I find that the 7.62X39mm is essentially a short-range proposition, in the same class as a .30/30. It is NOT, however, an inherently inaccurate cartride. It is chambered in many arms that are pretty crude and imprecise, and NO cartridge can perform well in such contraptions. The SKS is pretty bad accuracy-wise, and the AK's have none at all. However, please note that the PPC rounds are based on the same case.

If one handloads, it is not necessary to limit the round to 122-130 grain bullets. I have a handload that gives a 150-grain bullet 2300 FPS MV from an 18"-barreled CZ 527 with decent accuracy, and one that fires the Speer 180-grain round-nose at 2000 FPS from the same rifle. In addition, in rifles like the CZ 527, Mark X Mini-Mauser, or other front-locking bolt actions, it is possible to get quite good accuracy out of the 7.62X39mm.

But there is no way that this little cartridge can compare to the 7.62X51mm NATO/.308 Winchester!




From the SPECIFICATIONS standpoint, the Russian 7.62mm 's are both (7.62X39mm & 7.62X54Rmm) true ".30"calibers, in that their bore diameters are nominally.30", and the grooves are supposed to be .005" deep, giving a groove diameter of .310", whereas the 7.62 NATO has a bore of .30" and a groove .004" deep, for .308" groove. However, many Russian rifles were made so sloppy that land diameter was often .31" or more, and groove sometimes was as big as .314"-.315".

Mt CZ 527 has a groove of .311" (I slugged it), but it shoots .308" bullets just fine! As you can see above.