PATRIOT PARK /Moscow Region/, May 22. /TASS/. The Russian 7.62x54mm rifle cartridge, first introduced in 1891, is still used in sniper rifles on the battlefield, despite the proliferation of the .308 and larger .338 caliber cartridges, the Kalashnikov Group’s leading design engineer Andrey Chukavin told TASS.
"The 7.62x54mm and .308 caliber cartridges are very similar in their characteristics; you won’t find any differences. Speaking of the .308 cartridge, there’s a huge variety of different types. We (the Kalashnikov Group - TASS) work with the combat cartridge that’s in service with the army in Russia. Our domestic cartridge, of course, hasn’t lost its usefulness," Chukavin said.
He added that, given the similar characteristics of the 7.62x54mm and .308 caliber cartridges (7.62x51mm), it’s hardly practical to re-equip the army with this cartridge, given the high costs this process entails.
Chukavin also noted that if the goal is to make a long-range, precise shot, then larger calibers, up to 12.7 mm, are already available for this purpose, but rifles chambered for 7.62x54 mm remain relevant for snipers supporting assault troops and fighting in urban areas.