Light bullets
Many varmint-oriented loads use light bullets designed for rapid expansion. Their high muzzle velocity should not be confused with the behavior of a heavier match or hunting bullet.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · COMPACT RIFLE CARTRIDGE
7.62x39
A short, tapered, bottleneck rifle cartridge with its own bullet and case dimensions. Sporting soft points, full-metal-jacket loads, and other constructions remain separate products.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.150–2.200 in
54.610–55.880 mm - Case length · max
- 1.528 in
38.811 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.311 in
7.899 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.447 in
11.354 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Compact rifle cartridge
- Bullet specification
- 0.3110 in / 7.899 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 7 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 111–255 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
7.62x39 is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 7.62 × 39 mm. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
7.62×39, 7.62×51, and 7.62×54R are different cartridges. The first number alone is inadequate identification.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The 7.62×39 arose from the Soviet wartime intermediate-cartridge program associated with the 1943 designation M43. It pursued a cartridge between the pistol rounds used in submachine guns and the full-size ammunition of traditional service rifles. Its broad service use developed after the Second World War.
The SKS and later the AK-pattern rifle family made it one of the most internationally recognizable military cartridge designs. Civilian surplus rifles and sporting firearms subsequently gave it a substantial life outside military service. Its history also had an unexpected connection to precision shooting: the case family behind the later PPC target cartridges traces back through related Russian designs. The 7.62×39 should therefore be understood as a particular intermediate cartridge with a long platform history, not as a generic 7.62 mm round or as the full-size 7.62×54R cartridge that preceded it in Russian service.
Historical sources: Sierra: 7.62x39 cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Longer bullets
Streamlined match bullets can retain velocity differently downrange. Bullet length, construction, rifling twist, and magazine constraints are product-specific; grain weight alone does not describe them.
Specialty construction
Monolithic, bonded, tipped, and subsonic products are distinct load types when offered. A match label describes a target role and does not automatically establish a hunting application.
In the cited 7.62x39 examples, bullet weights are 111, 123, 124, 255 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
111 grains
2,350 fps
MonoFlex®
123 grains
2,350 fps
SP
124 grains
2,350 fps
FMJ
Compare all 7 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady80788 | 111 gr 7.19 g | MonoFlex® | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗ |
| Federal76239B | 123 gr 7.97 g | SP | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 20 in | Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗ |
| FederalF76239FS1 | 123 gr 7.97 g | FUSION | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady80784 | 123 gr 7.97 g | SST® (20" Bbl) | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 20 in | Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗ |
| Hornady80786 | 123 gr 7.97 g | HP Match (20" Bbl) | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 20 in | Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗ |
| FederalA76239A | 124 gr 8.04 g | FMJ | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 20 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| Hornady80787 | 255 gr 16.52 g | SUB-X™ (20" Bbl) | 1,050 fps 320 m/s | 20 in | Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
7.62x39: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 111 gr Hornady MonoFlex® | Hornady | 0: 2350; 100: 1898; 200: 1510; 300: 1209; 400: 1026; 500: 921 |
| 123 gr Federal SP | Federal | 0: 2350; 100: 2055; 200: 1783; 300: 1539; 400: 1329; 500: 1164 |
| 124 gr Federal FMJ | Federal | 0: 2350; 100: 2078; 200: 1824; 300: 1595; 400: 1392; 500: 1224 |
| 255 gr Hornady SUB-X™ (20" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 1050; 100: 988; 200: 940; 300: 898; 400: 862; 500: 829 |
| 123 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2350; 100: 2077; 200: 1823; 300: 1593; 400: 1389; 500: 1222 |
| 123 gr Hornady SST® (20" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 2350; 100: 2040; 200: 1756; 300: 1503; 400: 1290; 500: 1129 |
| 123 gr Hornady HP Match (20" Bbl) | Hornady | 0: 2350; 100: 2053; 200: 1780; 300: 1535; 400: 1324; 500: 1159 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 7.62x39?
A short, tapered, bottleneck rifle cartridge with its own bullet and case dimensions. Sporting soft points, full-metal-jacket loads, and other constructions remain separate products.
What diameter does 7.62x39 use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3110 inches (7.899 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
7.62×39, 7.62×51, and 7.62×54R are different cartridges. The first number alone is inadequate identification.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 67 ↗
- Sierra: 7.62x39 cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 187 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 56–57 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.