7.62x39
The AK round in an AR. Cheap steel-case ammo; good for hogs and deer in brush.
Good for: AR-15, Deer/hog, Defense
A typical factory load is a 123 gr soft point bullet at about 2,350 ft/s, with roughly 1,508 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle.
Typical load
123 grsoft point · 16" barrelMuzzle speed
2,350 ft/sMuzzle energy
1,508 ft-lbsTypical BC (G1)
≈ 0.28typical, varies by brandTwist rate
1:10Practical range
200 ydPoint-blank range
215 yd6" vital zoneHunting today
Yes: hogs and deer inside 150–200 yd with soft points.On the AR Caliber Guide chart
Made for
The AK round in an AR. Cheap steel-case ammo; good for hogs and deer in brush.
Typical load
123 grsoft point · 16" barrel
Typical muzzle fps
2,350ft/s
Typical muzzle energy
1,508ft-lbs
Typical BC (G1)
≈ 0.28typical, varies by brand
Twist rate for typical load
1:10
Practical range
200 yd
What to change
Barrel: Change · Bolt: Change · 7.62x39 bolt · Magazine: Change · Dedicated 7.62x39 AR mags
Open the full AR Caliber Guide chart →
On the Military Surplus chart
Service history
Soviet intermediate round for the AK-47 and SKS.
Service rifles
SKS, AK-47/AKM
Military load
123 grFMJ
Typical muzzle fps
2,350ft/s
Typical muzzle energy
1,508ft-lbs
Typical BC (G1)
≈ 0.28typical, varies by brand
Twist rate for typical load
1:9.45
MPBR (iron sights)
215 yd6" vital zone · Near zero 13 yd · Far zero 183 yd · Min PBR 0 yd · Max PBR 215 yd · Sight-in @100 3.00" high
Hunting today
Yes: hogs and deer inside 150–200 yd with soft points.
Open the full Military Surplus chart →
Head-to-head comparisons
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Speed, energy and BC are typical figures for the listed load; real numbers vary by brand, lot and barrel length. Always check the ammo maker's data for your exact load.