7.62 X 41 M43 – PRE AK XPL

  

This is a replica of the 7.62×41 M43 intermediate cartridge that was the predecessor to the highly successful 7.62×39 AK-47 cartridge. The development of the 7.92 Kurz cartridge in Germany served as the basis for Russian developments starting in 1943 that ultimately ended up with the adoption of the 7.63×39 in 1948. The first experiments started in 1944 with a 41mm case length and lead cored, flat based bullet in the “Avtomat Sudayeva AS-44”, designed by Russian designer Alexey Sudayeva. Field trials were conducted with largely positive results, except for complaints about the weight of the rifle. Modifications were made, but with his untimely death in August 1946 all further tests were halted, which ultimately lead to the adoption of the shorter 39mm version in early 1948 with a slightly longer, mild steel core, boat tailed bullet.