There is only one answer as to what type of ammunition an AK-47 uses. The answer is 7.62x39mm ammo. Unlike the AR platform rifles, which can use a variety of ammunition based on what it is chambered in, if it is an AK, it uses 7.62x39mm ammunition, period. Unless you are into military surplus or collect war-era rifles, AK-47's are not the typical subject of conversation among gun owners today. That's a shame because there is a lot to like about an AK-47 and the ammunition that it uses. Even if you are settled in with your choice of an AR platform, that doesn't mean that you cannot like or even own an AK. There shouldn't be a competition between these rifles, they are both great, but for different reasons and different attributes.

Is 7.62x39mm AMMUNITION ACCURATE?

I think the first thing that we need to do is to dispel the longstanding opinion that 7.62x39mm ammunition is not accurate. That is simply not the truth. The first thing that non-fans of the 7.62x39mm will state to start their argument of the inaccuracy of the round is that the round does not have a flat trajectory. I'm not going to argue with that too much for now. It actually depends on the load. And depending upon that load, by the time it reaches the 250-yard range, the bullet may drop 8 plus inches. Usually not great for a factory load, past 300 yards, it's okay. It was never actually ever meant to be used as a long-range cartridge. That doesn't mean that it won't travel beyond 300 yards, it simply means that it has lost some velocity at that range and may not penetrate with the same punch as it does at closer ranges. Substituting accurate range past 300 yards, you will get a round that has light recoil and the ability to deliver an accurate and powerful punch to its target within 250 yards or so, and that's not bad for this larger round. The 7.62x39mm round actually has very similar ballistics to a 30-30 Winchester round. 7.62x39mm's have around eighty percent of the energy of a 30-30 round upon leaving the muzzle. It also has a comparable trajectory.

Brown Bear 7.62x39 196gr FMJ Subsonic Ammunition

IS THE 7.62X39MM RIFLE ACCURATE

The 7.62x39mm caliber AK-47 rifles are among the most reliable, rugged, and easy to maintain rifles that have ever been produced. But the ammunition and the rifle still have a bad reputation for inaccuracy. The generally accepted effective range of an AK-47 is around 200 yards. Effective range, however, is in itself subjective. If conditions are right, the AK-47 could be effective at up to 400 yards, which means that the bullet is capable of traveling a far distance. It's distance and its effective range are two different things. Often you will hear that the 7.62x39mm rifle and ammo have an effective range of up to 400 yards. Extra yardage could possibly be extended out with the attachment of a good optic. In general, the distance between the front sight and the rear sight of an AK-47 gives the rifle a short sight radius. In turn, this could account for some of the rifle's perceived inaccuracy. And again, you have to understand what the AK-47 was developed for. It was designed with intentional tolerances to withstand the most rugged conditions that a soldier could face. It was made to allow for slight movement to maintain operability in humid, rainy, muddy, heat, dessert, blowing sand, and even freezing conditions. Now to me, that's a heck of a good rifle!

Pioneer Arms FosTecH Edition AK-47 w/ FosTecH Echo Trigger Factory Installed

ADVANTAGES OF THE AK-47 and its 7.62x39mm AMMUNITION

Hopefully, you have some clarity on why the AK-47 and it's 7.62x39mm ammunition is widely thought of as being inaccurate. Number one, the rifle was never designed for long-range, it was designed to be durable and dependable, and that it is. The 7.62x39mm has a heavier bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient than some of the 5.56 loads. We touched on the lighter recoil earlier in this article, but to give you comparative examples, the 7.62x39mm round has less recoil than a .308 Win or a 30-06 round. Whitetail Deer hunters, in fact, are rather fond of this round. And now, the big advantage, and what everyone thinks about these days, is the cost of the ammunition needed to feed the AK-47. The short answer is, it's cheap! Whether store-bought or reloaded, you will find substantial cost savings by purchasing 7.62x39mm over other similar rounds. Reloading supplies for this round are inexpensive and abundant, and the availability of this round is usually in stock.

Wolf Military Classic 7.62x39 124gr FMJ Ammunition

ROUNDUP

The AK-47 and the 7.62x39mm ammo that feeds it are both great examples of firearms history and technology. They are not inaccurate by any means within the 250-yard range. The rifles and the ammunition are relatively inexpensive which makes it a great combo to shoot for target and range practice. The low recoil of the rounds is an additional benefit when target shooting. The combo is also great when hunting smaller deer. The beauty of their wood stocks, bayonets, and hidden cleaning compartments are all of the things that make AK-47's great rifles to own, but even that is insignificant when compared to the reliability of this historic firearm. Shop All 7.62x39 Ammunition
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