You’ve discovered our in-depth look at 7.62x39 ballistics from numerous ammo manufacturers.
Clicking on the links below will jump to your favorite ammo company and unlock the data you need for your preferred factory load.
Jump to an ammo company: Atomic | ATS | Barnaul | Belom | CorBon | Federal | Fiocchi | G2 Research | Geco | Hornady | HSM | Igman | Nosler | PMC | Prvi Partizan | Remington | Sellier & Bellot | TulAmmo | Underwood | Winchester | Wolf
Jump to a ballistics chart: Barnaul 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ | Barnaul 7.62x39 123 grain HP | Barnaul 7.62x39 125 grain SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Belom 7.62x39 123 grain Steel Core FMJ | Belom 7.62x39 123 grain Tactical Core FMJ
Jump to a ballistics chart: Federal Power-Shok 7.62x39 123 grain JSP | Federal American Eagle 7.62x39 124 grain FMJ
Jump to a ballistics chart: Hornady Black 7.62x39 123 grain SST | Hornady Subsonic 7.62x39 255 grain Sub-X
Jump to a ballistics chart: HSM Lead Free 7.62x39 123 grain TSX Boattail | HSM Training 7.62x39 123 grain FMJBT
Jump to a ballistics chart: Nosler 7.62x39 123 grain Ballistic Tip | Nosler 7.62x39 123 grain Expansion Tip | Nosler Varmageddon 7.62x39 123 grain FB Tipped
Jump to a ballistics chart: Prvi Partizan 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ | Prvi Partizan 7.62x39 123 grain PSP | Prvi Partizan 7.62x39 123 grain RN SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Sellier & Bellot 7.62x39 124 grain FMJ | Sellier & Bellot 7.62x39 124 grain SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: TulAmmo 7.62x39 124 grain FMJ | TulAmmo 7.62x39 124 grain HP | TulAmmo 7.62x39 154 grain SP
Jump to a ballistics chart: Winchester PDX1 Defender 7.62x39 120 grain SCHP | Winchester Deer Season XP 7.62x39 123 grain Extreme Point | Winchester Power Point 7.62x39 123 grain PP | Winchester USA 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ
Jump to a ballistics chart: Wolf Performance 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ | Wolf Performance 7.62x39 123 grain HP | Wolf Performance Mil-Spec 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ | Wolf Polyformance 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ | Wolf Polyformance 7.62x39 123 grain HP | Wolf Military Classic 7.62x39 124 grain FMJ | Wolf Military Classic 7.62x39 124 grain HP | Wolf Military Classic 7.62x39 124 grain SP | Wolf Polyformance 7.62x39 125 grain SP
Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturer and is only informational. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load. When manufacturer ballistic data was unavailable, ballistics were calculated using a ballistics calculator.
The trajectory measures the bullet’s flight path. We measure it in terms of bullet drop at a given distance from the end of the barrel.
A flat shooting cartridge is ideal for long-range shooting because the shooter will require fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. A flat trajectory also means that a cartridge will be more forgiving of small ranging mistakes.
Below is a sample 7.62x39 bullet drop chart that gives you a general idea of how the 7.62x39 trajectory looks.
Note: The chart above is an example of one 7.62x39 load, and actual ballistic performance may vary depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while shooting.
When comparing the 7.62x39 and .308 Winchester, the 7.62x39 trajectory seems embarrassing, but it still has a reasonably flat trajectory out to 300 yards. Capable of MOA shooting in the hands of an experienced rifleman. However, after that, it begins to nose dive towards the ground. At close range, the 7.62x39 is a very flat shooting round, which makes shot placement much easier within 300 yards.
The poor trajectory is due to a low ballistic coefficient (BC) of 0.27 and a lower muzzle velocity, among other factors.
Muzzle velocity is how fast the bullet leaves the barrel, measured in Feet-Per-Second (fps). Many factors contribute to muzzle velocity, including the barrel length, bullet weight, and amount of propellant. So, a bolt action rifle with a 24-inch barrel could produce higher muzzle velocities than a semi-automatic carbine with a 16-inch barrel.
The Sellier & Bellot full metal jacket (FMJ) 124 gr 7.62x39 Russian has a muzzle velocity of 2,421 fps, while the TulAmmo 154-grain bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2,329 fps. The heavier bullet is a bit slower but is still propelled at acceptable speeds for most American shooters to achieve excellent terminal performance, whether hunting hogs, whitetail deer, or using it for self-defense.
Especially considering that Hornady Black 123-grain SST is only slightly faster, with a muzzle velocity of 2,350 fps.
Muzzle energy is how much force the bullet leaves the barrel with, measured in foot-pounds of energy (ft-lbs).
Velocity and bullet weight are the contributing factors of muzzle energy that often translate into the amount of stopping power and terminal ballistics of a bullet.
Obviously, you can achieve varying specs when reloading or hand-loading rounds, as most factory-loaded ammo has a muzzle energy of 1,400 to 1,700 ft-lbs.
The Igman 123-grain FMJ is on the higher end of the spectrum at 1,776 ft-lbs, and the Atomic Tactical Cycling Subsonic 220-grain hollow point boat tail (HPBT) is at the opposite end with 539 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.
The Wolf Military Classic soft point (SP) 124-grain bullet has a muzzle energy of 1,589 ft-lbs, while the Wolf Performance hollow point (HP) 123-grain bullet has a lower muzzle velocity of 1,524 ft-lbs. Placing both rounds squarely in the middle of the other variants.
The 7.62x39 Soviet, not to be confused with the 7.62 NATO, is an intermediate rifle cartridge often fired from an SKS, AK-47, and other light machine guns, so there are plenty of other cartridges to compare it to.
It’s much more capable than handgun calibers, such as the 45 ACP, but it can’t compete when stacked up against long-range calibers like the 6.5 Creedmoor.
The sweet spot for the 7.62x39 is amongst the 223 Remington, 30-30 Winchester, 300 Blackout, and 350 Legend. However, each caliber has its benefits and drawbacks in various scenarios.
Check out our article for a more detailed comparison of the 7.62x39 vs 300 Blackout.
Check out our article for a more detailed comparison of the 7.62x39 vs 5.56 Nato.
The team at Ammo.com has rounded up and answered several of the most commonly asked questions we receive about 7.62x39 ballistics.
The drop of a 7.62 bullet at 300 yards is about -14” if you’re talking about the 7.62x39 Soviet.
The 7.62x39 is comparable to the 30-30 and 300 Blackout.
The lethal distance for 7.62x39 is about 200 yards for deer hunting and about 400 yards for military use.
7.62x39 ammo is good for hunting medium game, such as whitetail deer, and home defense.
The barrel length doesn’t affect the velocity and accuracy of 7.62x39 ammunition as much as many other rounds; however, a 16-inch barrel is recommended for most hunting scenarios.
The effective range of the 7.62x39mm round when used in an AK-47 is about 300 yards.
The effective range of a 7.62x39 round is 400 yards for military use.
7.62x39 Ballistics Tables For Major Ammo Manufacturers originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.