Invention and Engineering

7.62×39mm

The 7.62×39 mm (also called 7.62 Soviet, formerly .30 Russian Short) round is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge of Soviet origin. The cartridge is widely used due to the global proliferation of the AK-47 rifle and related Kalashnikov-pattern rifles, the SKS semi-automatic rifle, and the RPD/RPK light machine guns. The AK-47 was designed shortly after World War II, later becoming the AKM because the production of sheet metal receivers had issues when first initiated. This weapon is now the world's most widespread military-pattern rifle. The cartridge remained the Soviet standard until the 1970s. It was partly replaced in Soviet service by the 5.45×39mm cartridge, which was introduced with the new AK-74 rifle, and continues in service with the modernized current-issue Russian Armed Forces AK-74M service rifle, as well as the AK-12 rifle. In the 21st century, the 7.62×39 mm remains a common service rifle chambering, including for newly developed rifles like the AK-15.

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See also

• ▸Cow tipping
• ▸Diamictite
• ▸Frasch process

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