7.

6239mm

7.6239mm
7.6239mm

Lateral view of a steel-cased 7.6239mm FMJ cartridge.

Type
Placeoforigin

Rifle
Soviet Union

Service history
In service

1944present

Used by

Soviet Union, former Warsaw Pact, People's Republic of China, Cambodia, North Korea, Vietnam,
Finland, Venezuela, many others
Production history

Designed

1943

Produced

1944present
Specifications

Casetype

Rimless, bottleneck

Bulletdiameter

7.92mm (0.312in)

Neckdiameter

8.60mm (0.339in)

Shoulderdiameter

10.07mm (0.396in)

Basediameter

11.35mm (0.447in)

Rimdiameter

11.35mm (0.447in)

Rimthickness

1.50mm (0.059in)

Caselength

38.70mm (1.524in)

Overalllength

56.00mm (2.205in)

Case capacity

2.31cm3 (35.6gr H2O)

Riflingtwist

240 mm (1 in 9.45 in)

Primertype

Boxer Large Rifle (brass) Berdan (steel case)

Maximum pressure
(C.I.P.)

355.0MPa (51,490psi)

Maximum pressure
(SAAMI)

310.3MPa (45,010psi)

7.6239mm

Filling

SSNF 50 powder

Filling weight

1.605 - 1.63 gm
Ballistic performance

Bullet weight/type

Velocity

Energy

7.9g (122gr) Full metal jacket 730.3m/s (2,396ft/s) 2,108J (1,555ftlbf)

10.0g (154gr) Spitzer SP

641.3m/s (2,104ft/s) 2,056J (1,516ftlbf)

8.0g (123gr) Full metal jacket 738.0m/s (2,421ft/s) 2,179J (1,607ftlbf)

Test barrel length: 415 mm
Source(s): Wolf Ammo Sellier & Bellot

The 7.6239mm 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
used by both militaries and civilians alike. 7.6239mm ammunition is purportedly tested to function well in
temperatures ranging from 50C (58F) to 50C (122F) cementing its usefulness in extremely cold polar or hot
desert conditions.
The 7.6239mm cartridge was influenced by a variety of foreign developments, including the German Mkb 42(H)
and the U.S. 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 5.4539mm cartridge, which is used by
the current issue AK-74 and variants.

History
On July 15, 1943, the Technical Council of the People's Commissariat
for Armaments ( ) met to discuss the
introduction of a Soviet intermediate cartridge. The Soviet planners
also decided at this meeting that their new cartridge be used in a whole
range of infantry weapons, including a semi-automatic carbine, a
selective fire (assault) rifle, and a light machine gun. The job of
designing the Soviet intermediate cartridge was assigned to a
committee led by chief designer NM Elizarov (.. ),
assisted by PV Ryazanov (.. ), BV Semin (.. ) and
Oblique view of a steel-cased 7.6239mm FMJ
IT Melnikov (.. ). Elizarov collaborated closely with
cartridge.
some leading weapons designers, including Fedorov, Tokarev,
Simonov, and Shpagin. About 314 cartridge designs were considered
theoretically, before narrowing the selection down to 8 models that were physically constructed and tested. Most of
the development work on the new cartridge took place at OKB-44, which was soon thereafter renamed as NII-44,
and which in 1949 was merged with NII-61, itself merged with TsNIITochmash in 1966.

7.6239mm

A first variant of the new cartridge was officially adopted for service
after completing range trials in December 1943; it was given the
GRAU index 57-N-231. This cartridge actually had a case length of
41mm, so it is sometimes referred to as the 7.6241. The bullet it
contained was 22.8mm long and had a core made entirely of lead. This
bullet has a somewhat stubbier appearance than later 7.6239 bullets,
with its maximal radius being attained after only 13.01mm from its
tip, and it was lacking a boat tail. After some further refinements, a
pilot production series of this cartridge began in March 1944.[]
7.6239 shown alongside other cartridges

After more detailed testing results became available, starting in 1944 the cartridge was tweaked in order to improve
its accuracy and penetration. Initially, the boat tail had been omitted because the Soviet designers had assumed
(incorrectly) that it would only make a difference at long ranges, when the bullet became subsonic, and the accuracy
of the intermediate cartridge at these ranges was considered inconsequential. However, further testing showed that
the boat tail improved accuracy even at shorter ranges, where the bullet was still supersonic. In order to maintain the
overall mass of the bullet, after adding the boat tail, the ogival head section of the bullet was lengthened as well,
making the bullet more streamlined overall. The maximum radius was now attained at some 15.95mm from the tip
and the overall length of the bullet increased to 26.8mm. In order to preserve the total length of the cartridge, the
case sleeve was shortened to 38.7mm (and by rounding it is customarily referred to as 7.6239.) Additionally, the
new bullet had a core made of low-carbon steel wrapped in lead. The use of low-carbon (mild) steel was guided
mostly by the desire to reuse some industrial equipment that was manufacturing the 7.6225mm Tokarev cartridge
rather than by bullet fragmentation considerations. This bullet was given the acronym "7.62 PS" (76.2 ), where
"S" initially stood for "surrogate" (), but later the letter was taken to refer to the steel component
of the core, which accounted for about 50% of the core volume. The 7.6239 cartridge equipped with the PS bullet
finally overcame all objections of the GAU in mid-1947, when it was ordered into series production, and given the
index 57-N-231S.
The design that was ultimately selected by the Soviets has more dimensional similarities to the GECO cartridge used
in the Vollmer M35 than with the Polte round used by the later German Sturmgewehr. Some authors, including C. J.
Chivers, have speculated that the Soviets may have had access to the works of GECO and Vollmer during 1940,
when Hitler allowed a large number of Soviet engineers to tour various German armament factories. Anthony
Williams however argues that the Soviet M43 round was so different that it was possible to dismiss the idea that it
was a copy of any German round in existence at the time.
The 57-N-231S cartridge used a "bimetallic" (steel and copper) case. In the early 1960s, a "lacquered" steel case was
introduced, and the new cartridge was initially given the designation 57-N-231SL. In an effort to simplify
terminology, sometime thereafter the 57-N-231 designation was recycled to denote all steel-core 7.6239 Soviet
ammunition, irrespective of case build.
In the mid 1950s, Elizarov's team, now working at NII-61, developed a special subsonic bullet for the 7.6239
cartridge. It was adopted for service in 1962, and given the army designation "7.62 US" (US stood for
, meaning reduced speed) and the GRAU index 57-N-231U. The subsonic bullet was considerably longer
(33.62mm) and heavier (12.5g) than the PS bullet, and also had a different, non-layered core structure. The core of
its head section was entirely made of tool steel, followed by another section entirely made of lead. The subsonic
bullet also has a larger maximum diameter of 7.94mm compared to all other 7.6229 bullets that peak at 7.92mm
diameter; the larger diameter of the lead-core section was intended to provide a tighter fit to the barrel by better
engaging the rifling grooves. The 7.62 subsonic ammo was intended to be fired from AK47-type rifles equipped with

7.6239mm

the PBS-1 silencer, and developed a muzzle velocity of about 285300m/s. For recognition, this ammo typically has
the bullet tips painted black with green band underneath.
After 1989, the regular (PS) Russian bullets started to be manufactured with a steel core with a higher carbon
concentration and subjected to heat treatment. This change improved their penetration by 1.5-2 times. It is not
possible to externally distinguish these bullets from the earlier, softer PS ones except by year of fabrication. At about
the same time, tool steel was adopted for a normal velocity 7.6239 bullet. Called BP, this bullet was developed in
the 1980s and 1990s. It was officially adopted for Russian service in 2002 under the service name "7.62 BP", and
with the GRAU designation 7N23. The BP bullet is claimed to achieve over three times the penetration of the PS
bullet; it can defeat the Russian bullet-proof vest with designation 6B5 at distances below 250 meters. The BP
cartridge has the tip of its bullet painted black. The BP bullet itself is slightly longer (27.4mm) compared to the PS
bullet, but has the same mass of 7.9 grams.
At the same 1943 meeting that decided the development new cartridge, the Soviet planners decided that a whole
range of new small arms should use it, including a semi-automatic carbine, a fully automatic rifle, and a light
machine gun. Design contests for these new weapons began in earnest in 1944.

Variants
M43
The original Soviet M43 bullets are 123 grain boat-tail bullets with a copper-plated steel jacket, a large steel core,
and some lead between the core and the jacket. The cartridge itself consisted of a Berdan-primed, highly tapered
(usually steel) case which seats the bullet and contains the powder charge. The taper makes it very easy to feed and
extract the round, since there is little contact with the chamber walls until the round is fully seated. This taper is what
causes the AK-47 to have distinctively curved magazines (helping to distinguish AK-47s from AK-74s, which feed
from a much straighter magazine). While the bullet design has gone through a few redesigns, the cartridge itself
remains largely unchanged.
According to Martin Fackler, although the new cartridge represented a
great leap forward from previous designs, compared to later designs
like 5.56mm and 5.45mm bullets, it has little wounding capacity. The
complete solidity of the M43 projectile causes its only drawbackit is
very stable, even while traversing tissue. It begins to yaw only after
traversing nearly 26cm (10in) of tissue.[1] This greatly reduces the
wounding effectiveness of the projectile against humans. These
wounds were comparable to that of a small handgun round using
non-expanding bullets. Unless the round struck something vital, the
wound was usually non-fatal, small and quick to heal.

M67
From left to right: 7.6254mmR, 7.6239mm and

In the 1960s Yugoslavia experimented with new bullet designs to

7.6225mm Tokarev.
produce a round with a superior wounding profile, speed, and accuracy
to the M43. The M67 projectile is shorter and flatter-based than the M43. This is mainly due to the deletion of the
mild steel insert. This has the side effect of shifting the center of gravity rearward in comparison to the M43. This
allows the projectile to destabilize nearly 17cm (6.7in) earlier in tissue. This causes a pair of large stretch cavities at
a depth likely to cause effective wound trauma. When the temporary stretch cavity intersects with the skin at the exit
area, a larger exit wound will result, which takes longer to heal. Additionally, when the stretch cavity intersects a
stiff organ like the liver, it will cause damage to that organ. However, the wounding potential of M67 is mostly
limited to the small permanent wound channel the bullet itself makes, especially when the bullet yaws (tumbles).

7.6239mm

Commercial ammunition
Commercial Russian-made 7.6239mm ammunition, such as those sold under the Wolf Ammunition brand name,
are also available in Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), Soft Points (SP) and Hollow Points (HP).[2] The Soft Points (SP) and
Hollow Points (HP) offer improved accuracy and expansion.

Chinese steel core

Chinese military-issue ammunition in this caliber is M43 style with a mild steel core and a thin jacket of copper or
brass. Chinese ammunition (as well as all other M43 ammunition) is currently banned from importation in the U.S.
because U.S. federal law classifies the round as an armor-piercing handgun round. This classification is based on
materials and bullet design rather than on empirical ability to penetrate armor.

Cartridge dimensions
The 7.6239mm has 2.31 ml (35.6 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity.

7.6239mm maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).[3]

Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 16.4 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this
cartridge is 240mm (1 in 9.45 in), 4 grooves, lands = 7.62 millimetres (0.300in), grooves = 7.92 millimetres
(0.312in), land width = 3.81 millimetres (0.150in) and the primer type is usually large rifle, with the exception of
commercial Remington/UMC brass using small rifle primers.
According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes Feu Portatives)
guidelines, the 7.6239mm case can handle up to 355 MPa (51,488 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries
every rifle cartridge combo has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to
consumers.
The SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) for this cartridge is 45,000psi (310.26MPa) piezo pressure.[4]

7.6239mm

Basic specifications of 21st century Russian service loads

The 7.6239mm rounds in use with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are designed for AKM assault rifles
and AK platform derived light machine guns. As per 2003 there were several variants of 7.6239mm produced for
various purposes. All use clad metal as case material.
The 57-N-231 conventional steel-core bullet is designed to engage personnel and weapon systems. The bullet has a
steel core. The tip has no distinguishing colour. It can penetrate a 6mm (0.2in) thick St3 steel plate at 300m
(328yd) and 6Zh85T body armour at 30m (33yd).
The 57-N-231P is a tracer round designed for fire adjustment and target designation. The bullet has a green tip and
the tracer burns for 800m (875yd). The 57-T-231PM1 is an improved tracer round which initiates at 50m (55yd)
from the muzzle and burns for 850m (930yd).
[5][6]

Cartridge designation

57-N-231

57-N-231P (tracer) 57-T-231PM1 (tracer)

Cartridge weight

16.3g (252gr)

16.1g (248gr)

16.05g (248gr)

Bullet weight

7.9g (121.9gr)

7.57g (116.8gr)

7.55g (116.5gr)

Muzzle velocity

718m/s (2,356ft/s)

718m/s (2,356ft/s)

718m/s (2,356ft/s)

Muzzle energy

2,036J (1,502ftlbf) 1,951J (1,439ftlbf) 1,946J (1,435ftlbf)

Accuracy of fire at
300m (328yd) (R50)

75mm (3.0in)

140mm (5.5in)

140mm (5.5in)

R50 at 300m (328yd) means the closest 50 percent of the shot group will all be within a circle of the mentioned
diameter at 300m (328yd).

Hunting and sport use

Since approximately 1990, the 7.6239mm cartridge has seen some use in hunting arms in the U.S. for hunting game
up to the size of whitetail deer, as it is approximately as powerful as the .30-30 Winchester round, and has a similar
ballistic profile. Large numbers of imported semiautomatic rifles, such as the SKS and AK-47 clones and variants,
are available in this caliber.
In addition, several AR15 manufacturers, such as Colt, Olympic Arms, Del-Ton Inc and ModelOne Sales, are
producing 16" carbines and 20" to 24" rifle length firearms that can often get very good accuracy to about 1" groups
at 100 yards.
Ruger produces the Mini-30 as a 7.6239mm version of their popular Mini-14 rifle. They also once had their bolt
action M77 Mark II available in this caliber.
For a time Remington Arms advertised the Compact Model 799 Mini Mauser bolt action rifle chambered in
7.6239mm in 2006, describing the Mauser action as "sought after by todays hunters and shooters."[7] The Mauser
action is a copy of the Gewehr 98 model rifle's action.
CZ-USA Sells the CZ 527 Carbine, a "micro length Mauser style" bolt action rifle chambered in 7.6239mm and
.223 Remington.[8]
Savage Arms has introduced (around 20102011) their own bolt action rifle in 7.6239mm caliber - Model: 10 FCM
Scout.[9]
Both the SIG SG 516 Russian and the SIG 556R are chambered in 7.6239mm.
The lower cost and high availability of military surplus ammunition makes this cartridge attractive for many civilian
shooters.

7.6239mm

Gallery

Wound Profiles of Russian small-arms ammunition compiled

by Dr. Martin Fackler on behalf of the U.S. military.

7.6239mm ammunition and snap cap.

References
[1] Military rifle bullet wound patterns - by Martin L. Fackler. From: http:/ / www. uthr. org/ SpecialReports/
Military_rifle_bullet_wound_patterns. htm. Retrieved on November 9, 2011
[2] http:/ / www. wolfammo. com/ pdf/ WOLF_Ammo_2008_Catalog. pdf |Wolf Ammunition 2010 catalog
[3] C.I.P. decisions, texts and tables free current C.I.P. CD-ROM version download (ZIP and RAR format) (http:/ / www. cip-bp. org/ index.
php?id=tdcc-telechargement)
[4] ANSI/SAAMI Velocity & Pressure Data: Centerfire Rifle (http:/ / www. saami. org/ specifications_and_information/ specifications/
Velocity_Pressure_CfR. pdf)
[5] Russian 7.62x34mm Rounds for Rifles and Machine Guns, Land Forces Weapons Export Catalog, page 85 (http:/ / www. military-today.
com/ russian_land_forces. pdf)
[6] 7.62 cartridges (http:/ / warfare. be/ db/ linkid/ 2466/ catid/ 339/ )
[7] "Compact Model 799 Mini Mauser" (http:/ / www. remington. com/ pages/ news-and-resources/ press-releases/ 2006/ firearms/
mauser-action-rifles-now-in-remington-country. aspx)
[8] "CZ 527 Carbine" (http:/ / cz-usa. com/ products/ view/ cz-527-carbine/ )
[9] "Savage 10 FCM Scout" (http:/ / www. savagearms. com/ firearms/ model/ 10FCM+ SCOUT)

Further reading
(Russian) " (http://www.kalashnikov.ru/upload/medialibrary/
804/10_16.pdf)", . , , 2004/8, pp. 1016
(Russian) . , "" 7,62 (factory identification guide), .
1996/1, pp. 2833

External links
7.62x39 submachine gun cartridges (http://gunsru.ru/rg_patron_7_62x39_eng.html)
Various photos of 7.6239mm ammunition (http://www.conjay.com/Ammunition for Armor Testing East 7.
62mm x 39.htm)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

7.6239mm Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=611720602 Contributors: 13dble, 3006fan, 5ADPANDAMAN, 777sms, AK85, Aadieu, Abboshi, Abloy, Ahunt, Alex earlier
account, Alexander Iwaschkin, AliveFreeHappy, Amikake3, Andrewa, Ascnder, Atirador, Avatar9n, Axeman, AyeBraine, Az29, Ballistic studies, Beerslurpy, Ben Ben, Berean Hunter,
Bernd.Brincken, Bgwhite, Binksternet, Bobblewik, Boris Barowski, Bpselvam, Brenden, BroadArrow, Bryanletsxy, BufordTJustice, CDN99, Calvados, Cbh, CeeWhy2, Chrisath,
Chuckhoffmann, Climax Void, Commander Zulu, Cremepuff222, CynicalMe, DOHC Holiday, Dan100, DanMP5, Dbooksta, Denniss, DiiCinta, Dividing, DocWatson42, Dragunova, Dudtz,
Earthworm Makarov, Eastsidehastings, Elipongo, Enders shadow89, Ericbueschel, Erich031985, Exploding car, Fences and windows, Firsfron, Fluzwup, Francis Flinch, FrancoGG, Frank
Zamjatin, GTBacchus, Gang65, Geodkyt, Geoff B, GraemeLeggett, GreatWhiteNortherner, Greenwave75, GregorB, Groyolo, Guerillero, Heavenlyblue, Hijakk, Hohum, Hoplon, Hornsignal,
Hotspur23, Icaros88, Inctructor, Irish Souffle, Island Monkey, Italia2006, JEN9841, JSSX, Jack's Revenge, Jamesmcmahon0, Jetwave Dave, Jill Orly, Jmajonis, John of Reading, JohnMc, Joseph
Solis in Australia, JudithSouth, Kaihsu, Kekator, Khutuck, Koalorka, Komitsuki, Krazmo, Kyle Jewell, L1A1 FAL, Lavenderbunny, Legaiaflame, Lightningdonkey, LilHelpa, Lrenh, Macr86,
Magioladitis, Malis-cs, Marhault, Markm84, Martin19000, MatthewVanitas, Michael Courtney, Mikaey, MikeWilson, Milton Stanley, Misha kozh@hotmail.com, Nabokov, Nick Number,
Nukes4Tots, Oberiko, Octane, Oglahai, On Thermonuclear War, Orca1 9904, Petesimon2, Petri Krohn, Pol098, Pouya, Professor London, Quake44, ROG5728, RT222, ReYnd, Redxiv, Remnar,
Rent A Troop, Rich Farmbrough, Richardcavell, Riddley, Rjwilmsi, Rlandmann, RomanSpa, SMakabwe, SQL, Sam8, Sannse, SaveAmerica1776, Sbard, Sbmitc2, ShaunL, Someone not using his
real name, Squalla, Srleffler, Stanislao Avogadro, Stratosaster, Sturmwehr, Sukiari, Sus scrofa, SyntaxPC, TTS51207, TaintedMustard, Tamfang, Tekogi, Tgeairn, The space boy, Themoonisfull,
Thernlund, Thomas.W, Timwi, Tom harrison, Tom.Reding, Triona, Tropicus, Twalls, Twthmoses, VQuakr, Violetriga, Vladsinger, VoxLuna, WaltherWA2000, Wangedgar, Wesbo, Winterheart,
Wujuanyu, Xrstunt, Yaf, ZH Evers, Zhyla, Zombiegristle, 299 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:7.62x39 - FMJ - 1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:7.62x39_-_FMJ_-_1.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Malis
File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: A1, Ahmadi, Alex Smotrov,
Alvis Jean, Art-top, BagnoHax, Beetsyres34, Brandmeister, Cathy Richards, Counny, Cycn, Denniss, Dynamicwork, ELeschev, Endless-tripper, Ericmetro, EugeneZelenko, F l a n k e r, Fred J,
Fry1989, G.dallorto, Garynysmon, Herbythyme, Homo lupus, Illegitimate Barrister, Jake Wartenberg, MaggotMaster, MrAustin390, Ms2ger, Nightstallion, Palosirkka, Patrickpedia,
PeaceKeeper97, Pianist, R-41, Rainforest tropicana, Sebyugez, Skeezix1000, Solbris, Storkk, Str4nd, Tabasco, ThomasPusch, Toben, Twilight Chill, Xgeorg, Zscout370, , ,
4, 65 anonymous edits
Image:7.62x39 - FMJ - 2.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:7.62x39_-_FMJ_-_2.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Malis
File:Rifle cartridge comparison w scale.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rifle_cartridge_comparison_w_scale.png License: GNU Free Documentation License
Contributors: Rifle_cartridge_comparison.jpg: Richard C. Wysong II derivative work: FiremanDave6024 (talk)
File:Soviet-WW2-era-cartridges.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Soviet-WW2-era-cartridges.jpg License: Creative Commons Zero Contributors: DL24
File:7.62x39mm round.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:7.62x39mm_round.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Vladsinger
Image:RussianWP.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:RussianWP.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Graphic by Gary K. Roberts, D.D.S. based on the wound
profile method developed by Martin L. Fackler, M.D.
File:7.62x39 Russian.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:7.62x39_Russian.jpg License: Creative Commons Zero Contributors: User:W3bj3d1

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
//creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/