The 7.62x40 Wilson Tactical (WT) cartridge is a centerfire rifle round developed by Wilson Combat. It is designed to offer enhanced performance in AR-15 platform rifles by providing a larger caliber option without sacrificing magazine capacity or significant compatibility with existing components. The cartridge is essentially a modified 5.56 NATO case, necked up to accept .30 caliber (7.62mm) bullets.
The primary advantage of the 7.62x40 WT is its increased energy and stopping power compared to the standard 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington rounds, making it suitable for hunting medium-sized game and tactical applications where increased terminal performance is desired. It allows for enhanced lethality at short to medium ranges while retaining good accuracy and manageable recoil.
Due to its specialized nature, the 7.62x40 WT is less common and may require custom or modified barrels and reloading for optimal performance. It is particularly favored in environments where the versatility of the AR platform is required with a more potent cartridge.