There was a time when 7.62 full metal jacket was one of the cheapest grades of ammo out there. It kept SKS shooters in supply through long, tireless range sessions, giving them the ability to burn brass on the cheap.
Steady surplus supplies kept prices low, and the fact that it produces relatively little recoil made it perfect for high-volume target shooting. Plus, it’s not a bad performer at intermediate ranges.
On top of that, the cartridge offers decent performance for defensive applications as well as for hunting game up to medium size – if not a little bigger.
For all these reasons and more, 7.62 ammo was popular – but things are changing. The price has been on a steady upward trajectory.
Granted, this has also been the case with many other calibers, and the price of ammo has gone through the roof generally – but 7.62 specifically has been seeing pretty sharp increases.
But why? Let’s take a quick look at this.
Behind the 7.62x39mm Price Hike
First let’s take a look at some of the things that have kept the 7.62x39mm cartridge so cheap for so long.
One is that it has been loaded by many countries around the world, en masse, especially countries that were once under the Soviet sphere of influence. This is the cartridge that fed the AK-47, one of the most widely produced rifles of all time.
The wide production resulted in a massive surplus of ammo and this kept supplies flowing pretty steadily into our domestic supply. There was also minimal competition for the cartridge from our own military, so for the most part, civilian shooters got to have their way.
That has changed in the past few years, and one of the big things impacting the supply and cost of 7.62x39mm ammo is the Russian war in Ukraine.
As of September 2023, the United States has not accepted imports of Russian ammunition. The problem here is that the largest producers of this cartridge in the world are Russian. Consider Tula Cartridge Works and Wolf Ammo.
Tula, specifically, is one of the reasons we had such cheap 7.62 full metal jacket in this country, but supplies are drying up and it looks like no more are coming in, at least not from Russia.
Now, granted, there are other producers of 7.62 ammo out there, like Norma and MaxxTech, but you know, this is a matter of simple economics. As supply is limited, if demand remains constant, prices will rise. And, let’s be honest, if anything, demand has increased, not remained constant. So we’re getting it coming and going.
There are still stockpiles out there where you might be able to get Russian-made ammo that hasn’t been bought yet, but on the whole, those are going fast. So, there you have it. You’ll still be able to get your favorite FMJ cartridge; just expect it to be harder to find and much more expensive.
Can You Still Get 7.62 Full Metal Jacket Online?
Yes, if you know where to look. Just be prepared for it to be a bit more expensive than usual, and don’t expect to find TulAmmo.
Check out Bucking Horse Outpost. They carry a wide range of popular calibers in sought-after brands, and they even have some 7.62 full metal jacket in stock right now.
Take a look through what they have available and while you’re on their website, don’t miss out on a chance to score one of their hot deals or police trade-in specials.
