AFTE Store - Technical Report: Contemporary Russian 7.62x39mm Ammunition

Substantial quantities of ammunition in 7.62x39mm have been, and continue to be, imported into the United States from a number of countries due to the large number of firearms chambered in this caliber. Some novel design and construction features have taken place over the last few years among former Soviet-Russian manufactures of military ammunition. Careful examination and disassembly of cartridges in 7.62x39mm imported into the U. S. during this period has revealed features that set them apart from all other sources of ammunition in this caliber and even distinguish the factory or origin in the present day Russian Republic. The recognition of these features by the laboratory examiner stands to provide useful information to both the laboratory and investigators confronted with crimes involving such ammunition.