7.62x39 same ammo as 7.62-43? [title edited]

[Harrier .45]

There is no such calibre as 7.62x43. The ammunition coming out of Czech Republic (in green crates) is 7.62x39 standard, used in SKS and AK-series rifles. The '43' notation is for the Czech classification of "7.62 Model 43". This is the military designation for this round, and has no reflection whatsoever on the calibre or size of the cartridge.

Some of you will also note that the 7.62x54R crates are similarly marked, yet obviously this is an entirely different round than the -x39 cartridge.

When in doubt, read the front face of the crate, upper left-hand corner. A listing of 1,120 denotes 7.62x39, while a listing of 780 (or 800 on older crates) denotes 7.62x54R.

The reason for this is that chambers can run anywhere from 39mm to 43mm in length, accuracy takes a back seat to production numbers overseas.

As previously noted, a 4mm chamber deviance will not only cause head-spacing issues, but will cause severe and catastrophic failure when the round is fired. This information is entirely inaccurate and should be dismissed as erroneous!

 

[Andy]

......As previously noted, a 4mm chamber deviance will not only cause head-spacing issues, but will cause severe and catastrophic failure when the round is fired...

It grieves me to prolong this painful thread, but what is mentionned above is just not true. We should always try to dispell incorrect "It's dangerous!" comments like this.

If you chamber correct ammo in a chamber with the shoulder 4mm farther from the boltface than specs, one of two things will happen:

- it won't fire, as the round will not be held against the boltface; or
- it will fire and will fireform to the chamber dimensions.

This happens quite frequently, and the most common example I can think of is firing 308 Win in a 30/06 chamber. A more relevant example to this discussion would be firing 7.62x39 in a 7.62x45 (VZ-52) chamber.

I'm not saying it's recommended, but it will not blow the gun to bits as suggested.