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About 7.62x54R Ammunition
The 7.62x54r was developed by the Russian Empire and introduced in 1891. The cartridge was developed alongside the Model 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle. After its introduction, the cartridge was utilized in other rifles and machine guns used by the Soviet Union and other powers. Notable examples of other firearms chambered in the cartridge include the Dragunov (SVD), SV-98, and PKM machine gun. The 7.62x54r has the distinction of being the second longest-standing military cartridge in history, second only to the .303 British. The cartridge is one of the most prevalent military surplus rounds in existence and is extremely popular among shooters in the United States. The full-sized rifle cartridge has generally been compared to the American .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester rounds.
Types of 7.62x54R Loadings
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Full Metal Jacket (FMJ): Like the name suggests, these types of loadings feature projectiles which are adorned with metal jacketing. This jacket is generally made of copper and will cover the tip and sides of the projectile. Typically, the base of the projectile is left uncoated. These types of loadings are well-suited for range use and are some of the most common types of ammo one will encounter.
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Soft Point (SP): SP loadings feature soft, exposed lead projectile tips which are conducive to expanding upon impact. These loadings are mainly utilized in hunting applications and are effective at imparting a high degree of kinetic energy transfer. Specialty SP loadings also exist which are optimized for different types of hunting and game.
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Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT): HPBT loadings feature hollow point projectiles with boat tail style bases. These differ from traditional projectiles with flat bases and are well-suited to precision-oriented shooting. Like traditional hollow point loadings, these loadings are also designed to facilitate expansion on impact.
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Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail (FMJBT): Like FMJ loadings, ammunition of this type features a projectile that is fully encapsulated in a metal jacket. This metal is generally going to be of the copper variety. Typical FMJ projectiles feature a flat base while boat tail projectiles feature a tapered base which resembles a boat tail. This geometry promotes accuracy and high velocities.
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Soft Point Cutting Edge (SPCE): Loadings of this type are designed to facilitate potent and consistent levels of expansion on impact. The projectile features two distinct components, the soft point and the cutting edge. The soft point is what expands and mushrooms out upon impact. The cutting edge works to ensure an optimal level of penetration is achieved upon impact prior to expansion. These loadings are well-suited for hunting a variety of game.
Use Cases for 7.62x54R Ammunition
- Plinking
- Training
- Defense
- Hunting
- Competition
Popular Brands: 7.62x54R Ammo
Firearms that Use 7.62x54R Ammo
A majority of the firearms chambered in 7.62x54r will be of the surplus variety. Not too long ago, Model 1891/30 Mosin-Nagant rifles could be had for under $100. These rifles were a first rifle for many shooters who wanted to get into the hobby for cheap. These Mosin-Nagant rifles make up a majority of the 7.62x54r chambered firearms in the country. SVT-40 rifles in the caliber were also quite popular and prevalent among milsurp shooters. As far as modern options go, one can consider a few of the semi-automatic rifle offerings on the market. Notable examples include the Century Arms PSL-54 from Romania and the Zastava M91 from Serbia. Essentially, one will have no issue finding something chambered in 7.62x54r if they want to pick something up in the caliber.
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