7.62×39mm

Lateral view of a steel-cased 7.62×39mm FMJ cartridge.

The 7.62×39mm, pronounced "seven-six-two by thirty-nine", is an intermediate cartridge used for Russian guns.

It was based on the 7.62×54mmR cartridge. The bullet size is the same, but the case is much smaller so that soldiers could carry more bullets. It was made because the Soviet Union learned that full-sized bullets were not needed in most firefights. Most firefights happened in less than 300 meters, or medium- and short-range. At this range, it is more important to have many smaller bullets than a few large bullets.

The bullets are used for guns like the SKS, the AK-47, and the RPK.

Similar to many hunting bullets, it is powerful enough to kill a deer at 100 yards.

7.62×39mm Media

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  Steel-cased 7.62×39mm FMJ cartridge

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  7.62×39mm (fourth from left), shown alongside other cartridges

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  From left to right: 7.62×54mmR, 7.62×39 mm and 7.62×25mm Tokarev

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  7.62×39 mm bullet wound on an American soldier from the Vietnam War

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  7.62×39 mm maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).

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  From left to right: steel core, 57-N-231 standard AK military bullet with steel core, green tipped 57-N-231P tracer, the tracer cup (open at the bottom, made from copper washed steel) and lead tip. The jackets of both bullets are copper washed steel.

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  Wound profiles of Russian small-arms ammunition compiled by Martin Fackler on behalf of the U.S. military

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  Wound ballistics profile of 7.62×39 mm

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  7.62×39 mm ammunition and snap cap