7.62×39 Vs. .308: .30-Cal. Cold War

Which of the popular.308-cals has more to offer the average shooter than 7.62×39? The former cartridge is an intermediate cartridge, while the latter is a full-powered cartridge. These two cartridges have vastly different properties, even for amateur ballists. They do share some commonalities, however. First, they both have.30 calibers despite differences in projectile diameters. Second, their histories are somewhat similar. Both were created to feed Soviet and NATO (in the form of the 7.62x51mm small arms) during the Cold War. Today, both see military service around the world. Both are affordable, common, and available in a variety of firearm options. So, if you’re looking to buy a new.30 caliber rifle, which one of these cold warriors would be the best for you? The ultimate purpose of a gun or ammo question is what it does. 7.62×39 DevelopmentDeveloped in the Soviet Union at end of WWII, 7.62×39 could be described as the first truly refined intermediate cartridge. Although the Germans started with 8mm Kurz, the concept was not fully realized until the Russian M43 cartridge was in full-scale production. It was intended to be used in a new family of weapons, including the SKS and the RPD. However, the Soviets chose to keep the full-powered 7.62x54r for sniping, general-purpose machinegun roles. It was perfectly suited to be used in infantry rifles, light machinesguns and “submachine gun” roles (as the AK was originally classified in Soviet doctrine), but 7.62×39’s capabilities are not well known. It’s not used as such anymore. However, the recent revival in interest in Kalashnikovs means that 7.62×39 won’t be going away anytime soon..308 Winchester/7.62×51 NATO. Because.308 Winchester is so similar to 7.62×51 NATO, we will treat them as one and the same for the purposes this article. The two cartridges are technically distinct. They were both developed in the 1950s and are slightly older than 7.62×39. It’s difficult to argue that the West was not ahead of the curve in this area. The.308 NATO and 7.62 NATO fell squarely under the definition of a full power cartridge for a standard infantry rifle. This is partly why the U.S. replaced the M14 with a M16. It was chambered for the intermediate 5.56×45 NATO cartridge and.223 Remington. This is why 7.62×51 is still in NATO use today, but not in infantry rifles. Nearly 70 years after its adoption, 7.62 NATO continues to be a popular chambering for machine gun, sniper rifles, and designated marksman rifles. The former has clear advantages in close contact, but the latter has longer legs and better barrier penetration capabilities. The real question is how large is the difference in long-distance performance? And how should that affect your choice of cartridge?7.62×39 vs..308 Winchester Ballistics. We’ll start with 7.62×39 because it’s easier to discuss due to its limited ammo options. These specifications are nearly identical to the Soviet M43 load with the exception of the steel core. Modern commercial ammo imports contain only lead. The original M43 bullet had a boat tail. This is something that is only found on some 7.62×39 commercially available ammunition today. Although historically accurate, opinions differ on how much the inclusion of a water tail affects this cartridge’s accuracy due to its intermediate range. This cartridge can also be found with subsonic, hollow point and soft points loads. The soft points are irrelevant to the current discussion. The standard 7.62 NATO round has 400 fps less muzzle velocity than 7.62×39. It also has nearly 1,000 foot-pounds of energy. The 7.62 NATO doesn’t reach subsonic speed until 1,000 yards, while 7.62×39 does so at 600 yards. 7.62 NATO still travels at over 1,000 fps at 1,000 yards and has dropped nearly 400 in comparison to 7.62×39 at the exact same distance. Verdict? The larger 7.62 NATO is the clear winner if you are looking for long-range capability. The larger 7.62×39 is the clear winner if you want to have any kind of long-range capability. The Hornady’s.308 Winchester retains more velocity and energy at 1,000 yards than the M80 load and drops about 10 inches less. However, it still performs poorly in comparison to.308 Winchester. GECO Target VM 7.62×39 ammunition has a G1 BC value of.355, which allows it to remain supersonic for 700 yards. Loads like these are capable of pushing the limits of the cartridge’s maximum range but still fall short of 7.62×51 ammo. The longer legs of the.308 Winchester case allow for more powder capacity. No matter what cartridge you are discussing, more propellant equals greater velocity and generally longer ranges between like calibers. The.308’s projectiles are also longer and more powerful, making them more suitable for hunting. So how do the .30-cals match up in what some might consider more practical applications?7.62×39 Vs. .308 Winchester: ApplicationsHuntingGiven that both have been popular hunting cartridges in the U.S., perhaps a better comparison would be between their effects on targets within 400 yards. The bullet variety is another advantage of.308 Winchester’s most common projectile. This has led to a decline in the popularity of the 7.62×39 as an option for hunting. The lack of hunting-style soft point and ballistic-tip bullets has prompted ammunition manufacturers to reduce their production. Some hangers-on, Sellier and Bellot, and PPU still offer hunting loads. This is in contrast to the almost endless number of factory ammo and reloading parts available for.308 Winchester. Whatever you’re trying to hunt, at least in North America, there is almost certainly a more efficient projectile for it in .308 as opposed to 7.62×39.DefensiveHunting is not the only use for ammunition, however, especially when military cartridges are in question.You may debate between these two cartridges for a more tactical application such as home defense or a SHTF scenario. The 7.62×39 cartridge has a clear advantage in almost all aspects. This is due to its generally milder recoil. This allows for faster and more accurate follow up shots. It is why most major militaries made the transition from full-power to intermediate cartridges. Self-loading rifles that are chambered for.308 Winchester can hold 20 rounds. The 7.62×39 chambered rifles have a standard magazine capacity of 20 rounds. Those that are chambered for 7.62×39 usually have 30. The average 7.62×39 rifle is 30. No matter how you intend to use it, the.308 Winchester is still the best choice in terms of firearm choice. Although there are still options available from companies such as Ruger and CZ for the former, they are not nearly as numerous as for.308. Many deer were taken with a simple, iron-sighted SKS. Some hunting does not require top-of the-line gear. A Howa 1500 in.308 Winchester against an SKS in 7.62×39. Both will handle most medium American game, but the.308 Winchester is more accurate and can be used at longer ranges. The.308 has more tactical applications. You won’t be short of options, from military-pattern rifles such as the HK G3 or FN SCAR to the commercial AR-10 build, there are plenty of options. There are many 7.62×39 options available. There are still many good 7.62×39 options, from a variety of AK flavors to 7.62×39 AR-15s. The breakdown is similar to when comparing any full- or intermediate-power cartridges. The full-power cartridge has better range performance, can fire more projectile types (generally), and is more effective at penetration. The intermediate-power cartridge has a lower recoil and can be used for more tactical purposes. Modern fighting carbines and bolt-action hunting rifles are both available for both cartridges. However, the final decision is yours. Download your Storm Tactical printable target pack62 Printable MOA targets with DOT drills – Rifle range in YARDSThis amazing target pack comes from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.