Russian Subsonic 7.62x39mm Ammo Reportedly in Development
April 7, 2016
Fresh off the heels of Dead Air’s AK suppressor announcement earlier this week, a few knowledgeable suppressor/AK enthusiasts have indicated that one of the Russian ammunition companies is currently working on a subsonic 7.62x39mm load (not pictured above). Reportedly based on the original Soviet 57-N-231U cartridge that was developed for use with the PBS-1 silencer, the new rounds should allow for regular semi-automatic (or fully automatic for those with the happy switch) function. Considering that the Russian ammunition will likely be much cheaper than current .300 BLK offerings, I would expect it to be warmly received by suppressor owners and AK fans alike.
Since the rounds are apparently inspired by the 57-N-231U, some assumptions can be made about the load. The original 57-N-231U bullets weighed approximately 193 grains and offered muzzle velocity just under 1,000 feet per second. My expectation is that the new ammo will stay fairly close to these specifications as longer 200+ grain bullets apparently struggle to stabilize in an AK’s barrel.
Other than these scant details, there isn’t a whole lot of information on this exciting new development. You can be sure that I will watch the space closely and will be sure to share anything I learn.
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.