately, low-cost FMJs are pretty easy to find here in the U.S. and you aren’t without numerous options. If someone gives you a case of Turan ammo, we wouldn’t turn it down. But there are far more reasonable options available.
