4 Best AK-47 Ammo Picks [7.62x39] Soviet Wood and Steel

The Russian Avtomat Kalashnikova – known as the AK-47 to us capitalist dogs – is undoubtedly the most mass-produced rifle in the world. It fires the 7.62x39mm Soviet round that was developed shortly after the close of WWII, and has remained largely unchanged since its release.

The AK-47 is a symbol of ingenuity and rugged reliability. However, a rifle is only as good as the ammo you feed it. And with so many different ammo varieties available in today’s market, it can be hard to figure out which 7.62x39 ammo is truly best for your AK.

In this article, we’ll share our top picks for the best 7.62x39 ammo, and explain what you should look for when purchasing bulk 7.62x39 ammo.

If you can't wait, the best 7.62x39 ammo for your AK-47 is Wolf 122 grain FMJ. It's extremely reliable and precisely what the AK was originally designed to fire.

If you’re new to the AK-47 platform or 7.62x39 in general, then you might want to read our guide on what to look for when buying 7.62x39 ammo by clicking HERE. If you're eager to proceed to our top 7.62x39 ammo selections, keep reading.

Best 7.62x39 Ammo Selections

1) Wolf 122gr FMJ - Best Overall

2) Winchester PDX1 Defender 120gr HP - Best for Self-Defense

3) PMC 123gr FMJ - Most Accurate

4) Arsenal 122gr FMJ - Best Bulk

Best Ammo for AK-47 Overall

Determining the best ammo for your AK-47 relies heavily on what you want the rifle to do. If you’re going hunting, then you’ll want a soft point (SP) bullet. For target practice, you’ll want some inexpensive full metal jacket (FMJ) factory loads – the ideal solution for punching holes in paper, knocking around cans, or clanging steel.

That being said, the best 7.62x39 ammo for your AK-47 (or SKS) is one that goes bang every time you pull the trigger and doesn’t break the bank. For that purpose, it’s hard to beat steel-cased Wolf ammo.

Wolf 7.62x39 122 gr FMJ

Wolf 7.62x39 Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 122 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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Specs

Case: Steel
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
Bullet Weight: 122 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,396 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,556 ft-lbs

Pros

Inexpensive
Reliable
Non-corrosive

Cons

Some shooters prefer brass over steel cases

Why We Chose It

If you’ve fired AK’s for any period of time, then you've likely already encountered Wolf ammo (or at the very least had someone recommend it to you already). To summarize this 7.62x39 ammo, it is made with the same principles as the AK-47 itself: rugged in reliability and function.

Wolf Performance Ammunition (WPA) is an excellent choice for any AK owner due to its low cost per round and outstanding reliability. In all my years of firing AK-47s, I’ve not seen one round of Wolf ever fail to fire. Not. One. Round.

Take care that this ammo's bullets contain steel, and therefore aren't suitable for use at ranges which prohibit "magnetic ammo." Although its cases aren't reloadable, steel-cased ammo offers exceptional feeding and extraction in an AK-style rifle. Its low cost per round makes it an awesome choice for plinking or target shooting at the range.

For that reason, Wolf is my top pick for the best 7.62x39 ammo for your AK-47. However, if you prefer brass cased ammo, then I've got another option for you.

Honorable Mention

If the thought of loading steel-cased ammo in your rifle makes your skin crawl, then an excellent alternative to Wolf is Prvi Partizan 123 grain FMJ ammo. Prvi Partizan is manufactured in Serbia and often bears the headstamp “PPU” (the Anglicized version of "ППУ," which are the company's Cyrillic initials).

Prvi Partizan 7.62x39 ammo offers shooters a brass-cased alternative to Wolf for a slightly higher price point. It offers all the advantages of Wolf plus the smooth extraction and reloadability of brass cases. Better yet, its steel-free bullet does not attract a magnet, and is therefore suitable for use at ranges which ban magnetic ammo.

Best 7.62x39 Ammo for Self Defense

When something goes bump in the night – and you reflexively reach for your trusty AK-47 to defend your castle – you want to rest assured that high-quality ammo is on your side.

Although many shooters prefer a 12 Gauge loaded with buckshot or a handgun like a 45 ACP Glock 21, the AK-47 has plenty of its own fans. It's a reliable magazine-fed semi-auto platform that has been battle-tested for decades, and especially potent once it's rocking a red dot sight.

One thing to consider before firing a rifle indoors is over-penetration. The last thing you want to do is hit a family member or an innocent bystander. The 7.62x39 is often described as “barrier blind” owing to its ability to penetrate objects like sheet metal, drywall, plywood, etc. Its bullet is quite likely to pass clean through a threat regardless of which ammo you choose. With that said, you can take reasonable precaution against over-penetration by loading ammo with quality expanding bullets, which brings us to my next recommendation.

Winchester PDX1 Defender 122 Grain JHP

Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Split Core Hollow Point
Bullet Weight: 120 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,365 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,490 ft-lbs

Pros

Expanding bullet minimizes (but doesn't eliminate) risk of over-penetration
Reloadable brass case
Reputable company known for self-defense ammo

Cons

Significantly more expensive than steel-cased FMJ ammo

Why We Chose It

Winchester PDX1 Defender is a well-known line self-defense ammo, which generally passes ballistic gel tests with flying colors. The split core hollow point rifle bullet loaded in PDX1 Defender 7.62x39 begins expanding immediately when it impacts a bad guy. This helps minimize the potential for over-penetration, albeit not at the cost of too shallow a wound column. The split core hollow point reliably retains the weight and momentum requisite for an effectively deep wound.

Winchester also loads PDX1 Defense ammo with brass cases and Boxer primers, meaning it is reloadable. The chief downside to this Winchester ammo is that it is more expensive than bulk FMJ ammo options by Wolf, Tula, or Barnaul. However, PDX1 Defender and all of our following honorable mentions are American-made, which is always a good thing.

Honorable Mentions

Sometimes finding self-defense 7.62x39 ammo in stock can be difficult, as cheap bulk FMJ 7.62x39 ammo is far more common. If you can't locate Winchester PDX1 Defender, than any of these alternatives ought to serve you just as dependably.

Our first honorable mention is Hornady 123 grain SST. The Super Shock Tip (SST) bullet has a polymer tip for smooth feeding into the chamber and to protect the bullet’s hollow point (thereby ensuring uniform expansion). Although designed for deer hunting, the SST is no less capable of halting a human assailant.

Our second honorable mention is Federal Premium Power-Shok 123 grain soft point ammo. Soft point projectiles are an excellent choice for home defense, as they expand to maximize trauma to the threat whilst simultaneously reducing the risk of over-penetration. Federal has a long history of providing excellent defense ammo to law enforcement officers and civilians alike. Their Power-Shok series soft bullets aren't technologically sophisticated, but they don't have to be in order to deliver results.

Most Accurate 7.62x39 Ammo

I’d be lying if I said that a run-of-the-mill stamped AK-47 is a highly accurate shooting platform. The AK is built with loose tolerances to ensure battlefield reliability instead – not pinpoint accuracy.

This is not to say the 7.62x39 is an inherently inaccurate round. Quite the opposite in fact, as when it loaded in a solidly built SKS or Ruger Mini Thirty, the 7.62x39 can exhibit admirable accuracy within its conventional effective range.

If you’re looking to milk every ounce of accuracy out of your AK that you can – without delving into the realm of match-grade ammo – then here is our recommendation:

PMC Bronze 123 Grain FMJ

PMC 7.62x39 Ammo - 500 Rounds of 123 Grain FMJ Ammunition

$399.99

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Specs

Case: Brass
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
Bullet Weight: 123 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,495ft-lbs

Pros

Consistent shot-to-shot muzzle velocity
Reloadable brass case
Less expensive than self-defense ammo

Cons

More expensive than bulk steel-cased ammo

Why We Chose It

Precision Made Cartridges (PMC) is a Korean ammo manufacturer that is fully vertically integrated. Every cartridge PMC produces has been fully manufactured from start to finish beginning with high-grade raw materials. This affords PMC the highest degree of control over their ammo's accuracy.

Consistency is the key to accuracy, which is why long-range target shooting competitors typically reload their own ammo. The AK-47 is also not as accurate as a precision bolt-action rifle like the Remington 700 or even a really good AR-15 carbine. With that in mind, if you want tighter groups with your AK then we recommend that you pick up some PMC Bronze 7.62x39 123 grain FMJ ammo.

I’ve found that my AK’s typically shoot more accurately with PMC than other brands of ammo. I attibute that to the ammo's impressively tight shot-to-shot muzzle velocity variability. I also appreciate that this ammo is loaded with Boxer primers and brass cases, and therefore reloadable. Better yet, PMC 7.62x39 is generally less expensive than match-grade or self-defense alternatives.

Honorable Mentions

If you can’t get your hands on some PMC ammo but still want to tighten up your AK-47 groups, then we recommend taking a look at the Sellier & Bellot 123 grain FMJ ammo we have in stock. Based in the Czech Republic, Sellier & Bellot (S&B) is well known in the shooting community for producing reliable and consistent ammo for the range and for self-defense.

Best Bulk 7.62x39 Ammo

Price is on every shooter’s mind. Finding the best bulk 7.62x39 ammo therefore goes hand in hand with finding the lowest possible price point, allowing you to stock up big for potential SHTF situations or supply chain-related ammo shortages.

Arsenal 122 Grain FMJ

Arsenal by Global Ordnance 7.62x39 Ammo - 1000 Rounds of 122 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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Specs

Case: Steel
Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket
Bullet Weight: 122 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,396 fps
Muzzle Energy: 1,555 ft-lbs

Pros

Low cost per round
Reliable
Non-corrosive

Cons

Steel casesd
Berdan primers

Why We Chose It

When you’re looking for bulk 7.62x39 ammo, you would ideally pay the lowest possible price for the best ballistic performance and reliability. Arsenal 122 grain FMJ ammo meets this ideal pretty closely.

With the lowest cost per round on our website (circa fall 2022), Arsenal ammo offers exceptional performance in your AK for a price that won’t break the bank. It may not be as accurate as PMC ammo or have the superior terminal ballistics of Winchester PDX1 Defender, but Arsenal ammo goes bang every time you pull the trigger and will get the job done so long as your shot placement is on point.

Arsenal ammo is non-corrosive, but also steel-cased and Berdan-primed, meaning it isn't reloadable.

Honorable Mentions

From our research and experience, Tula 122 grain FMJ ammo is an acceptable alternative to Arsenal. Some shooters report issues with Tula, such as failure-to-fire malfunctions (as reflected in their reviews on Ammo.com). We haven't encountered any issues while firing from our supply of Tulammo 7.62 ammo, though.

How to Choose 7.62x39mm Ammo

Picking the right 7.62x39 ammo for your AK-47 comes down to understanding what you want to do with your rifle.

Are you looking to go deer hunting? Anything like Federal Premium Power-Shok or Hornady SST ammo will do well at putting Bambi in the freezer. Or are you looking for cheap ammo for a fun day of plinking at the range? Then you should look at inexpensive bulk FMJ ammo.

Although considerably more variety is available from rounds like the 5.56 NATO or 308 Winchester, there are still plenty of different options for AK users to pick from.

Now that you have a better understanding of how to pick the best ammo for your AK, click HERE to get back to our list of the best 7.62x39 ammo for self defense, plinking, and bulk purchasing.

A Note on Surplus Ammo and Corrosive Primers

Although not as plentiful as in years past, military surplus 7.62x39 ammo is a great solution to plinking that can be had for an affordable price. Supplies of surplus ammo have mostly dried up thanks to the Russian ammo import ban of 2020, but it's still great if you can find it. Just never lose sight of old Soviet surplus ammo's primary shortcoming.

It’s corrosive.

We did a full write up on corrosive ammo in this article: Corrosive Ammo: Rust Inducing Nightmare or Cheap Plinking Fun? To summarize, corrosive ammo is loaded with primers containing "hygroscopic salts." These salts stay in the barrel and gas system where they attract water from the air and retain it, causing those metal parts to rust.

Many shooters prefer to avoid firing corrosive ammo, but the overall cost per round is hard to ignore when you want to stock up. The only real issue with corrosive ammo are the inconvenient added steps you have to take after firing it (which are detailed in our aforementioned other article).

A Note on Brass-Cased vs. Steel-Cased Ammo

There’s a lot of misinformation about steel-cased ammo floating around on the internet. We aren’t going to go into a full discussion here, as we already wrote an entire article on the subject: Steel vs. Brass Cased Ammo

The key takeaway from that article is this: the AK-47 was designed to fire steel-cased ammo, as it is cheaper and easier to manufacture than the traditional brass-cased alternative.

The AK is designed to violently rip fired cases from its chamber. This harsh extraction is great at removing stubborn, rigid steel cases, but less than optimal at removing softer brass. Such violent extraction can partially tear a brass case's rim off, resulting in a jam.

Newer AK-47s like the Palmetto State Armory 100-Series can run brass cased ammo with zero issues. I recommend running a few magazines of brass ammo through your AK before making a bulk 7.62x39 ammo purchase.

Final Shots – Best 7.62x39 Ammo

The AK-47 is a resilient and versatile weapon system that demands a steady diet of 7.62x39mm ammo. Selecting the best 7.62x39 ammo is a matter of understanding what you want your AK-47 to do, as it can serve as a hunting rifle or self-defense carbine in addition to being a viable battle rifle out to 300 yards.

The effectiveness of the 7.62x39 is so well documented on the battlefield that many rounds have been created to emulate its ballistics, such as the 300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC. Despite those newcomers' appeal, you cannot go wrong with the original intermediate rifle cartridge that has been carried by multiple militaries across the globe.

Most AK-47s thrive on inexpensive steel-cased ammo that can be bought in bulk. If you demand higher performance, brass-cased ammo for self defense and hunting is also readily available.

Whichever type of ammo you choose, make sure to stock up here at Ammo.com. We have multiple varieties of 7.62x39 ammo in stock and ready to order!