THere's 7.62X39 there's also 7.62 X 54.
If I buy a rifle made for 7.62 X 39 can it fire all the rounds? I'm so confused. the local gun store has old springfield looking rifles for 90 dollars that are chambered for 7.62 but he didn't tell me which version of 7.62


could someone tell me teh difference?

7.62 denotes the bullet diameter in millimeters. The x39 or x54 or x62 denotes the case length the bullet is seated in and are all different cartridges. So, you can't safely fire one cartridge in a rifle made for the other.

Another way of looking at it is the 30/06 Springfield is a 7.62 caliber cartridge as is the 308 Winchester. You should never fire one of these in a rifle chambered for the other.

thanks I would have prob killed myself

I'm going to move this down to Rifles and Rifle Cartridges, just seems a better fit there.

If it's a $90 bolt action rifle, it's probably one of the surplus Mosin-Nagant rifles that seem to have been imported in large quantities, lately.

There's 2 or 3 or maybe 4 varieties; all 7.62x54R.

They're crude, sturdy, cheap, and will take a real beating (and probably already have, to be honest).

The cheap ammo is corrosive-primed so be sure to have someon explain how to clean after firing it. Clue: if it's ten cents a round or so, it's almost certainly corrosive, no matter what the package says, or the store clerks tell you.

They are kinda fun to blast away with at the range.

Bear any resemblance to this (the action not the wood)?

yes actually mike quite accurate as to what they look like... but htey have this kind of wood. http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976561948-1.jpg
and the other like this http://images.gunsamerica.com/upload/976552919-1.jpg

not sure if it'll let me hotlink them

You're sure they're good to just mess around with? I only wanted it becuase it looked nostalgic and becuase 7.62 is so cheap... but 7.62 x 54 is expensive on all the websites I've looked at including cheaperthandirt.

So if I get military firearms they'll prob be AK,
and a P38.

My dad wants a mini 30... looking to find one around here under 500... but I doubt I will... he wants to for over night trips to the bahamas

I can't get those images to come up - but trust me, they don't start out looking like mine. It looked like it had been dipped in tar, and dragged down twenty miles of bad road behind an ox-cart!

I love mine. I wouldnt enter a shooting competition with it but it is really fun to shoot. Really loud with the shorter barrel on my M44.

Another way to view the difference between 7.62x39 and x54R is to go to ammoguide.com. it is a nice website. You have to pay to view load data but with a free account you can compare cartridge dimensions without the bullet. You will see why you cant interchange the 2 cartridges for a given rifle.

I love mine. I wouldnt enter a shooting competition with it but it is really fun to shoot. Really loud with the shorter barrel on my M44.

Another way to view the difference between 7.62x39 and x54R is to go to ammoguide.com. it is a nice website. You have to pay to view load data but with a free account you can compare cartridge dimensions without the bullet. You will see why you cant interchange the 2 cartridges for a given rifle.


Thanks Snarf.
I just thought it was cool. If it was in a war that's even cooler since it's got that feeling to it like it's got so much history.

I'll post some pics of the one I decide to buy.
BTW did any of them come in 7.62 X39? it's such a cheaper round and I'd get a lot more shooting out of it.

Nope - the SKS and AK47 and other semi-auto rifles were born with the rimless 7.62x39. The old Mosins are designed around the big rimmed 7.62x54R and I doubt you could get them to function with anything radically different.

There is pretty cheap 7.62x54R ammo around, if you look.

there is cheap ammo around,sellior belloit? wolf i think, but not norma (last i checked 45.00 a box)

7.62 denotes the bullet diameter in millimeters. The x39 or x54 or x62 denotes the case length the bullet is seated in and are all different cartridges. So, you can't safely fire one cartridge in a rifle made for the other.

Another way of looking at it is the 30/06 Springfield is a 7.62 caliber cartridge as is the 308 Winchester. You should never fire one of these in a rifle chambered for the other.


THE 7.62 X 39 IN military round is .311 bore. Most US made sporting guns are .308 bore ,Jeff

Surplus 7.62X54R ammo can be found for around .10, .11 cents a round. For 380-400 round cans, plus shipping. Look around.

7.62x54r is a great round. I have a 1953 Hungarian M44 that is all matching and Not a ding or scratch to by found, and the bore is perfect. It's a great shooter. Cost me $75.00 about 8 years ago. Another rifle to consider is a 98k or derivative. 8x57mm is also a great round. Both have been around over 100 years, there is a reason, they work very well! Don't ever let anyone bash a Mil-surp rifle. It is only their personal opinion, and most of the time they have never fired one! JP