Although the 7.62x39mm has been almost forgotten when it comes to modern loads, you can easily create some yourself with a little hard work. Modern projectiles include (left to right) Hornady 123-grain VMAX, Speer 123-grain Hot-Cor, Barnes 123-grain TSX and Hornady 123-grain SP. (Photo: David M. Fortier)

The concept for a true intermediate cartridge was actually conceived in Imperial Russia by the brilliant weapons designer Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov. Prior to the First World War, Fedorov developed a rimless 6.5mm cartridge driving a 131-grain projectile at 2,821 fps. Used in his selective-fire Avtomat, it was intended to increase its hit probability on both semi- and fully automatic, reduce weight and offer a flat trajectory at realistic combat distances.

However, due to resistance from the Czar, Fedorov had to make due with the readily available 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge. Although revolutionary, Fedorov's Avtomat pretty much disappeared after seeing combat during the Great War and the Revolution.