Lindcott Armory Rifle · Soviet / Russian GRAU
7.62x39mm Soviet
Intermediate rifle cartridge powering the AK-47 and variants.
- Caliber
- 0.3118″ · 7.92 mm
- Introduced
- 1943
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- 7.62x41mm M43 Experimental
- Primary use
- Military, Hunting, Self Defense
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1943
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Inventor
- Soviet Ordnance
- Manufacturer
- Tula Arsenal
- Standard
- Soviet / Russian GRAU
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Abundant
- Case capacity
- 35.6 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9.5
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 45,010 psi
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 2500 yd
- Recoil
- 8–12 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady SST Steel Case 123gr 123 gr, 2,350 fps, BC 0.262 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 2349 | 1507 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 2192 | 1312 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 2040 | 1137 | -5.8″ | -2.7 |
| 300 yd | 1893 | 979 | -19.9″ | -6.3 |
| 400 yd | 1752 | 838 | -43.7″ | -10.4 |
| 500 yd | 1614 | 712 | -78.9″ | -15.1 |
| 600 yd | 1482 | 599 | -127.4″ | -20.3 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open 7.62x39mm Soviet ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.92 | 0.312 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.60 | 0.339 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 10.07 | 0.396 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 16.4° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 11.35 | 0.447 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 11.35 | 0.447 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.50 | 0.059 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 5.70 | 0.224 | ≈ |
| Case length | 38.70 | 1.524 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 56.00 | 2.205 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 7.62x39mm Soviet is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 125 active loads across 51 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 133 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPU | PPU Standard | 123 | FMJ | 2,412 | 1,589 | 0.292 G1 |
| Barnaul | FMJ Steel Case 123gr | 123 | FMJ Steel | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.275 G1 |
| Brown Bear | FMJ Lacquered Steel 123gr | 123 | FMJ Steel | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.275 G1 |
| Tula | FMJ Steel Case 122gr | 122 | FMJ Steel | 2,396 | 1,555 | 0.292 G1 |
| Barnaul | Silver Bear | 123 | FMJ | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.292 G1 |
| Barnaul | Brown Bear | 123 | FMJ | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.292 G1 |
| Tula | TulAmmo | 122 | HP | 2,396 | 1,555 | 0.255 G1 |
| Sellier & Bellot | FMJ 123gr | 123 | FMJ | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.292 G1 |
| Sellier & Bellot | Standard | 123 | FMJ | 2,396 | 1,568 | 0.275 G1 |
| PRVI Partizan | PPU | 123 | FMJ | 2,395 | 1,566 | 0.292 G1 |
| Wolf | WPA Polyformance FMJ | 124 | FMJ | 2,380 | 1,559 | 0.292 G1 |
| Hornady | Steel Match SST | 123 | SST | 2,365 | 1,527 | 0.262 G7 |
| Winchester | Super-X | 123 | SP | 2,365 | 1,527 | 0.285 G1 |
| Winchester | Deer Season XP | 123 | XP Polymer Tip | 2,365 | 1,527 | 0.285 G1 |
| Wolf | Performance | 123 | FMJ | 2,365 | 1,527 | 0.292 G1 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
9 reloading powders listed for 7.62x39mm Soviet, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 7.62x39mm Soviet
12 models in the database chamber 7.62x39mm Soviet. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed during WWII as intermediate cartridge combining rifle power with submachine gun controllability. First issued in SKS, then became famous in AK-47. The AK-47/AKM family has produced over 100 million rifles. Extremely common worldwide due to Soviet exports and licensed production. More rifles chambered for this than any cartridge in history.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 7.62x39mm Soviet use?
- 7.62x39mm Soviet typically uses a 1:9.5 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 7.62x39mm Soviet?
- 7.62x39mm Soviet uses a 0.3118″ (7.92 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 7.62x39mm Soviet still in production?
- 7.62x39mm Soviet is active; typical availability is abundant.
- What is 7.62x39mm Soviet used for?
- 7.62x39mm Soviet is primarily used for military, hunting, self defense.
- What is 7.62x39mm Soviet based on?
- 7.62x39mm Soviet is derived from the 7.62x41mm M43 Experimental case.
- What are the best powders for 7.62x39mm Soviet?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for 7.62x39mm Soviet include Accurate 1680, Lil'Gun, A0, Vectan A0, among 9 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
- StandardC.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 125 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →