7.62×39mm
| 7.62×39mm | ||||||||||||||||
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A steel-cased 7.62×39mm FMJ cartridge | ||||||||||||||||
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||
| In service | 1945–present | |||||||||||||||
| Used by | former Soviet Union, former Warsaw Pact, Iraq, Iran, Russia, China, India, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cambodia, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Finland, Venezuela, many others | |||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1943 | |||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1944–present | |||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | ||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 8.60 mm (0.339 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | 10.07 mm (0.396 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | 11.35 mm (0.447 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 11.35 mm (0.447 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | 1.50 mm (0.059 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Case length | 38.70 mm (1.524 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 56.00 mm (2.205 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 2.31 cm3 (35.6 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Primer type |
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| Maximum pressure (C.I.P.) | 355.0 MPa (51,490 psi) | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure (SAAMI) | 310.3 MPa (45,010 psi) | |||||||||||||||
| Filling | SSNF 50 powder | |||||||||||||||
| Filling weight | 1.605–1.63 g | |||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 520 mm (20 in) (in Sellier & Bellot tests) Source(s): Wolf Ammo Sellier & Bellot | ||||||||||||||||
The 7.62×39mm (also called 7.62 Soviet, formerly .30 Russian Short) round is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge of Soviet origin. The cartridge is widely used due to the global proliferation of the AK-47 rifle and related Kalashnikov-pattern rifles, the SKS semi-automatic rifle, and the RPD/RPK light machine guns.
The AK-47 was designed shortly after World War II, later becoming the AKM because the production of sheet metal had issues when first initiated. This weapon is now the world's most widespread military-pattern rifle. The cartridge remained the Soviet standard until the 1970s. It was partly replaced in Soviet service by the 5.45×39mm cartridge, which was introduced with the new AK-74 rifle, and continues in service with the modernized current-issue Russian Armed Forces AK-74M service rifle, as well as the AK-12 rifle. In the 21st century, the 7.62×39mm remains a common service rifle chambering, including for newly developed rifles like the AK-15.