Guide

7.62x39 Ammo 2026: Hunting and Range Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 8 current 7.62x39 loads on Federal's, Remington's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 2 from Federal, 2 from Remington and 4 from Hornady. The bullet weights, velocities, energy figures, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices or third-party ballistics. This is a comparison of popular loads from 3 makers, not every 7.62x39 load sold.

Grouping follows each maker's own usage label ("Big Game," "Target Shooting" and "Competition"). Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its loads sit in their own table. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses: "7.62x39."

Hunting loads

Federal and Remington label these loads Big Game on their own pages. Figures are copied from each maker page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Power-Shok Rifle	7.62x39	76239B	123 gr Jacketed Soft Point	2,350 fps	1,508 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Core-Lokt	7.62x39	29125	125 gr Pointed Soft Point Core Lokt	2,365 fps	1,552 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Currently Unavailable

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label and no stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line. Velocity and energy are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table.

Hornady also announced a 7.62x39 123 gr FMJ Frontier among its new products for 2027 (Hornady press release, Oct. 14, 2026). The Frontier rows in the table below are the ones on Hornady's product pages as of Nov. 4.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady BLACK	7.62x39	80784	123 gr SST® Hornady BLACK®	2,350 fps	1,508 ft-lb	20 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Frontier	7.62x39	FR420	123 gr FMJ Frontier®	2,340 fps	1,495 ft-lb	24 in	20	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Frontier	7.62x39	FR421	123 gr FMJ Frontier® (50 - Oriented)	2,350 fps	1,716 ft-lb	16 in	50	Not listed on maker page
Hornady Subsonic	7.62x39	80787	255 gr Sub‑X® Subsonic	1,050 fps	624 ft-lb	20 in	20	Not listed on maker page

Range and training loads

These are loads Federal and Remington label Target Shooting or Competition. Several are the same load in different box counts, and each box size has its own item number.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Bullet	Muzzle velocity	Muzzle energy	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal American Eagle Rifle	7.62x39	A76239A	124 gr Full Metal Jacket	2,350 fps	1,520 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	20	Available
Remington Don't Tread on Me Rifle	7.62x39	29127	125 gr Pointed Soft Point	2,365 fps	1,552 ft-lb	Not listed on maker page	250	Currently Unavailable

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

Muzzle velocity depends on barrel length, so compare loads tested on the same barrel. Of the 8 loads, 4 list Not listed on maker page, 2 list 20 in, 1 list 16 in, 1 list 24 in. 4 of the 8 loads list no test barrel (Federal and Remington). A rifle with a shorter barrel than the maker's test barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. SAAMI's test barrel for 7.62x39 is 20.000 in, an exception to its 24 in rifle standard. For how velocity changes with barrel length in 7.62x39, see our barrel length vs velocity data for 7.62x39.

7.62x39: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI lists the cartridge as "7.62 X 39 [7.62 X 39]" in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4, its centerfire rifle standard (approved Feb. 10, 2025). The cartridge drawing was issued 08/01/1988 and revised 02/28/2022. SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 45,000 psi, measured by transducer (the table shows 450 in psi/100), and 50,000 CUP by crusher (the table shows 500 in CUP/100). Its standard velocity for a 123 gr bullet is 2,350 fps from a 20 in test barrel. Cartridge overall length runs from 2.150 in minimum to 2.200 in maximum. Case length is 1.528 in (−.015), and bullet diameter is .311 in (−.002). Bore is .300 in and groove is .310 in, with 4 grooves and a twist of 1 in 9.45 in, right-hand (marked optional). Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.4 PDF.

SAAMI lists 7.62x39 as an exception to its 24 in rifle test barrel, at 20.000 in. Maker figures from 16 in or 24 in barrels are not directly comparable to the 20 in figures.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: its product pages returned a not-found (404) response to our automated check, so we have no Winchester figures to copy yet.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we did not verify its product pages this round.
Hornady: item 80788 (7.62x39 111 gr Monoflex Hornady BLACK) says "Ballistic data coming soon" on its page and is left out. The 7.62x39 FMJ Frontier 50-oriented (FR421) lists 1,716 ft-lb at 2,350 fps; we copied it as printed. The other 123 gr Hornady loads list 1,495 and 1,508 ft-lb.
Speer: we found no 7.62x39 load for Speer, so it is not in the tables.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal and Remington pages list no test barrel on some loads, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

Rifles for 7.62x39

The 7.62x39 is the round for AK-pattern rifles, SKS rifles and bolt-action carbines. Barrel length changes velocity, as the 7.62x39 barrel length data shows. See also new rifle releases.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Remington show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available" or "Currently Unavailable"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see .350 Legend ammo, .450 Bushmaster ammo, 5.56/.223 ammo, 300 Blackout ammo, .308 Win ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, the 7.62x39 barrel length data, new ammo for 2026 and all ammo releases.

Compare: 7.62x39 vs 300 BLK.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for 7.62x39?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 45,000 psi for 7.62x39, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 (the table shows 450 in psi/100).

What grain is 7.62x39 ammo?

In our tables the bullets run from 123 gr to 255 gr. Check your firearm maker's manual for what your rifle is set up to shoot.

How fast is 7.62x39 ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 1,050 fps to 2,365 fps, and muzzle energies from 624 ft-lb to 1,716 ft-lb. Test barrels vary, and some maker pages list none. See the test barrel section of this guide.

What does test barrel mean?

It is the barrel length the maker used to measure the listed velocity. A shorter barrel will likely give lower velocities than the box. See our 7.62x39 barrel length data.

Do you list prices or stock for 7.62x39 ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

7.62x39 Ammo 2026: Hunting and Range Loads From the Makers

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Range and training loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

7.62x39: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for 7.62x39

Where to buy

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Hunting loads

Hornady loads

Range and training loads

Barrel length matters: the test barrels

7.62x39: what SAAMI lists

Not yet verified

Rifles for 7.62x39

Where to buy

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report