04-28-2022, 12:37 PM
Constitutionalist Wrote:LR, would you mind elaborating on this? 7.62x54R has a (slightly) higher velocity than 7.62x51mm, shoots similar weight projectiles, has a history of pretty decent accuracy, and the PKM (and the like-chambered Dragunov sniper rifle) aren't known for reliability problems. I didn't get a ton of trigger time on the PKM but it seemed functional and I never saw a stoppage. I'm not saying it's superior to 7.62x51mm, but I think it holds it's own for use in a GP machinegun.
Just my 2 cents.
John
John:
The 7.62 X 54 R and 7.62 NATO are comparable but I wouldn't put them as equals. Rimmed cartridges in machineguns is not the best combination. Also, M-80 has an edge ballistically.
I can not get into comparing them for accuracy because they are both rounds of ball ammunition. I have shot a number of bullets pulled from 7.62 X 54 R, both the steel core ball and the lead core Heavy Ball, handloaded using LC brass and 4895 through M-24's (yes, I really did) and found the steel core ball to be pretty terrible and the 180 grain lead core 'Heavy Ball' to be about as good as our issued 173 grain ball. I do not know if the bullets have been upgraded like our 7.62 ball so take that into consideration.
No comparison between a PKM shooting Cold War era 7.62 X 54 R and a M-60 or M-240 shooting Cold War era M-80 Ball in terms of accuracy. Hands down, M-60 and M-240 will hold a tighter beaten zone. No doubt about it in my mind.
Although I give the edge to the M-240 and NATO ball at any distance compared to a PKM and 7.62 X 54 R, either way the beaten zone will be huge and hitting anything will be more probability given a number of rounds fired than anything else.
The point is though that if a US Infantry unit was pinned down due to PKM's firing some sort of issued 7.62 X 54 R ammo, it was probably because the US unit chose not to maneuver or did not use their own M-240s to suppress the fire. I can't second guess units but this claim just doesn't make much sense to me.
LR