7.62mm (7.62 x 51 mm) Ammunition Ammunition

Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide

7.62mm ammunition is issued in the form of a complete round, A complete round (cartridge) consists of all the components (cartridge case, bullet or shot, propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once.

Ammunition for use in machine guns is issued in metallic link belts. The 7.62mm M13 links are manufactured with partially open loops and have a positioning finger on one side which snaps into extractor grooves of cartridge to retain cartridge in proper feed alignment. This link design permits a portion of bolt to ride through link loop openings and push cartridges forward and out of the link into chamber for firing. Weapons using this type link are designed and manufactured with a short receiver.

Ballistic data for 7.62mm ammunition.

Model	Cartridge Weight	Cartridge Length	Propellant	Projectile Weight	Chamber Pressure	Velocity 78 ft (23.8 m) from muzzle
M59 Ball	393 gr (25.47 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	WC 846	150.5 gr (9.75 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps)
M60 HPT	412 gr (26.7 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	IMR 4475	171.5 gr (11.11 g)	67,500 psi (4,745 kg/cm²)	N/A
M61 AP	393 gr (25.47 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	IMR 4475	150.5 gr (9.75 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps)
M62 Tracer	383 gr (24.81 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	WC 846	142 gr (9.2 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps)
M62 Tracer OFM	387 gr (25.08 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	WC 846	146 gr (9.46 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps)
M63 Dummy	258 gr (16.72 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	N/A	?	N/A	N/A
M64 Grenade	295 gr (19.12 g)	2 in (50.8 mm)	WC 830	N/A	N/A	160 fps (49 mps) 5.5 ft (1.7 m) from muzzle, projected grenade
M80 Ball	392 gr (25.4 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	WC 846	146 gr (9.46 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps)
M82 Blank	235 gr (15.23 g)	2.6 in (66.04 mm)	SR 8231	N/A	N/A	N/A
M118 Special Ball	390 gr (25.27 g)	2.83 in (71.88 mm)	WC 846 or IMR 4895	172 gr (11.15 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,640 fps (805 mps)
M160 Frangible	315 gr (20.41 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	SR 8074	108.5 gr (7.03 g)	N/A	1,320 fps (402 mps) 100 yd (91 m) from muzzle
M172 Dummy	385 gr (24.95 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	N/A	?	N/A	N/A
M276 Dim Tracer	381 gr (24.69 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	WC 846	140-150 gr (9.07-9.72 g)	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,750 fps (838 mps) GMCS 2,680 fps (817 mps) GM
M852 Match	385 gr (24.95 g)	2.83 in (71.88 mm)	IMR 4895	168 gr (10.89 g) Hollow point	50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²)	2,550 fps (777 mps)
M993 AP	362.6 gr (23.5 g)	2.8 in (71.1 mm)	Bofors NC1290	126.6 gr (8.2 g)	55,115 psi (3,875 kg/cm²)	2,985 fps (910 mps)

Cartridge, 7.62mm, Ball, M59



The cartridge is used in the M60 and M219 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. The cartridge is intended for use against personnel and unarmored targets.

Contains a soft steel core. The cartridge is identified by a plain bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, High Pressure Test, M60

Used by all 7.62mm weapons. The cartridge is not for field issue, but is used for proof firing of weapons during manufacture, test, or repair.

The cartridge is identified by a stannic-stained (silvered) case.

Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Armor Piercing, M61

Used by M60, M219, and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. The cartridge is used in rifles and machine guns against personnel and light armored or unarmored targets, concrete shelters, and similar bullet-resisting targets.

Armor Penetration.
300 meters: 0.28 in (7 mm)
500 meters: 0.2 in (5 mm)

The cartridge is identified by a black bullet tip.

This ammunition is not authorized for training purposes.

Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Tracer, M62

Used by M60, M219, and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. For observation of fire, incendiary effects, signaling, and for training. When tracer rounds are fired in machine guns, they are mixed with ball ammunition in a ratio of four ball rounds to one tracer round.

R284 tracer. The cartridge is identified by an orange bullet tip.

Type Classification: CON - MSR 11756003

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Tracer, M62 (Overhead Fire Application)

Used by M60, M219, and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. The cartridge is used in weapons for firing over the heads of troops being trained in field exercises. Stringent production control and screening of ammunition lots ensure the safety of personnel operating immediately below the trajectory of the fired bullets.

R284 tracer. The cartridge is identified by a red bullet tip.

Type Classification: CON - MSR 11756003

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Dummy, M63

Used by M60, M219, and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. The cartridge is used for practice in loading 7.62mm weapons for simulated firing to detect flinching of personnel during firing and for inspecting and testing the weapon mechanism.

There are six longitudinal corrugations (flutings) on the cartridge. Also, there is no primer or vent hole in the primer pocket.

Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Grenade, M64

Used by the M14 rifle. The cartridge provides pressure upon functioning to project rifle grenade to a desired target when using a grenade projectile adapter.

The cartridge is identified by a rose-petal (rosette-crimp) closure of the cartridge case mouth and sealed with red lacquer.

Type Classification: OBS - MSR 11756003

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Ball, M80

Used by M60, M219 and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. For use against light materials and personnel, and for range training.

The bullet consists of a gilding-metal steel jacket with a lead-antimony slug. The cartridge case is brass and the bullet is unpainted.

Armor Penetration.
300 meters: 0.16 in (4 mm)
500 meters: 0.12 in (3 mm)

This is a training standard item used for both training and combat.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 07798001. Type Classification Date: 1979.
Unit cost: $0.51 (Fiscal Year 2005).

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Ball, M80 (Overhead Fire Application)

Used by M60, M219 and M240 machine guns. The cartridge is used in machine guns for firing over the heads of troops being trained in field exercises. Stringent production control and screening of ammunition lots ensure the safety of personnel operating immediately below the trajectory of the fired bullets.

The cartridge is identified by a plain bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 07798001.

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Blank, M82



Used by M60, M219 and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. For use during training when simulated live fire is desired. A blank firing attachment (BFA) should be used to fire this ammunition.

This cartridge consists of a primer and propellant contained in a brass case shaped to conform to the configuration of the service round. The propellant is held in by a wad. The mouth of the cartridge is sealed and crimped.

Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841. Type Classification Date: 1958.
Unit cost: $0.26 (Fiscal Year 2005).

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Ball, Special, M118

Used by the M14 rifle, and the M21, M24, and M40A1 sniper rifles. The cartridge is intended and specifically prepared for use in high accuracy weapons. Its spread (accuracy standard) for a 10-shot group is no more than 12 inches (305 mm) at 600 yards (550 m) - fired from an accuracy barrel in a test cradle.

The bullet consists of a gilding metal jacket and a lead antimony slug. It is a boat-tailed bullet (rear of bullet is tapered). The tip of the bullet is not colored. The cartridge is identified by cartridge case head stampings with NATO design mark, manufacturer and year.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 07798001
Unit cost: $0.53 (Fiscal Year 2005).

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Frangible, M160

Used by M219 and M240 machine guns. The cartridge is designed for firing single shots in the machine gun for gunnery practice. The frangible bullet, upon striking a target, disintegrates, leaving a mark at the point of impact.

The cartridge is identified by a green bullet tip with a white ring to the rear of the green tip.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 2186

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Dummy, M172

The cartridge is inert and is used to test the mechanism and metallic link belts of 7.62mm weapons.

The cartridge is identified by a black oxide finish over the entire round and has no primer. There is no vent hole in the primer pocket.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 4635

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Dim Tracer, M276

Used by M60, M134, M219, and M240 machine guns, and the M14 rifle. The combat cartridge is to be used by soldiers equipped with night vision equipment.

R440 trace mix. The cartridge is identified by a pink ring behind a green tip.

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Match, M852

Used by National Match M14 Rifle. The cartridge is intended and specifically prepared for use in those weapons designated as competitive rifles and also for marksmanship training. The cartridge is not for combat use.

The cartridge is identified by the cartridge case head stamping of MATCH. It also has a knurl at the base of the cartridge case and a hollow point bullet.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 09816009

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Cartridge, 7.62mm, Armor Piercing, M993

Used by M60 and M240 machine guns, and the M24 Sniper Weapon System. Intended for use against current and future light armored targets. The M993 offers the capability to defeat these targets at ranges 2 to 3 times that of previous AP ammunition.

The projectile assembly consists of a tungsten core penetrator contained in an aluminum cup and jacketed by tombac (similar to standard gilding metal, 90% copper, 10% zinc) clad steel. The shaped tungsten core provides enhanced armor penetration, representing a key departure from the current 7.62mm ball service round. The Bofors CGAB produced cartridge utilizes a conventional brass cartridge case with a Berdan primer. The propellant is a single base type manufactured by Bofors and the primer is manufactured by Dynamit Noble.

The M993 7.62mm AP Round is capable of penetrating a 7mm thick high hardness armor (HHA) plate at a distance of 500 meters from the muzzle of the weapon. This corresponds to 1/4" armor plate at a distance of 550m.

Type Classification Date: 16 FEB 1996.
Unit cost: $2.61 (Fiscal Year 2005).

Barriers that offer protection against 5.56mm rounds are also effective against 7.62mm rounds with some exceptions. The 7.62mm round can penetrate a windowpane at a 45° obliquity, a hollow cinder block, or both sides of a car body.

At 50 meters, the 7.62mm ball round cannot reliably penetrate a single layer of well-packed sandbags. It can penetrate a single sandbag layer at 200 meters, but not a double layer. The armor-piercing round does only slightly better against sandbags. It cannot penetrate a double layer but can penetrate up to 10 inches at 600 meters.

The penetration of the 7.62mm round is best at 600 meters. Most urban targets are closer. The longest effective range is usually 200 meters or less.

Penetration capabilities of a single 7.62mm (ball) round.

Range	Pine Board	Dry Loose Sand	Cinder Block	Concrete
82 ft (25 m)	13 in (330 mm)	5 in (127 mm)	8 in (203 mm)	2 in (51 mm)
328 ft (100 m)	18 in (457 mm)	4.5 in (114 mm)	10 in (254 mm)	2 in (51 mm)
656 ft (200 m)	41 in (1,041 mm)	7 in (178 mm)	8 in (203 mm)	2 in (51 mm)

Continued and concentrated machine gun fire can breach most typical urban walls. Such fire cannot breach thick reinforced concrete structures or dense natural stone walls. Internal walls, partitions, plaster, floors, ceilings, common office furniture, home appliances, and bedding can be easily penetrated by 7.62mm rounds.

Breaching a brick veneer presents a special problem. Rounds penetrate the cinder block but leave a net-like structure of unbroken block. Excessive ammunition is required to destroy a net since most rounds only pass through a previously eroded hole. One or two minutes work with an E-tool, crowbar, or axe can remove this web and allow entry through the breach hole.