500 Rounds of 123gr FMJ 7.62x39 Ammo by Barnaul

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Thank you for the explanation Caleb... Just after I clicked the submit question, I read up on your excellent site about the different rounds and engineering etc.. Excellent stuff right "here" under my fingertips. But, I would wonder, with the right MAG for 7.62x39 rounds, would this be a round I could use in my AR15? It looks like the shell is too big for the rifle, but I haven't explored this possibility. As far as the "ammo shortages" these days, the 7.62x39 is very plentiful, even at Scheels for example. Is this AK47 round not to be fired in a 223/556 chambered AR15? Again, sorry if this is a beginner question, cause that indeed is what I am. But I want to learn and certainly learn to shoot as well. If this round is compatible with my rifle, and I can get it when I can't get the NATO 556 or Remington .223 or 224 Valkyrie rounds,......then I'm a happy "camper, with a gun to feed..." Thanks for the time and consideration of my question. Todd Posted On: 6/12/2021 By: Todd Stastny

Hello Todd! In short, you cannot fire 7.62x39 ammo in your AR-15 if it is chambered for 5.56/223. There's a lot of reasons why it wouldn't work, but here's a big one: The 7.62x39 bullet is about 0.086" wider in diameter than the 5.56. It wouldn't be able to pass through a stock AR-15's barrel!

If you want to fire 7.62x39, then the easiest solution would be to get an AK-47. I have a Century Arms C39v2 myself, and I love it – that thing goes through cheap steel-cased ammo like nobody's business! Not super accurate, but fun to plink with and certainly capable of home defense if the need ever arises.

But there's another option, and that is called the "AR-47." This is an AR-15 that has been converted to fire 7.62x39. That's going to require a conversion kit, a little DIY gun smithing (which is easy enough thanks to the AR-15's awesome design), and an AK-47 magazine, but it's pretty doable even for an amateur. This fella explains the project better than I can:

alloutdoor.com/2014/11/25/making-ar-15-7-62x39-work-reliably/

But just to be sure: If your AR-15 is chambered for 5.56x45, then it is only capable of firing that and 223 Rem. (224 Valkyrie would require a whole different conversion kit with a new barrel, etc.)

I'm new, obviously....but, what is the difference between this ammo and the 556 NATO? Shape is the same, but obviously the dimensions are different. Like the .223/556 question about will my AR shoot both types of ammo, I wondered what rifle shoots this 7.62/39mm ammo? I see it as a fairly common choice from several producers. Thanks for your time and humoring my basic question. Posted On: 6/12/2021 By: Todd Stastny

Thanks for reaching out Todd! The 7.62x39 was originally the Russian army's primary combat rifle cartridge. It is the only cartridge which the AK-47 rifle is chambered for. The 5.56x45 (aka 5.56 NATO) is the U.S. Armed Forces' primary combat rifle cartridge. Our Army's M4A1 rifle is chambered for it, and it is the most popular cartridge for the civilian AR-15 rifle as well. Although the two rounds are not identical, it is safe to fire 223 Rem in a firearm that is chambered for 5.56x45.

Many rifle cartridges (and even a few pistol cartridges) have the "bottlenecked" shape you mentioned. Basically, this case shape lets the propellant put more energy behind the projectile so it can exit the muzzle faster.

Be sure not to order 7.62x51 if you actually want 5.56x45 or 7.62x39! It's a much larger cartridge, and analogous to the 308 Win which people commonly hunt deer with.
Please let me know if you ever have any other questions!