Soviet Ammunition types

7.62 x 54r, This is the main rifle cartridge used for over 100 years. A full sized rimmed cartridge similar to the British .303 round. Used in the Mosin nagant rifle, maxim machine gun, PKM machine gun, SVD dragunov, SVT40 and several others. Still in use today. Available in heavy or light ball and sniper grade.

7.62 x 39

This round was developed to fill the gap between full rifle cartridges and pistol cartridges. Very similar in specification to the German 7.92 short. Used in SKS,AK47, RPK and the RPD.  A very good cartridge for standard battle ranges.

5.45 x 39

The modernised AK cartridge. Similar to the nato 5.56mm. It is the current replacement for the 7.62 round. Used in the modern variants of the RPK and the AK74 and 100 series.

Size comparison

To illustrate the size of the two main Russian cases we have some other rounds side by side.From the left:

.50 cal browning

.416 rigby

.458 win mag

.338 lapua magnum

.300 win mag

7.92 mm rifle (mauser etc)

6.5mm swedish

7.62 x 54R Russian

7.62 x 39 Russian

Note:  the newer Russian 5.45 mm round uses the same case as the 7.62 x 39 but necked down to accept the smaller bullet head

Civilian chambers

The current Saiga rifles produced by IZMASH Russia have a step in the chamber. Look at the left case in the picture to see the slight step in the neck of a fired case, the case on the rightwas fired through a military barrel. This has been purposefully done so that if a crime is committed then the Russian authorities can see whether it was a military gun or civilian.