The 7.62×39mm round is a rifle cartridge of Soviet origin that was designed during World War II. It was first used in the RPD machine gun. Due to the worldwide proliferation of the SKS and AK-47 pattern rifles, the cartridge is utilized by both militaries and civilians alike. 7.62×39mm ammunition is purportedly tested to function well in temperatures ranging from −50 °C (−58 °F) to 50 °C (122 °F) cementing its usefulness in extremely cold polar or hot desert conditions.
The 7.62×39mm cartridge was influenced by a variety of foreign developments, including the German Mkb 42(H) and the US M1 carbine.
Shortly after the war, the world's most recognized military pattern rifle was designed for this cartridge: the AK-47. The cartridge remained the Soviet standard until the 1970s, and is still one of the most common intermediate rifle cartridges used around the world. It was replaced in Russian service by the 5.45×39mm cartridge, which is used by the current issue AK-74 and variants.
The 7.62x39mm, aka 7.62 Soviet and formerly .30 Russian Short, began development in 1943 and was introduced in 1945. The Soviets wanted an intermediate cartridge that could be used in a carbine, select fire rifle and light machine gun. The first gun that it was designed for was the RPD light machine gun, but its most notable adoption was in the AK47 platform.
7.62x39 History
7.62x39 Usage
7.62x39 Usage
While initially produced for only military arms, the 7.62x39mm has seen some use as a hunting cartridge in the US since 1990. Bolt action and semi automatic rifles chambered in 7.62x39mm are imported or manufactured in the US for this purpose. It still remains the most prolific cartridge in the world because of the number of Soviet Bloc firearms chambered for this cartridge in use around the world by different governments and groups.
7.62x39 Trivia
The Soviets tweaked the specifications on the 7.62x39mm until the final cartridge design was approved in 1947. In 1989, the Soviets started using a heat treated steel core to enhance penetration 1.5-2x over its predecessor bullet. Ammunition manufacturers started producing ammunition with brass cases and copper jackets for sporting purposes in the late 1900’s.
7.62x39 Trivia
7.62x39 Design
7.62x39 Design
The 7.62x39mm is a rimless, bottleneck cartridge with an overall length of 2.205” and a case capacity of 35.6 grains (H2O). It fires a .312” diameter bullet (SAAMI) using large rifle primers (or Berdan for steel casings) with a maximum pressure of 45,010 PSI. Standard rifling twist is 1:9.45”.
7.62x39 Types
The 7.62x39mm being a military surplus cartridge offers ammunition in full metal jacket (ball), tracer, armor piercing, soft point, hollow point and subsonic in bullet weights from 116 grains to 220 grains depending on intended use or mission necessity.
