7.62x54R Trajectory Calculator
See how 7.62x54R stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.
The 7.62x54R is one of the oldest military cartridges still in active service, dating back to 1891. With a 180-grain bullet at 2,579 fps and a 100-yard zero, expect about 5.4 inches of drop at 200 yards, 19.8 inches at 300 yards, and 46.4 inches at 400 yards. The heavy bullet carries over 1,100 ft-lbs of energy at 300 yards, adequate for medium game at that distance. Most shooters use this cartridge in surplus Mosin-Nagant or Dragunov-pattern rifles.
Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. Surplus ammunition varies widely in quality and velocity, so your actual trajectory may differ from these baseline numbers. Modern commercial loads from manufacturers like PPU and Wolf typically shoot more consistently than military surplus.
Compare up to 5 different loads. The current caliber (7.62x54R) is pre-selected for the first load.
7.62x54R Trajectory Chart
7.62x54R Ballistics Data
| Range (yd) | Elevation (in) | Elevation (MOA) | Elevation (MIL) | Windage (in) | Windage (MOA) | Windage (MIL) | Time (s) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2579.0 | 2659.08 |
| 25 | -0.57 | 2.17 | 0.633 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.03 | 2496.69 | 2492.05 |
| 50 | -0.0 | 0.0 | 0.001 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.06 | 2416.39 | 2334.34 |
| 75 | 0.2 | -0.25 | -0.073 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.092 | 2337.52 | 2184.43 |
| 100 | -0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.125 | 2260.08 | 2042.1 |
| 125 | -0.62 | 0.48 | 0.139 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.158 | 2184.05 | 1907.02 |
| 150 | -1.7 | 1.08 | 0.315 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.193 | 2109.48 | 1779.01 |
| 175 | -3.27 | 1.78 | 0.519 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.23 | 2036.39 | 1657.87 |
| 200 | -5.36 | 2.56 | 0.744 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.267 | 1964.81 | 1543.37 |
| 225 | -8.02 | 3.4 | 0.989 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.306 | 1894.81 | 1435.36 |
| 250 | -11.28 | 4.3 | 1.252 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.346 | 1826.45 | 1333.66 |
| 275 | -15.19 | 5.27 | 1.533 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.388 | 1759.82 | 1238.12 |
| 300 | -19.8 | 6.3 | 1.832 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.432 | 1695.04 | 1148.66 |
| 325 | -25.17 | 7.39 | 2.15 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.477 | 1632.28 | 1065.16 |
| 350 | -31.35 | 8.55 | 2.487 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.523 | 1571.52 | 987.34 |
| 375 | -38.41 | 9.78 | 2.845 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.572 | 1512.86 | 915.01 |
| 400 | -46.43 | 11.08 | 3.223 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.623 | 1456.44 | 848.03 |
| 425 | -55.46 | 12.46 | 3.624 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.675 | 1402.4 | 786.27 |
| 450 | -65.6 | 13.92 | 4.049 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.73 | 1350.99 | 729.68 |
| 475 | -76.93 | 15.46 | 4.498 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.786 | 1302.44 | 678.18 |
| 500 | -89.55 | 17.1 | 4.974 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.845 | 1256.98 | 631.66 |
Take this table to the range
The 7.62x54R reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.
Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.
Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.
Available 7.62x54R Ammunition Ballistics
| Product | Velocity (fps) | BC | 100yd Drop | 200yd Drop | 300yd Drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prvi Partizan 7.62x54R 150gr SP-BT Ammo Ballistics | 2840 | 0.385 | 0.0" | -3.6" | -13.4" |
| Wolf Military Classic 7.62x54R 148gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics | 2785 | 0.338 | 0.0" | -4.0" | -14.8" |
Zeroing the 7.62x54R
Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 180gr G1 .267 at 2,579 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). A hunting rifle with a scope in standard rings sits about 1.5" over the bore; the zero you choose sets how far you can hold on hair without thinking about the range. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.
7.62x54R zero comparison
| 100-yd zero | 200-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 51 yd | 24 yd |
| Far zero | 100 yd | 200 yd |
| Max ordinate | +0.2" | +2.8" |
| Max ordinate distance | 75 yd | 115 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") | 0–184 yd | 0–245 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | 0.0" (0.0 MOA) | +2.7" (+2.6 MOA) |
| Drop at 300 yd | -19.8" | -11.7" |
| Drop at 400 yd | -46.4" | -35.7" |
| Energy at 300 yd | 1,149 ft-lb | 1,149 ft-lb |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
7.62x54R with a 100-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 180gr load first crosses the line of sight at 51 yards, peaks +0.2" at 75 yards, returns to zero at 100, and is -19.8" at 300 and -46.4" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,579 | 2,659 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.17 | -0.63 | 2,497 | 2,492 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,416 | 2,334 | 0.4 |
| 75 | +0.2" | +0.25 | +0.07 | 2,338 | 2,184 | 0.8 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,260 | 2,042 | 1.4 |
| 125 | -0.6" | -0.48 | -0.14 | 2,184 | 1,907 | 2.3 |
| 150 | -1.7" | -1.08 | -0.32 | 2,109 | 1,779 | 3.3 |
| 175 | -3.3" | -1.78 | -0.52 | 2,036 | 1,658 | 4.5 |
| 200 | -5.4" | -2.56 | -0.74 | 1,965 | 1,543 | 6.0 |
| 225 | -8.0" | -3.40 | -0.99 | 1,895 | 1,435 | 7.8 |
| 250 | -11.3" | -4.30 | -1.25 | 1,826 | 1,334 | 9.7 |
| 275 | -15.2" | -5.27 | -1.53 | 1,760 | 1,238 | 12.0 |
| 300 | -19.8" | -6.30 | -1.83 | 1,695 | 1,149 | 14.5 |
| 325 | -25.2" | -7.39 | -2.15 | 1,632 | 1,065 | 17.3 |
| 350 | -31.4" | -8.55 | -2.49 | 1,572 | 987 | 20.5 |
| 375 | -38.4" | -9.78 | -2.84 | 1,513 | 915 | 23.9 |
| 400 | -46.4" | -11.08 | -3.22 | 1,456 | 848 | 27.7 |
| 425 | -55.5" | -12.46 | -3.62 | 1,402 | 786 | 31.8 |
| 450 | -65.6" | -13.92 | -4.05 | 1,351 | 730 | 36.3 |
| 475 | -76.9" | -15.46 | -4.50 | 1,302 | 678 | 41.1 |
| 500 | -89.6" | -17.10 | -4.97 | 1,257 | 632 | 46.3 |
180gr G1 .267 at 2,579 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
7.62x54R with a 200-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 200 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 180gr load first crosses the line of sight at 24 yards, peaks +2.8" at 115 yards, returns to zero at 200, and is -11.7" at 300 and -35.7" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,579 | 2,659 | 0.0 |
| 25 | +0.1" | +0.39 | +0.11 | 2,497 | 2,492 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +1.3" | +2.56 | +0.74 | 2,416 | 2,334 | 0.4 |
| 75 | +2.2" | +2.81 | +0.82 | 2,338 | 2,184 | 0.8 |
| 100 | +2.7" | +2.56 | +0.75 | 2,260 | 2,042 | 1.4 |
| 125 | +2.7" | +2.09 | +0.61 | 2,184 | 1,907 | 2.3 |
| 150 | +2.3" | +1.48 | +0.43 | 2,109 | 1,779 | 3.3 |
| 175 | +1.4" | +0.78 | +0.23 | 2,036 | 1,658 | 4.5 |
| 200 | +0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,965 | 1,543 | 6.0 |
| 225 | -2.0" | -0.84 | -0.24 | 1,895 | 1,435 | 7.8 |
| 250 | -4.6" | -1.74 | -0.51 | 1,826 | 1,334 | 9.7 |
| 275 | -7.8" | -2.71 | -0.79 | 1,760 | 1,238 | 12.0 |
| 300 | -11.7" | -3.74 | -1.09 | 1,695 | 1,149 | 14.5 |
| 325 | -16.4" | -4.83 | -1.40 | 1,632 | 1,065 | 17.3 |
| 350 | -22.0" | -5.99 | -1.74 | 1,571 | 987 | 20.5 |
| 375 | -28.3" | -7.22 | -2.10 | 1,513 | 915 | 23.9 |
| 400 | -35.7" | -8.52 | -2.48 | 1,456 | 848 | 27.7 |
| 425 | -44.1" | -9.90 | -2.88 | 1,402 | 786 | 31.8 |
| 450 | -53.5" | -11.35 | -3.30 | 1,351 | 730 | 36.3 |
| 475 | -64.2" | -12.90 | -3.75 | 1,302 | 678 | 41.1 |
| 500 | -76.1" | -14.54 | -4.23 | 1,257 | 632 | 46.3 |
180gr G1 .267 at 2,579 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
Maximum Point Blank Range for the 7.62x54R
Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.
| Vital zone | Zero at | Hold dead-on from | To (MPBR) | Max ordinate | Near / far zero | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" (whitetail, pronghorn) | 228 yd | 0 yd | 266 yd | +4.0" at 129 yd | 20 / 228 yd | Download |
| 10" (elk, moose) | 248 yd | 0 yd | 289 yd | +5.0" at 139 yd | 18 / 248 yd | Download |
MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.
Similar Calibers
7.62x54R Ballistics Comparisons
Stock Up On 7.62x54R Ammo for the Range
| PRODUCT | DEALER | QUANTITY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL PRICE | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 20 | $26.00 | $18.43 | $44.43 |
$2.22
20 Rounds
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