REVIEW: Barnaul 7.62x39, FMJ 123 Grain deprimed

In September 2020, our friends at MAJOR FINDING tested some bullets from VE-LOADS and put together a corresponding load for them. Then we looked at how accurately we could get them on target. That's usually the sequence for pretty much all ammunition tests.

For this report, MAJOR FINDING took the reverse approach and obtained a specific type of factory ammunition, and broke it down. That means, we disassembled the cartridges and weighed all the components. Then we went to the shooting range and measured the velocity of several more cartridges from the same batch.

These data will help us adjust the corresponding optics on the weapon with which this ammunition is fired in the future.

The ammunition we are focusing on today comes from the Russian manufacturer "Barnaul" and it is the 7.62 x 39, 123 Grain, Full Metal Jacket. These cartridges are made with lacquered steel cases and according to the manufacturer, do not contain corrosive components. The cartridges were fired from an Izhmash SAIGA MK 104, with a 34 cm barrel at an ambient temperature of about 5° C.

To obtain somewhat meaningful values, we disassembled 10 cartridges and then weighed all the components on a precision scale. In addition, we filled the empty cases with water and then weighed the contents to draw conclusions about any variations in case volume.

In my opinion, the variation in values is minimal. After all, this is mass production with steel cases designed to be fired from a platform that was not built for surgical precision.

Also, the velocity measured one meter in front of the barrel remains quite consistent. By the way, the measurements were taken with a SuperChrono(R) from Steinert.

After the first 10 shots, we averaged a velocity of 709 m/s from a cold barrel. With the next 10 shots, the barrel was a bit warmer, and accordingly, the projectiles flew a bit faster.

With the second series of 10 shots, we averaged a velocity of 729 m/s, 20 m/s faster than with the cold barrel.

The manufacturer itself states the velocity as 2,543 fps - converted, that would be 775 m/s. The difference to our measured values is probably due to the use of a different weapon. The ammunition was probably tested by the manufacturer in a rifle with a "normal" length barrel - probably 41 cm.

In the future, we will look at the groupings we can achieve with this ammunition, but also break down and test other types of ammunition to make further comparisons.

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Ammunition: Barnaul 7.62 x 39, 123 Grain, FMJ

Rifle: Izhmash SAIGA 104

Scale: G&G PLC Precision Micro and Table Scales

Velocity Meter: SuperChrono from Steinert Sensing Systems AS

Price per Pack (as of December 2020): €7.98 - €11.90

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