The 7.62x39 Russian is the grand-daddy for some of the most accurate Benchrest cartridges in the world. The .220 Russian was formed from the 7.62x39 which in turn was the parent case for both the 22PPC and the 6PPC.

Additionally the 7.62x39 is one of only a very few mid sized .30 calibre centrefire rifle cases and it is probably the only one in widespread use today. This makes the 7.62x39 case the only choice for a short to medium range rifle.

It will quickly become evident, as you proceed through the page, that this little .30 caliber cartridge can be highly versatile in fulfilling a number of roles. However the one role which will not be covered here is its use in the SKS and AK families of military autoloading rifles. There are literally hundreds of internet sites devoted to those rifles and there is no need to duplicate that information on this page.

I first became interested in the 7.62x39 cartridge through my Thumper Project. There were so many positive replies to my 7.62 Thumper webpage that I decided there was a need for a page devoted entirely to this cartridge and the shooters interested in it. I thought I was the only person who was interested in a 7.62x39 bolt action rifle but it turns out there are lots of people out there with similar ideas. This page is for you.

If you have a website of interest, let me know and a link will be added here.

 Rules for the safe operation of subsonic loads:

1. Drill Case Flasholes to 3.5mm (9/64") to allow all the primer flash to enter the case and ignite the powder completely.
2. Use Magnum Primers for maximum primer flash and better powder ignition.
3. Lube all bullets. Moly is good, animal fat is better.
4. Lubricate the bore regularily while shooting.
5. Never crimp bullets into cases. Never seat bullets "into the lands."
6. Try not to use powder charges of less than 40% load density.
7. If load density is less than 40%, use tamping or fillers to keep the powder at the bottom of the case.
8. Make sure the bullet exits the bore after each shot.
9. Use only the fastest burning pistol powders - N310, N312, Bullseye, Clays, Titewad, HP38, Red Dot.
10. Any sort of slow ignition or hangfire is a warning of iminent Secondary Explosive Effect (SEE).

For silent operations at the distances of up to 400 meters (440 yards), Soviet engineers developed different loads. These loads - SP-5, SP-6 and, recently, PAB-9 are sub-sonic 9mm cartridges and used in integrally silenced VSS Sniper Rifle, VSK Sniper Rifle and AS Assault Rifle. Un-silenced weapons firing the 9x39mm cartridge include the SR-3 Compact Assault Rifle, 9A-91 Compact Assault Rifleand OC-14 Bullpup Assault Rifle.

Loads are based on M43 case (7.62x39mm), re-necked to accept heavy 9 mm bullet. SP-5 (OAL 55-56mm) was designed as "sniper" load and has Full Metal Jacketed bullet with small steel core and lead behind it. SP-6 (OAL 55-56mm) was designed as "assault" load with Semi-Jacketed bullet with pointed, hardened steel core exposed at the nose of the bullet. This cartridge is capable of piercing 8mm of steel at 100 meters (110 yards). At 400 meters SP-6 is still capable to pierce 2mm steel plate.

Worlds' most common cartridges that used in silenced guns are 9mm NATO and .45ACP. When compared to them, SP-5 series loads gave tvice as much muzzle energy and at least 3 times longer effective range.

Both SP-5 and SP-6 bullets weights approx. 16 gramms (ca. 235 grains) with a velocity of 285-295 mps. Those loads adopted by spec-op units of Soviet Union Internal Affair Ministry forces and by Soviet Army Spetznaz in 1980s and still in service with different Russian special operations forces.

PAB-9 is recently developed and more cheap version of SP-6. It also has heavier bullet - 17.3 gramms (ca. 255 grains) with hardened steel core.