Escape from Tarkov — 7.62×39 rounds pt.4

The first article of this series is available here: Escape from Tarkov ― Ammo History

Responding to Armor — PP, BP, and MAI AP

In the previous article, we introduced specialized 7.62×39 ammunition designed for specific tactical purposes:

• T-45M1 (tracer ammunition)

• US (subsonic ammunition)

These rounds were developed to address needs such as trajectory visualization and suppressed operations.

However, changes in the battlefield environment created a different kind of requirement for ammunition:

the ability to defeat protective equipment.

PP gzh — Enhanced Penetration Round

The PP gzh is a 7.62×39 round designed with the goal of improving penetration performance.

The designation “PP” comes from the Russian:

Повышенной пробиваемости
(Povyshennoy probivayemosti)

which means:

“increased penetration.”

As the name suggests, the PP round was developed to provide improved performance against obstacles and equipment compared to earlier 7.62×39 ammunition.

Changes in the Battlefield Environment

When the 7.62×39 cartridge was first adopted in the 1940s, infantry protective equipment was not as advanced as it is today.

Typical battlefield considerations included:

• helmets

• light gear

• cover such as wood or sandbags

At the time, full-scale body armor capable of stopping rifle rounds was not widely used.

As a result, early ammunition design prioritized:

• sufficient lethality in infantry combat

• reliability

• mass production

Steel-core rounds such as the PS cartridge were more than adequate under these conditions.

The Technological Competition with Armor

As time passed, the battlefield environment gradually evolved.

From the 1960s onward, militaries began improving personal protective equipment, including:

• body armor

• reinforced helmets

• various types of load-bearing gear

These developments introduced new obstacles that could interfere with bullet penetration.

As a result, the need for ammunition with greater penetration capability became increasingly apparent.

The PP round was developed in response to these demands.

By refining the shape and material of the internal steel core, the PP round achieved improved performance against barriers compared to earlier designs.

BP gzh — True Armor-Piercing Ammunition

While the PP round enhanced penetration, it was not designed as a true armor-piercing round.

As protective equipment continued to improve, the demand for even greater penetration led to the development of the BP gzh.

“BP” comes from the Russian:

Бронебойная пуля
(Broneboynaya pulya)

meaning:

“armor-piercing bullet.”

Structure of the BP Round

The BP round incorporates a hardened steel core within the projectile.

When the bullet strikes a target, it resists deformation and concentrates its energy into a smaller area.

This improves its ability to penetrate:

• body armor

• metal barriers

This design represents a direct response to the evolution of protective equipment.

MAI AP — A High-Penetration Round in Tarkov

In Escape from Tarkov, an even higher-penetration round appears:

MAI AP.

The “AP” stands for Armor Piercing, indicating that the round is designed with high penetration capability in mind.

However, MAI AP is not a standard-issue Russian military round, but rather ammunition created within the game.

While Tarkov is heavily based on real-world ammunition, it also introduces unique rounds for gameplay balance and variety.

MAI AP is one such example, and within the game it is treated as a round with even greater penetration than BP.

The Evolution of Ammunition

Summarizing the progression we have seen:

• PS
  Standard round (steel core)

• PP
  Enhanced penetration variant

• BP
  True armor-piercing round

And within the game, an extended concept appears in the form of

• MAI AP

The Competition Between Offense and Defense

The development of military ammunition has always been driven by

a technological competition with protective equipment.

As armor improves, ammunition must evolve to defeat it.
As ammunition becomes more powerful, armor must improve in response.

This cycle drives continuous advancement.

The PP and BP rounds are clear examples of this process, demonstrating how the 7.62×39 cartridge system has evolved over time.

Transition to the Next Series

This is how ammunition technology has evolved through the ongoing competition between offense and defense.

The PP and BP rounds are products of this process, illustrating how the 7.62×39 cartridge system has been refined over many years.

However, the evolution of Soviet ammunition did not stop here.

As the Cold War progressed, the design philosophy of rifles and ammunition began to change significantly across the world.

From the 1960s onward, a new concept gained attention:

small-caliber, high-velocity cartridges.

In response to this shift, the Soviet Union began developing a new ammunition system.

This would eventually become the 5.45×39 cartridge, adopted for the AK-74.

In the next series, we will explore how the 5.45×39 cartridge was developed, and how its design philosophy differs from that of the 7.62×39.

The next article is available here: Escape from Tarkov — 5.45×39 rounds pt.1

Note:

The background ideas and actual gameplay experience discussed in this series are also touched on during my weekly streams every Friday.

The format is different from writing, but it may help deepen your understanding from another angle.

If you’re interested, feel free to stop by.

▶ YouTube : B.K. Gaming Channel
▶ Twitch : kaz_the_minotaur