New AR caliber: 7.62x40 WT

[Sniper1]

Have you guys seen this?
Developed by Wilson Combat.
Interesting caliber. Nice specs. Ease of conversion; just change the barrel.

(here's a transcript from Wilson website):
7.62x40 WT Project

Project Goal
Develop an inherently accurate and low recoil cartridge in the immensely popular .30 caliber that has more terminal effectiveness than the 5.56 while utilizing as many standard AR platform 5.56/.223 components as possible.

Cartridge Application
Designed for tactical/defense applications as well as hunting for medium sized game such as deer and feral hogs. The 7.62x40 WT (Wilson Tactical) has very useful tactical applications with soft point and hollow point bullets providing reliable terminal performance on soft tissue while the Barnes TTSX will easily penetrate tough barriers. For hunting the 7.62x40 WT vastly out performs the 5.56 and is on par with the 6.8SPC at ranges out to 175-200 yards. The VERY mild recoil of the 7.62x40 WT also makes it ideal for female and younger shooters as well as anyone that’s recoil sensitive.

Cartridge Specifics
The 7.62x40 WT is based on the inexpensive and readily available 5.56x45 Nato cartridge case. The 5.56 case is shortened to 1.560"; and then re-sized (single operation) in a standard 7.62x40 WT sizing die which results in a formed 7.62x40 WT case with a finished overall case length of 1.565";. The cartridge is designed for 110-150gr .308"; diameter bullets loaded to supersonic velocities, but if chambered in a 1-8 twist barrel is also suitable for heavy bullet subsonic use also.

 

[Milsparro]

What powder is recommended behind that!

 

[sonoftweety]

sounds like the 300 whisper or 300-221 to me

 

[sillymike]

Sounds like a remake of the 300 Whisper (7.62x34)

Whisper on the left, 7.62x40 on the right.

 

[Ohno]

Mike what are the other 2 cartridges in the middle?
The 3rd from the left has quite a thick rim

 

[Pooker]

Mike what are the other 2 cartridges in the middle?
The 3rd from the left has quite a thick rim

7.62x39 I think. It's a whole different case by the looks of it.

 

[RickR1100]

So just another "me too!" cartridge?

Why not just go with the ".300 Blackout" that's taking off, and being chambered by many AR's already?

 

[JoeOnePack]

So just another "me too!" cartridge?

Why not just go with the ".300 Blackout" that's taking off, and being chambered by many AR's already?

I believe that the 7.62x40 shoots about 100-150fps faster than the 300 BLK. That might be one reason. You can't use P-Mags with this caliber though.

 

[cadgo]

I don't really get why it is so much better than 7.62x39 but Im a newb in the ballistics area.

 

[hbean]

I don't really get why it is so much better than 7.62x39 but Im a newb in the ballistics area.

it is not that the ballistics is that much better than a 7.62 X 39, infact the inspiration behind it, is to come up with a new round that replicate the performance of a 7.62 X 39, but uses a straight sided casing that will fee propoerly in a standard AR mag instad of the AK banana shape ones.

 

[sillymike]

7.62 ARk and 7.62x39mm

 

[Pooker]

I don't really get why it is so much better than 7.62x39 but Im a newb in the ballistics area.

it is not that the ballistics is that much better than a 7.62 X 39, infact the inspiration behind it, is to come up with a new round that replicate the performance of a 7.62 X 39, but uses a straight sided casing that will fee propoerly in a standard AR mag instad of the AK banana shape ones.

What he said, and also that the .300blk is easily loaded to subsonic velocities and is still effective in said loads.

 

[cadgo]

Meh, just seems like solutions to non-existent problems.

 

[Sniper1]

Meh, just seems like solutions to non-existent problems.

It's a solution to two things:
1) efficient, one shot clean kill of "man size" animal within 300yds using a lightweight carbine.
2) capable of being loaded to both supersonic speed and subsonic for sound suppression.

Indeed it's very similar to 300 AAC BLK.

 

[Sniper1]

 

[J996]

1) efficient, one shot clean kill of "man size" animal within 300yds using a lightweight carbine.

Last weekend I noticed .223 going straight through a foot thick wet pine tree at 400 yds, blew my socks off!
I did not expect that and yes I took pictures of it.

 

[AK]

It's a solution to two things:
1) efficient, one shot clean kill of "man size" animal within 300yds using a lightweight carbine.
2) capable of being loaded to both supersonic speed and subsonic for sound suppression.

Several cartridges can already do both. This is little more than another manufacturer trying to capitalize on everything "battle" and "tactical" being driven by the drama in the sandbox.