The 5.45x39mm is the modern standard for the Russian Armed Forces (AFRF). Designed as a response to the NATO 5.56mm, it features a high velocity and flat trajectory. It is famous for its “poison bullet” effect—an extreme tumbling (yaw) upon impact—making it devastating against unarmored targets even with standard ball rounds.

• Visual ID: Purple/Violet Ring
• Role: Standard Issue (Current)
  • The 7N10 is the primary “improved” round for modern Russian infantry. It features a lengthened steel core to bridge the gap between ball and armor-piercing rounds.
• Pros: Good balance of availability and penetration; reliably defeats mid-tier body armor.
• Cons: Struggles against heavy Level IV ceramic plates.

• Visual ID: Black Tip / Dark Ring
• Role: Specialized Anti-Armor
  • The 7N22 utilizes a hardened high-carbon steel penetrator. This is the direct answer to high-end NATO body armor.
• Pros: Excellent armor penetration; maintains lethal energy through light cover (plywood/car doors).
• Cons: Rare in common stockpiles; slightly lower “flesh damage” due to the rigid core design.

• Visual ID: Black Tip / Specialized Markings
• Role: Elite Anti-ArmorOften referred to as the “Tungsten” round, the 7N24 features a tungsten-carbide core for maximum penetration.
• Pros: Will punch through nearly any infantry-scale armor available in RHS.
• Cons: Extremely rare; tends to over-penetrate unarmored targets, resulting in lower immediate “stopping power.”

• Visual ID: Red Ring / Plain
• Role: Cold War StandardThe original 5.45 round. Famous for its internal hollow air pocket in the tip that causes the bullet to tumble immediately upon impact.
• Pros: Devastating soft-tissue damage; extremely high fragmentation in unarmored targets.
• Cons: Very poor penetration against modern ceramic ballistic plates.

• Visual ID: Black Tip with Green Ring
• Role: Subsonic / StealthSpecifically designed for use with the PBS-4 Suppressor.
• Pros: Nearly silent; eliminates the supersonic “crack,” allowing for covert sentry removal.
• Cons: Severe trajectory drop. Muzzle velocity is ~300 m/s. Effective range is limited to <100m.

• Frontline Infantry: Standardize on 7N10. It is the most versatile round for the modern “armored” AI meta in Arma 3.
• Special Operations: Prioritize 7N22 or 7N24 for missions where heavy Western-standard plate carriers are expected.
• Stealth Infiltration: Use 7U1 only in conjunction with a PBS-4 suppressor. Ensure your optics are zeroed specifically for subsonic velocity.
• Machine Gunners (RPK-74): Use a mix of 7N10 and 7T3M tracers to walk fire onto targets at range.