5.45 x 39 ammo

[tennjed]

can anyone out there give me some idea of the availability and accuracy of the 5.45 x39 ammo.

I saw an AK variant at a local gun store chambered for this round. So far, all I have been able to determine from other is "it is a rare round"

Thanks

tennjed

Yes 5.45x39 is a rare round to the US. I am not aware of any US ammo companies who makes it. You can buy russian ammo 1000 rounds out of shotgun news for $150.00. As far as the caliber goes it is very close to a .223 but a little lighter. What are they asking for the rifle?

[tennjed]

I believe it was in the $400 range.I'll check to see if it is still there later on this week.

tennjed

[tennjed]

Administrator

I went back to the shop and inquired about the price. He is asking $450. It has my interest but I just can't pull the trigger without knowing more about the round.

tennjed

[JB]

Tennjed-

Check out the following site for more info on the 5.45x39 round:

http://members.xoom.com/russian_arms/index.html

Go all the way to the bottom (past all the gun pictures) and click on the link titled "History of 5.45x39 ammunition"

The current edition of "Cartridges of the World" (think that's the exact title) also has info on it, as does Duncan Long's AK-47 book.

I've got a Romanian AK-74 & it seems to be about as accurate out to 50 yds. as my Colt AR-15, and that's from a 16" barrel compared to the Colt's 20"!! After that the open sights really become a limiting factor - but I've got an East German scope I keep meaning to sight in...i'll post another reply if I ever do.

Bottom line: If you can get a good price AND find a good source for 5.45 ammo, I say go for it - worlds better than 7.62x39!!!

[Swiss one]

Definitely better, just avoid the East German
ammo, it´s of really bad quality ( accuracy
is nil, I wasn´t able to get 15" groups at
330 yards with my SSG 82 and another guys
AKS 74 shot groups of 3,5" at 25meters!! )

If you can get it, you should try the RWS
.215 or the 5,45 x 39 from Mesko, they are
very good ( I was able to shoot 4 1/2" groups
at 330 yards with my SSG 82 with the .215 )

[tennjed]

Swiss one and J.B.

Thanks for your responses. I think I'll be picking up one of these rifles as the next addition to the toy box.

tennjed

[zero]

Are the romanian ak varient's the only gun that shoot's the 5.45x39 or is there other's out there chambered for that round.

[Swiss one]

Yes, the East German SSG 82 ( a sniper rifle ), a rather accurate gun but without chrome
lined barrel.

But that gun has a few drawbacks ( magazine, scope, and trigger are of IMHO bad quality )

I think that´s all ( at least in the US, we had a few Wz 88´s here from Poland and a few AK 74´s from Bulgaria, there´s no difference in quality between Russian and Rulgarian AK 74´s

[Swiss one]

Oh, I forgot..Sabine Schneider in Germany sold some Mosin Nagant´s chambered in 5.45x39

They were single shot guns, for a rather low
price ( keep in mind that we talk about European prices, anything below $ 300 is cheap )..I´ve never seen one, but I remember that she had a few for sale ( together with a few in 7.62x39 )

[zero]

swiss 1, thank's for the info.

[JA]

Shot russian,rws, and romanian ammo yesterday all functioned perfect. At 25 yards all grouped together. Didn't have time to shoot at 100 yds spent to much time shooting nygant revolvers. Next range trip will be 100 yd shooting first pistols second.