7.62x39 bullet diameter

AK-47 » Ammunition

AK Sponsor:

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62x39 bullet diameter

Posted: 6/20/2018 7:09:46 PM EDT

What brand of cheap ammo has a bullet diameter closest to or at .308?

Posted: 6/20/2018 7:39:44 PM EDT

[#1]

.762 x .39 = .29718

Just under 30 caliber

7.62 x 51 will get you to .308

Posted: 6/20/2018 7:45:26 PM EDT

[#2]

Most foreign 7.62x39mm that I measured ran .309"-.310". Rarely found actual .311" and never .308"

This was 4-5 years ago or so, mostly Russian, Hungarian, Chinese and Romanian. Did not measure US made...

Posted: 6/20/2018 7:52:17 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
.762 x .39 = .29718

Just under 30 caliber

7.62 x 51 will get you to .308

View Quote

Posted: 6/20/2018 7:54:03 PM EDT

[#4]

Check your bore first and make sure it's .308. Of the 5 x39s I've owned only 1 was a .308, all the others were .310.

The closest I've ever found was an Academy brand with .309 projectiles, to 100yds it wasn't too bad and ran 4.99/20

Posted: 6/20/2018 11:30:49 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Check your bore first and make sure it's .308. Of the 5 x39s I've owned only 1 was a .308, all the others were .310.

The closest I've ever found was an Academy brand with .309 projectiles, to 100yds it wasn't too bad and ran 4.99/20

View Quote

It's .308

Faxon barrel

Posted: 6/20/2018 11:31:47 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Most foreign 7.62x39mm that I measured ran .309"-.310". Rarely found actual .311" and never .308"

This was 4-5 years ago or so, mostly Russian, Hungarian, Chinese and Romanian. Did not measure US made...

View Quote

You wouldn't happen to remember which was .309 would you?

Posted: 6/22/2018 10:17:35 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
.762 x .39 = .29718

Just under 30 caliber

7.62 x 51 will get you to .308

View Quote

That's not how it works bud

Posted: 7/3/2018 4:06:14 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

You wouldn't happen to remember which was .309 would you?

View Quote

No, I did not keep notes on that. I was just curious, since one always hears .311". There seemed to be a lot of variation from different lots and manufacturers.

Posted: 7/10/2018 4:44:00 PM EDT

[#9]

You can use .311 bullets in a barrel made for .308. It will not significantly raise pressure:

Read this: https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Can_you_shoot__311_bullets_in_a__308_barrel_/42-446915/

Posted: 7/10/2018 5:30:58 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
You can use .311 bullets in a barrel made for .308. It will not significantly raise pressure:

Read this: https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/Can_you_shoot__311_bullets_in_a__308_barrel_/42-446915/

View Quote

That's one of my concerns the other is barrel life.

Posted: 7/12/2018 8:25:40 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
.762 x .39 = .29718

Just under 30 caliber

7.62 x 51 will get you to .308

View Quote

Your math is useless.

Hornady bullets are. 310" diameter.

Most AK-47 bores are .311" to .313".

.311" bullets are considered standard for ComBlok ammo.

Most USA manufactured 7.62x39 barrels have a .310" bores.

You can safely shoot bullets .001" to .002" larger than bore diameter.

You can handload .308" to .311" bullets in 7.62x39mm. Most 7.62x39 die sets come with two expander balls so the neck will hold the bullets you decide to load.

In theory, fat bullets should shoot more accurately than loose fitting bullets. In theory doesn't always hold up in "practice".

Posted: 7/23/2018 9:56:05 PM EDT

[#12]

I just did some testing and happened to pull one bullet of each type, in order to get an accurate micrometer reading of the bullet.
Of the ones I tested, PPU and Brown Bear had the smallest diameter bullets at .309".
Geco, S&B steel case, Silver Bear and Red Army Standard had .310" bullets, most common size for this caliber.
The Fiocchi bullet I measured was .311" in diameter. The Fiocchi loads were accurate in both of the x39 carbines I tested them in, but only clocked 1950 to 2010 fps, while all the other loads were 2380 to 2480 fps.
https://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/195116-more-7-62-x-39-testing.html

Posted: 7/23/2018 10:37:51 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
I just did some testing and happened to pull one bullet of each type, in order to get an accurate micrometer reading of the bullet.
Of the ones I tested, PPU and Brown Bear had the smallest diameter bullets at .309".
Geco, S&B steel case, Silver Bear and Red Army Standard had .310" bullets, most common size for this caliber.
The Fiocchi bullet I measured was .311" in diameter. The Fiocchi loads were accurate in both of the x39 carbines I tested them in, but only clocked 1950 to 2010 fps, while all the other loads were 2380 to 2480 fps.
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/195116-more-7-62-x-39-testing.html

View Quote

Thank you sir

Posted: 8/26/2018 9:38:23 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Most foreign 7.62x39mm that I measured ran .309"-.310". Rarely found actual .311" and never .308"

This was 4-5 years ago or so, mostly Russian, Hungarian, Chinese and Romanian. Did not measure US made...

View Quote

Both a case of Barnaul and a case of Wolff I've ordered in the last year from SGammo.com consistently measure out at the same measurements you stated DDog... 7.62x39 is really 31 Cal masquerading as a .30 Caliber... I've got a very limited quantity of Chinese 7.62's with a 67' heastamp on them I bought from when I first got into AK's in 93'... Measures out very close to .311...

Posted: 9/21/2018 10:20:16 AM EDT

[#15]

I usually find .311 to .313 bullets in higher weights (around 150gr) that are more intended for 303s and such. They all work fine anyway in my experience.

Posted: 3/23/2019 9:55:55 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
.762 x .39 = .29718

Just under 30 caliber

7.62 x 51 will get you to .308

If your 7.62x39 is measuring .308” it’s bad.

Optimal size is .310/.311”

Expect keyholes from .308” bullets from an AK.

Posted: 3/24/2019 8:02:23 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

If your 7.62x39 is measuring .308” it’s bad.

Optimal size is .310/.311”

Expect keyholes from .308” bullets from an AK.

View Quote

Not necessarily. Testing I did showed decent accuracy, almost as well as the proper .310-310.5" diameter bullets. Velocity was a bit lower though.
2 thousandths undersize isn't that much.
https://www.perfectunion.com/vb/ruger-mini-14-mini-30/158641-308-diameter-bullets-mini-30-a.html

Posted: 5/30/2019 4:29:40 PM EDT

[#18]

I have several kinds of Wolf, some unknown dummy rounds and Golden Tiger. Everything I measured was .310 to .311 right at the end of the brass. The only 7.62x39 .308 barrels I know of were on the early Ruger Mini-30. that changed at some point but I have forgotten when. I haven't been concerned about a Mini-30 since I got rid of mine back in the '90s.

Posted: 5/30/2019 5:37:15 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

If your 7.62x39 is measuring .308” it’s bad.

Optimal size is .310/.311”

Expect keyholes from .308” bullets from an AK.

View Quote

Um, no.

I have shot lots of .308 bullets in 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R and never experienced a keyhole.

Look at the lands in an SKS barrel sometime. They are very tall and allow plenty of grip on the bullet even if they are .002"-.003" undersize.

Accuracy is only slightly affected and stayed plenty good for hunting.

Ammo loaded with quality .308 hunting bullets typically shot as well or sometimes better than FMJ military ball.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 7.62x39 bullet diameter

AK-47 » Ammunition

AK Sponsor:

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us