The 7.62x39mm cartridge is surprisingly versatile and has stood the test of time. First produced in 1945, it has been widely adopted for both official and civilian use, and today remains popular among recreational shooters. Many infamous platforms, such as the SKS rifle and AK-47, were designed to fire this cartridge.
Choosing the right rifle ammunition for the application is important, as bullets perform differently under each set of conditions and there are many different types of 7.62 ammo available. Let’s take a look at some of these.
7.62 Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) Bullets
Among the most common type of 7.62 is full metal jacket (FMJ) ammo. FMJ bullets have a lead core that’s encased in a copper jacket. This design creates a round that’s relatively inexpensive, accurate, and reliable. Full metal jacketed bullets offer excellent penetration.
FMJ bullets are most commonly used for target shooting and competition, as they offer a consistent performance. The copper jacket helps reduce barrel fouling and increases the accuracy of the round while improving penetration power.
Soft Point (SP) Bullets
Soft point (SP) bullets are similar to FMJ bullets, but they have an exposed lead core at the tip. This design allows the bullet to expand upon impact, creating a larger wound channel and more energy transfer to the target.
SP bullets are a great choice for hunting medium-sized game, as they expand upon impact and transfer maximum energy, generating more stopping power that is necessary to humanely and effectively dispatch game of all sizes.
Open-Tip Match (OTM) Bullets
Open-tip match (OTM) bullets are designed for precision shooting. OTM bullets have a hollow point in the nose that’s designed to increase accuracy and reduce wind resistance. However, these bullets, unlike hollow points, are not designed to expand on impact.
This makes OTM bullets great for long-range shooting, as the design helps the bullet remain stable in flight, and in fact, these bullets are often more accurate than FMJ bullets. This design also helps reduce barrel fouling.
Hollow Point (HP) Bullets
Hollow point (HP) bullets are designed to expand upon impact, creating a larger wound channel and more energy transfer to the target. HP bullets are most commonly used for self-defense or hunting, as they often generate greater stopping power than FMJ bullets.
The hollow point design also helps reduce the risk of over-penetration, which can be a safety concern in self-defense or hunting scenarios.
Quality 7.62 Full Metal Jacket, Hollow Point, And More
As with other cartidges, there are several different types bullets with which 7.62 ammo can be loaded. FMJ bullets are one of the most common types and are great for target shooting and competition. SP bullets are designed to expand upon impact and are perfect for hunting medium-sized game. OTM bullets are designed for precision shooting and HP bullets are designed for self-defense and hunting dangerous game.
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