| 7.62×54mmR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Examples of 7.62×54mmR rimmed ammunition. The photo shows, reading from left to right:Sellier & Bellot hollow-point boat tail; "Czech silver tip", mild steel core, light ball; Hungarian silver/yellow-tip, mild steel core, heavy ball;Wolf Ammunition gold soft-point; USSR 1986 steel-core light ball, Factory 60; Yugoslav surplus (1953); USSR 1940s lead-core light ball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | Russian Empire | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In service | 1891–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Used by | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wars |
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| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Colonel N. F. Rogovtsev | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1891 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1891–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimmed, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | 7.92 mm (0.312 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | 7.62 mm (0.300 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 8.53 mm (0.336 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | 11.61 mm (0.457 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | 12.37 mm (0.487 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 14.48 mm (0.570 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | 1.60 mm (0.063 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 53.72 mm (2.115 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 77.16 mm (3.038 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 4.16 cm3 (64.2 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Berdan or boxer large rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 390.00 MPa (56,565 psi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 73 cm (28 in) Source:[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The7.62×54mmR is arimmedriflecartridge developed by theRussian Empire and introduced as a service cartridge in 1891. Originally designed for the bolt-actionMosin–Nagant rifle, it was used during the latetsarist era and throughout theSoviet period to the present day. The cartridge remains one of the few standard-issue rimmedcartridges still in military use, and has one of the longest service lives of any military-issued cartridge.[3]
Thefully-powered 7.62×54mmR cartridge is still in use by theRussian military in theDragunov (SVD),SV-98 and othersniper rifles, as well as some moderngeneral-purpose machine guns like thePKM andPecheneg machine gun. Originally, the round was designated "Трехлинейный патрон образца 1891 года" – (three-line cartridge model of 1891). It then became widely known under the designation "7,62мм винтовочный патрон" (7.62 mm rifle cartridge). The round has erroneously come to be known as the "7.62mm Russian" (and is still often referred to as such colloquially), but, according to standards, theR in designation (7.62×54mmR) stands for "rimmed", in line with standardC.I.P. designations. The name is sometimes confused with the "7.62 Soviet" round, which refers to the rimless7.62×39mmintermediate cartridge used in theSKS and AK-based (AK-47,RPK) rifles and light machine gun.
The 7.62×54mmR is the second-oldest cartridge still in regular combat service with several major armed forces in the world.[citation needed] It is second to the.303 British which entered military service in 1889 and remains in service, primarily in some noncombatant Commonwealth nations around the world.[citation needed] In 2021, the cartridge reached 130 years in service. As of December 2013[update] the 7.62×54mmR is mainly used in designated marksman and sniper rifles like theDragunov sniper rifle,SV-98 and machine guns like thePKM. It is also one of the few (along with the.22 Hornet,.30-30 Winchester, and .303 British) bottlenecked, rimmed centerfire rifle cartridges still in common use today. Most of the bottleneck rimmed cartridges of the late 1880s and 1890s fell into disuse by the end of the First World War.[citation needed]
The.30-06 Springfield cartridge (7.62×63mm), with its higher service pressure and case capacity, will outperform the 7.62×54mmR when same-length test barrels are used, though this is very uncommon as .30-06 Springfield firearms are generally sold with much shorter barrels than 7.62×54mmR firearms.[4] Commonly available 7.62×54mmR 150 gr (9.7 g) commercial ammunition chronographs around 3,000 ft/s (914 m/s) from the typical Mosin-Nagant (29-inch) barrel, while the heavier 180 gr (11.7 g) loads chonograph in the low 2,700 ft/s (823 m/s) range. This is identical to .30-06 Springfield performance from a 24-inch barrel and slightly better than .30-06 Springfield performance from a 22-inch barrel.[citation needed]
The 7.62×54mmR originally had a 13.7 g (210 grain) "jager" round-nosedfull metal jacket (FMJ) bullet. The projectile was replaced in 1908 by the 9.61-gram (148.3 gr) Лёгкая Пуля (Lyogkaya pulya, "light bullet")spitzer bullet, whose basic design has remained to the present. TheLyogkaya pulya, orL-bullet, had aballistic coefficient (G1 BC) of approximately 0.338 and (G7 BC) of approximately 0.185.[citation needed]
To increase accuracy for theDragunov SVD, the Soviets developed the 7N1 variant of the cartridge in 1966. The 7N1 was developed by V. M. Sabelnikov, P. P. Sazonov and V. M. Dvorianinov. It used match-grade extruded powder instead of the coarser ball propellant and had a 9.8 g (151.2 gr) boat-tailed FMJ jacketed projectile with an air pocket, a steel core and a lead knocker in the base for maximum terminal effect. It had aballistic coefficient (G1 BC) of approximately 0.411 and (G7 BC) of approximately 0.206. Produced by "Factory 188" (Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant), cartridges are only head-stamped with the number "188" and the year of manufacture. It came packaged 20 loose rounds to a paper packet, 22 packets to a metal "spam" tin, and two tins per wooden case, for a total of 880 rounds. The individual paper packets, hermetically sealed metal 'spam' cans, and wooden shipping crates were all distinctly markedСнайперская (Snaiperskaya, the adjective form of "sniper"). Even the wax wrapping paper for the paper packets was covered in red text to make sure it was not misused.[citation needed]
As hardbody armor saw increasing use in militaries, the 7N1 was replaced in 1999 by the 7N14 special load developed for the SVD. The 7N14 round is loaded with a 9.8 g (151.2 gr) projectile containing a sharp hardened steel penetrator to improve penetration which is fired with an average muzzle velocity of 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s), for a muzzle energy of 3,375 J (2,489 ft⋅lbf).[citation needed]
The 7.62×54mmR has a 4.16 mL (64gr H2O) cartridge case capacity. The exterior shape of the case was designed to promote reliable case feeding and extraction inbolt-action rifles andmachine guns alike, under challenging conditions.
7.62×54mmR maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).[5]
Americans would define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 18.5 degrees. The commonriflingtwist rate for this cartridge is 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in), 4 grooves, Ø lands = 7.62 mm (0.300 in), Ø grooves = 7.92 mm (0.312 in), land width = 3.81 mm and theprimer type is Berdan or very rarely Boxer (in large rifle size).
According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives) rulings the 7.62×54mmR can handle up to 390.00 MPa (56,565 psi) Pmax piezo pressure. In C.I.P.-regulated countries every rifle cartridge combo has to beproofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. This means that 7.62×54mmR-chambered arms in C.I.P.-regulated countries are currently (2014) proof tested at 487.50 MPa (70,706 psi) PE piezo pressure.
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The attainable muzzle velocities and muzzle energies of the 7.62×54mmR are comparable with standard7.62×51mm NATO cartridges. However, a rimmed case such as the one used in the 7.62×54mmR cartridge can complicate smooth feeding within box magazines, but they are by no means unreliable.[6]
When used with modern hunting bullets, the 7.62×54mmR is capable of taking game in the medium- to large-sized class (CXP2 and CXP3). The 7.62×54mmR can offer very good penetrating ability due to a fast twist rate that enables it to fire long, heavy bullets with a highsectional density. In Russia, the 7.62×54mmR is commonly used for hunting purposes, mostly in sporterizedMosin–Nagant rifles and civil Dragunov variants (Tigers).
The 7.62×54mmR rounds in use with theRussian Armed Forces are designed for machine guns and sniper rifles. As of 2003, there were several variants of 7.62×54mmR rounds produced for various purposes. All use clad metal as case material.
| Cartridge designation[7][8] | 57-N-323S | 7N13 (AP) | 7T2 (tracer) | 7BZ3 (API) | 7N1 (sniper load) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge weight | 21.8 g (336 gr) | 21.7 g (335 gr) | 22 g (340 gr) | 22.6 g (349 gr) | 21.9 g (338 gr) |
| Bullet weight | 9.6 g (148.2 gr) | 9.4 g (145.1 gr) | 9.65 g (148.9 gr) | 10.39 g (160.3 gr) | 9.8 g (151.2 gr) |
| Muzzle velocity | 828 m/s (2,717 ft/s) | 828 m/s (2,717 ft/s) | 798 m/s (2,618 ft/s) | 809 m/s (2,654 ft/s) | 823 m/s (2,700 ft/s) |
| Muzzle energy | 3,291 J (2,427 ft⋅lbf) | 3,222 J (2,376 ft⋅lbf) | 3,073 J (2,267 ft⋅lbf) | 3,400 J (2,508 ft⋅lbf) | 3,319 J (2,448 ft⋅lbf) |
| Accuracy of fire at 300 m (328 yd) | 90 mm (3.5 in) (R50) | 90 mm (3.5 in) (R50) | 150 mm (5.9 in) (R50) | 150 mm (5.9 in) (R50) | 80 mm (3.1 in) (R100) |
7.62×54mmR is widely available both as military surplus and new production, but less so for match-grade rounds. Most surplus ammunition is steel-cased and usesBerdan primers, which effectively hinders its use forhandloading. However, with the increased popularity of surplus Eastern-blocMosin–Nagant,SVT-40, andPSL rifles in the United States, Boxer-primed ammunition and unfired cases are increasingly available; these cases take large rifle primers.
Russia also produces similar derivative cartridges based on the original case dimensions of the 7.62x54mmR cartridge for hunting and sport.
After World War 2, there were many captured Russian and Finnish military surplus 7.62x54R rifles available to Finnish sportsmen and subsistence hunters. At one point the Finnish Government decided that there were too many wounded and escaped game animals that had not been humanely and quickly taken using the surplus military ammunition. Particularly when hunting large game such as moose and bear. They banned the use of the7.62x53mmR and 7.62x54mmR for such game. Finnish gunsmiths and cartridge companies then developed 2 different derivative cartridges by "necking up" the case to accept larger diameter or "caliber" (therefore also heavier and harder hitting) bullets for more humane hunting of large game: the 8.2x53mmR and the 9.3x53mmR. Both bullet calibers were, and still are, common calibers for hunting rifles in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
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Rifles[edit]
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While the only official nomenclature for the cartridge is 7.62×54R ("R" standing for "rimmed"), some shooters in the U.S. have confused the "R" as an abbreviation for "Russian" due to the round's origin.
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