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

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 what the best AK-47 ammo is for your beloved rifle.

In this article, I’ll share my top picks and explain what you should look for when purchasing bulk ammo. If you can't wait, the best ammo for your AK-47 is Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST because it is extremely reliable, and the AK was designed to fire this type of ammo.

If you’re new to the AK-47 platform, you might want to read our buyer’s guide for what to look for when buying 7.62x39 ammo by clicking HERE. However, if you simply want to get to our top AK-47 ammo selections, keep reading.

Now, I know you’re itching to get out to the range, so here’s our list of the best AK47 ammo.

Best AK-47 Ammo Selections

1. Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST - Best Overall
2. PMC 123 Grain FMJ - Most Accurate
3. Arsenal 122 Grain FMJ - Best Bulk
4. Sterling 123 Grain FMJ - Cheapest AK-47 Ammo

Best Ammo for AK-47 Overall

Determining the best ammo for your AK-47 relies heavily on its intended use. If you’re going hunting, you’ll want a soft point (SP) bullet. For target practice, you’ll want some inexpensive full metal jacket (FMJ) for punching holes in paper, cans, or clanging steel.

That being said, the best ammo for your AK-47 is one that goes bang every time you pull the trigger and is accurate.

Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST

Hornady BLACK 7.62x39 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 123 Grain SST Ammunition

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$30.99

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Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST

Specs

• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: SST (Polymer Tipped)
• Bullet Weight: 123 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,508 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Hornady is a trusted brand known for producing high-quality ammo. Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST continues this tradition. I rarely have a problem when using Hornady ammo at the range.

These rounds are ultra-reliable because Hornady uses high-quality components that ensure they go bang when you pull the trigger. The SST bullet is also incredibly accurate, thanks partly to the polymer tip that slices through the wind better than an FMJ or HP.

You don’t have to worry about these rounds corroding your AK-47 because they’re non-corrosive. So, it’s not a huge deal if you forget to clean your AK after a trip to the range.

However, Hornady BLACK is expensive, especially compared to cheap Wolf Ammo that uses Berdan primers and steel cases. So, if you’re just going to the range for a day of plinking, you might want another ammo unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket.

Hornady BLACK 123 Grain SST is the best AK-47 ammo because it’s accurate, reliable, and manufactured by a trusted brand.

Most Accurate 7.62 x39 Ammo

I’d be lying if I said a run-of-the-mill stamped AK-47 is a highly accurate shooting platform. The AK is built with loose tolerances to ensure outstanding battlefield reliability instead of pinpoint accuracy.

This is not to say that 7.62x39 is not an accurate round; quite the opposite in fact. When loaded into a solidly built SKS or Ruger Mini-30 carbine, the 7.62x39 can provide acceptable accuracy within its effective range.

However, if you’re looking to milk every ounce of accuracy out of your AK without delving into the realm of match-grade ammo, here is my recommendation:

PMC Bronze 123 Grain FMJ

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

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$399.99

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Specs

• Casing: Brass
• Bullet Type: Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)
• Bullet Weight: 123 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,350 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,495 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

PMC is a Korean ammo manufacturer that is fully vertically integrated. This means that every piece made by PMC cartridges has been fully manufactured from start to finish by PMC. The primary advantage of vertical integration is quality control.

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

With considerably tighter shot-to-shot muzzle velocity variability, I’ve found that my AKs typically shoot more accurately with PMC than with other brands of ammo. They use Boxer primers and brass cases, so you can reload them, and PMC is generally less expensive than match-grade or 7.62x39 self-defense ammo, so it is easier to buy in bulk.

Best Bulk 7.62x39 Ammo

When finding the best bulk AK-47 ammo, the one thing on every shooter’s mind is price. You want the best ammo for the lowest possible price point to stock up for any potential SHTF situation or whether the storm of political 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

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

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

When looking for bulk 7.62x39 ammo, you want the lowest possible cost for the best ballistic performance and reliability. We found that Arsenal 122 grain FMJ ammo met all our criteria, especially price.

With the low cost per round, 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 ballistic performance of Winchester PDX1, 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 also non-corrosive but steel cased and uses Berdan primers, meaning it is not reloadable.

Best Budget AK-47 Ammo

Sterling 123 Grain FMJ

Sterling 7.62x39 Ammo - 20 Rounds of 123 Grain FMJ Ammunition

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$12.99

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Specs

• Casing: Steel
• Bullet Type: FMJ
• Bullet Weight: 123 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,362 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 1,524 ft-lbs

Pros & Cons

Why I Chose It

Sterling 123 Grain FMJ is my choice for budget-friendly AK-47 ammo because it's inexpensive even when you don’t buy it in bulk.

If you’re looking for rounds that will perform similarly to your defense or hunting ammo without forcing you to get a third job, then Sterling 123 grain FMJs are the rounds for you.

The biggest downside is that Sterling uses steel cases and Berdan primers, making reloading them nearly impossible.

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? Then 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 there are considerably more ammo varieties for rounds like the 5.56 NATO or 308 Winchester, there are still plenty of different options for AK users to pick from. The bottom line is that understanding what you want from your AK-47 is the key to finding the right ammo for it.

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

Final Shots: Best AK-47 Ammo

The AK-47 is a resilient and versatile weapon system that demands a steady diet of 7.62x39mm ammo. Selecting the best AK-47 ammo means understanding what you want your AK-47 to do. It can double as a hunting rifle or self-defense carbine and be a viable battle rifle out to 300 yards with relative ease.

The effectiveness of the 7.62x39 is so well documented on the battlefield that many rounds have sought to copy its ballistics, like the 300 Blackout and 6.8 SPC. However, you simply cannot go wrong with the original intermediate rifle cartridge carried by multiple militaries across the globe.

Most AK-47s will thrive on inexpensive steel-cased ammo that can be bought in bulk to save your precious dollars for additional range time or to buy even more ammo! However, brass-cased ammo for self-defense and hunting is readily available if you demand more performance.

No matter which type of ammo you choose, make sure to stock up here at Ammo.com as we have multiple varieties of 7.62x39 ammo in stock and ready to order!

Written by

Chris Dwulet