Confirmed: Wolf 9x39mm Subsonic Ammo is Coming to the US
For years, we’ve heard rumors that Wolf and/or their Russian suppliers were working on subsonic rifle ammunition for the US market. Considering the price of brass-cased .300 Blackout here in the US, the speculation isn’t all that surprising. Shooters here have been clamoring for cheaper options to help scratch their suppressed-shooting itch. While the folks across the Atlantic have been mum on the possibility of steel-cased .300 Blackout, subsonic 7.62x39mm and 9x39mm loads have been mentioned on several occasions. According to recent confirmation from Wolf, meaningful progress has been made on this front. David Fortier has the scoop over at Firearms News, but in short, 9x39mm ammo is coming to the US – and soon.
The 9x39mm cartridge was initially developed for Russian special forces who wanted a subsonic load for suppressed rifles – most notably the VSS Vintorez. Though Soviet engineers had previously developed a functional subsonic 7.62x39mm load for existing AKMs, field use found it to be a relatively poor performer. With the 7.62x39mm as a starting point, the Russians straightened the cartridge’s case walls and topped the round with a fatter, heavier 9mm bullet. The case head of the 9x39mm is dimensionally the same as the 7.62, and as a result, most firearms chambered in 7.62×39 can be adapted to support 9x39mm with a simple barrel change.
From a practical standpoint, the 9x39mm cartridge has quite a lot to offer. As previously noted, at its widest point, the base of the casing, it’s the same size as the legendary 7.62x39mm round. The case lacks the 7.62’s steep taper, though, so it should work well in the AR’s straight magazine well. What remains to be seen is just how well it fits inside AR-15 magazines. Since the cartridge is roughly the same length as a .300 Blackout, I’m not too worried about that.
Wolf’s load will sport a 278-grain FMJ. It should be comparable to Russia’s SP-5 9x39mm ball ammunition. According to testing done by Dan Shea and Gemtech’s Phil Dater, the SP-5 scoots along at 905 ft/second. I’d expect the Wolf product to be pretty close to that mark as well. For reference, the Russians also issue the SP-5 Sniper and SP-6 variants of the 9x39mm cartridge. They both sport steel tips and are intended to pierce armor.
The 278-grain bullet will almost certainly give the 9x39mm an energy edge over the .300 Blackout. At roughly equal velocities, the 9×39 will pack 25-30% more kinetic energy than its American rival. However, its greater cross-sectional density means the 9x39mm will lag behind the .300 Blackout ballistically – resulting in greater velocity loss at range. Since its inception, subsonic .300 Blackout has been saddled with less-than-ideal projectiles, most of which are repurposed, expensive .308 match bullets that lack hunters’ desired terminal performance at lower velocities and aren’t exactly ideal for defensive work, either. Some enterprising companies have begun to address these shortcomings with purpose-built bullets, but subsonic .300 Blackout is a pricy range toy for most of us. The extra energy behind the 9x39mm pill could give it a small lift over the .300 Blackout for practical applications. However, the difference won’t be overwhelming as you’re still looking at a barebones FMJ bullet moving relatively slowly. The key to Wolf’s product is that it should, in time, be cheaper than .300 Blackout.
For Wolf, the decision to make 9x39mm ammunition instead of .300 Blackout makes a lot of sense, even beyond the round’s potential advantages. While American consumers have no doubt clamored for steel-cased .300 Blackout, the factories in Russia who work with Wolf are equipped to produce the Russian ammo. Tooling up for 9x39mm was likely much easier for them than starting a line for .300 Blackout.
To help address the need for firearms that can use this “new” cartridge, Wolf will roll out AR-15 rifles and uppers chambered for 9×39 by early 2018. According to Fortier, Wolf is also working with an AK manufacturer to produce rifles and pistols for the ammo.
All of this is fantastic news, but 9x39mm does have a significant disadvantage when compared with the .30-caliber incumbent. While it is intended for suppressed use, the round’s large diameter limits it to silencers with 9mm bores. .300 Blackout can readily be used with any .30-caliber rifle suppressor. Based on the sort of muzzle energy we can expect from 9x39mm, it is probable that most 9mm pistol suppressors will work perfectly well with the round. However, few 9mm silencers are ideally suited for rifle use. Aside from the well-regarded 3-lug system and YHM’s long-discontinued Wraith 9mm QD, there aren’t many quick-attach 9mm options out there at this point.
Despite pricing and performance uncertainties, it’s exciting to see another subsonic option on its way to market. With suppressors’ recent growth in popularity, shooters have been looking for cheaper subsonic ammunition for their rifles, and if reasonably priced, 9x39mm may be the ticket.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.