Popular and historically significant rifle platforms from the Eastern Bloc, such as the SKS and AK-47, have been chambered in 7.62x39mm Soviet. Millions of these rifles made their way around the world under the Soviet sphere of influence.
With the fall of the Soviet Union, many of these rifles (and the ammo they shot) flooded the U.S. surplus market.
And so here we are, with a whole lot of 7.62 full metal jacket ammo. But how does it shoot?
How Bullet Weight and Powder Charge Affect Performance
The first thing you need to keep in mind when searching for a ballistic assessment is that a single cartridge does not produce the same performance across the board.
There are many factors that will influence the performance of the projectile, not the least of which are bullet weight, powder charge, and barrel length.
The longer the barrel, the more time gases have to expand behind the bullet, so all things being equal, longer barrels produce higher muzzle velocities and accuracy.
Bullet weight and powder change also impact muzzle velocity and energy, and will impact the performance of a round.
Muzzle Velocity, Energy, Trajectory
For the purpose of this short post, we will look at the ballistic performance of Ammo, Inc.’s Signature 7.62 full metal jacket ammo.
These cartridges are loaded with 122gr bi-metal jacketed bullets with a lead core. They’re loaded in steel casings and use non-corrosive Berdan primers.
Depending slightly on barrel length, they produce muzzle velocities of around 2396 FPS and muzzle energies of about 1555 ft-lbs.
If you zero a rifle with this ammo at 100 yards, there will be little to no bullet rise, but the bullet will drop by about 10” at 200 yards.
It’s a well-known fact that 7.62x39mm has a pretty badly drooped trajectory which magnifies itself beyond 100 yards, and that beyond 200 the cartridge is not particularly effective for combat – this makes it a less-than-ideal cartridge for hunting at extended range, and pretty bad for long-range shooting.
Yet, up close, it offers pretty decent performance and stopping power.
When to Use 7.62×39 Full Metal Jacket vs. Hollow Point
Another question to consider is when to use 7.62 full metal jacket ammo and when to use hollow point or soft-point ammo.
Full metal jacket ammo is engineered for ballistic stability and penetration characteristics. It is designed to hit a target and keep on going without deforming. This makes FMJ ammo ideal for high-volume target shooting.
Hollow-point ammo is designed to expand on contact with a target, dumping all of its energy without over-penetrating.
This makes hollow-point and soft-point ammo better for defensive applications as well as for hunting (at close and intermediate ranges).
Does 7.62x39mm Have More Stopping Power Than 5.56?
Comparing the muzzle velocities of most 5.56 rounds vs. 7.62x39mm, it’s easy to see the winner, at least at close range.
The average 7.62x39mm round produces around 1500 ft-lbs at the muzzle compared to about 1300 ft-lbs for the 5.56. That’s a whole lot more, giving the 7.62 better stopping power at close ranges.
With that said, the 5.56 is a much flatter-shooting round, making it arguably superior at greater ranges.
Can You Reload Steel Casings?
One thing to note is that many 7.62x39mm rounds are loaded into steel casings. These will not damage your gun, as they are annealed (soft), but they also cannot be reloaded.
Where Can You Get 7.62 Full Metal Jacket Ammo Online?
Check out Bucking Horse Outpost. They sell a wide range of ammo, including 7.62x39mm, and they offer bulk deals as well. If your local shop doesn’t have what you shoot, get it online.