Brass Case 7.62x39 Ammo
Hey all, we here at True Shot Ammo are going to cover brass case
7.62x39 ammo today. The caliber is popular with shooters of all types across generations. Everyone from milsurp shooters to modern day AK and Mini Thirty shooters employ this caliber. We are going to delve into some of the manufacturers of this type of
ammo in addition to discussing various considerations and benefits of brass 7.62x39. Without further ado, let’s cover brass case 7.62x39 ammo.
What is 7.62x39?
The
7.62×39 cartridge was introduced in 1944 and represents an early intermediate cartridge developed by the Soviets for use in a variety of different firearms. The goal was for infantry arms such as light machine guns, semi-automatic carbines, and select-fire rifles to utilize a common cartridge. This was achieved with designs such as the SKS, AK-47, and RPD and RPK light machine guns.
The cartridge officially entered service in 1945, serving as a standard rifle issue cartridge for the Soviets for most of the Cold War, seeing limited usage even today. Beyond the Soviet Union, countless other countries on nearly every continent have utilized the cartridge in one form or another. This is due to the fact that many firearms in the caliber were exported and sold to other countries as newer firearms were introduced.
Recoil-wise, the cartridge features a mild recoil impulse that is considerably tamer than something like the
7.62x54r. When compared to something like the
5.56, the recoil of the
7.62×39 is noticeably stouter but is by no means abusive. This mild recoil allows both new shooters and inexperienced shooters to employ the 7.62×39. As an intermediate cartridge, the round is well-suited for use in autoloading mechanisms which benefit from short cartridge lengths.
Purchase 7.62x39 Ammo
Steel Casings Are Common with 7.62x39 Ammo
Of course, seasoned shooters are aware that steel casings are common with
7.62x39 ammo. This practice was common during the Cold War era as military
ammunition featured steel casings due to their economic nature. In today’s era, steel casings are still cheaper to work with than brass casings, meaning that many commercial offerings continue to use casings of this type.
Notably, many loadings featuring steel casings are manufactured in Eastern European countries. Specifically, many ex-Soviet countries export loadings of this type such as Romania, Kyrgyzstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In short, brass cased 7.62x39 offerings are not as prevalent as steel cased offerings.
Brass Case 7.62x39 Ammo
Generally speaking,
ammunition of this type is not nearly as prevalent as steel cased
7.62x39 ammo is. Despite this, there are multiple companies now that are producing
7.62x39 ammunition with brass casings. These companies hail from various countries and produce numerous types of
7.62x39 loadings. Most loadings are produced in the form of full metal jacket (FMJ) loadings while others can be had with hollow point bullets or premium, specialty projectiles.
PMC,
Sellier & Bellot,
PPU,
Sterling,
Armscor, and
Igman are among the producers of brass case 7.62x39 ammo.
Notable Examples of Brass Case 7.62x39 Ammo
As mentioned above, there are multiple producers of brass case
7.62x39 ammunition. These loadings are available in many quantities and are well-suited for use cases such as plinking and training. Additionally, these selected loadings are non-corrosive and feature lead core projectiles. This is to say that shooters will not need to worry about corrosion with these range safe loadings.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of every single brass case
7.62x39 ammo offering on the market. These offerings and others will serve shooters well in many use cases and are of high quality. Additionally,
bulk 7.62x39 ammo quantities exist in various forms such as case quantities and even spam cans.
What About Military Surplus Offerings?
While most military surplus offerings in the caliber tend to feature steel casings, some surplus offerings utilize brass casings. A notable example comes in the form of Yugoslavian surplus M67 spec
7.62x39 ammunition. These loadings depart from the norm and feature brass casings and non-magnetic projectiles. Despite brass casings and being range safe, M67 spec loadings notably feature corrosive primers. This means that shooters should be prepared for a thorough cleaning session after use to ensure corrosion is prevented. In short, while most surplus loadings feature steel casings, examples of surplus brass cased
7.62x39 ammo exist and are still in circulation.
Is Brass Cased 7.62x39 Ammo More Expensive?
Yes, brass cased
7.62x39 ammo is more expensive than its steel cased counterparts. This is due to the fact that raw brass material is more expensive than steel is. Naturally, increased material costs come with higher price tags for consumers. Brass case loadings are also generally made to higher standards than their steel counterparts are. These loadings are typically manufactured in accredited facilities and adhere to high standards. The result is reliable and consistent
7.62x39 ammunition. Put plainly, you get what you pay for when you pay a bit more for brass cased 7.62x39 ammo.
Is Brass Case 7.62x39 Corrosive?
Generally speaking, the brass cased
7.62x39 ammo one will find on the market will not be corrosive. An overwhelming majority of modern offerings utilize non-corrosive Boxer primers. This means that if someone were to
purchase ammo from companies such as
ATS,
PMC,
Belom, or
Sellier & Bellot, one will not need to worry about corrosion. Of course, while most brass cased loadings of this type are not corrosive, some exceptions do exist. As mentioned above, the Yugoslavian surplus M67
ammo is corrosive in nature despite having brass casings and lead core projectiles.
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Potential for Reloading
A big benefit of brass case loadings is the fact that they have the potential to be reliably reloaded. This is due to the fact that reloading brass casings is significantly easier than steel casings. Steel cases are harder on reloading equipment than brass casings. Additionally, brass is more malleable than steel, meaning that it is easy to work with and reshape if needed.
The use of Boxer primers by many commercial brass case
7.62x39 ammo offerings also is a boon to reloaders. These types of primers utilize a consistent sizing standard and are easily reloaded unlike Berdan primers which are inconsistently sized. In short, the use of brass casings and Boxer primers makes brass
7.62x39 loadings easy for reloaders to work with provided brass is in a recoverable and safe condition.
Typically Range Safe
Generally speaking, an overwhelming majority of brass cased
7.62x39 ammo is going to be range safe in nature. This is to say that the loadings do not feature steel core projectiles and that they can be utilized at indoor and outdoor ranges alike. Restrictions on steel core
ammo exist at these ranges due to tendencies to damage range equipment, ricochet potential, and fire risks. Additionally, some ranges bar the use of
ammunition with any casings but brass. This is to say that some ranges ban the use of aluminum and steel ammo. Brass casings obviously comply with this requirement and are good to go. In short, most brass case 7.62x39 ammo is range safe.
Conclusion
All in all, it is important for shooters to understand that brass case
7.62x39 ammo offerings exist and are worth considering. While not as prevalent or cheap as steel cased
ammo, brass
7.62x39 loadings are certainly worth the price of admission due to their consistency, reliability, and range safe nature. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a number of brass
7.62x39 ammo offerings in our inventory of
ammo for sale. Beyond 7.62x39 ammo, we also carry ammo for popular calibers such as
9mm,
5.56,
12 gauge, and
.22 LR. Whether you want to
buy 7.62x39 ammo or
buy bulk ammo of a different type, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
