From: (BUFDRVR)
Date: 7/19/2004 9:26 PM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

Bill Phillips wrote:

The AK fires the 7.62mm x 39 which is much less powerful that the 7.62mm x
51 used in the M14.

OK, I've never understood the x 39 or x 51. What do these numbers refer to?

So as not to get hit for a non-aviation post; what color is your favorite
aircraft?




BUFDRVR


The X number refers to case length. There are several 7.62 diameter rounds out
there varying length. 30 carbine = 7.62 X 33, 30-06 = 7.62 X 63. The Russian
equivilent to the 30-06 X 54R.

Since neither the carbine or 30-06 are in common military use you won't find
many people using the metric form.

Trivia: the 06 in 30-06 refers to the year it was accepted by the U.S. Army,
1906. It replaced the 30-03 for the 1903 Springfield rifle. The round had poor
ballistics and the rifle chambered for it used poor metalurgy and was unsafe to
shoot.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired