7.62 x 39 Ammo – World’s Most Versatile Rifle Cartridge

Warfare industry has became one of the most growing industry around the world. Every country is in a race to achieve better armaments than other nations. There are only a two nations that can be termed as pioneer in warfare technology, USA and Russia. Guns and rifles are the most essential equipment in any war. Therefore, it is one of the most sought after weapon which has been widely used and extensively developed.

Apart from the military use, guns also constitute a major hobby which includes shooting, collecting and hunting, but the major use still remains in the armed forces. Guns and their ammunition has been classified in different categories by international organizations for easy identification and replication. The 7.62×39 ammo remains the most versatile round available in the market.

7.62×39 Ammo

The 7.62 x 39 mm round came into existence during the second world war. The Soviet Union designed it as an effective and reliable ammunition. The cartridge can withstand extreme climatic conditions ranging from -50 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius, making it functional in both desert as well as polar regions. This cartridge became immensely popular due to its association with AK -47, which is the most widely used assault rifle in the world. The Soviet Union used it as their standard rifle cartridge up until 1974.

With a muzzle velocity of 718 m/s and energy capacity of 2000 Joules, the round was fairly effective up to 300 meters range and proved to be an accurate ammo.

Other Uses

Just like its use in armed forces, hunters also adopted this cartridge as a standard round. This is due to its similarity with .30-.30 Winchester round. In 1990, it became very popular amongst sports enthusiasts. Due to military surplus supplies, consumers could get the cartridges at a low cost.

The 7.62 x 39 mm round has proved itself as a trust worthy and versatile rifle cartridge. Over the years it has performed exceptionally in military warfare and remained functional even in the roughest environment possible. Its association with the famous AK-47 also signifies its effectiveness. Apart from that, manufacturers like Colt, Olympic, and Remington  have adopted this cartridge making it equally famous in sports activities.